Inverter problems - any help?

[bobbyblue]

Hi everyone,
this is my first question.

got a crossoverbay just back from having a 1776 + weedeater front beam fitted.


can someone please give me some advise, i am really struggling.

i have a 1500w inverter wired to my split charge system (leisure battery rated at 75ah).

i keep getting a low battery warning on the inverter, even when the leisure battery is fully charged. i am only trying to use a 800w kettle.

i dont think the inverter is faulty, i have also been told the split charge system is all functioning so why the problem.

i would really appreciate a answer, i must be doing something stupid.

cheers

Bobbyblue

 

[Trikky2]

You need to think again :lol:

volts times amps = watts.

800 watts pulling off a battery means your inverter is asking for 66 amps off your 12 volt battery.

Then you can add on the losses in the inverter and the losses in the wiring - you need pretty thick cables between your leisure battery and your inverter to cope with so many amps.

Inverters dont supply the equivalent of a mains supply and are not really intended to run kettles or fan heaters etc. They are aimed at small tv/sattelite recievers etc.

(and before the condradictors start up - yes i know they can do big stuff as in boats etc but not from a small battery like in a bay since even with suitably heavy duty cables the battery wont last long before going flat).

 

[bobbyblue]

thanks for the reply, so to boil a kettle and use a toaster , what do people do,

i suppose eithe 12v appliances or use a cooker to boil the water etc,

are 12v kettles etc worth the money?

thanks

Dave

 

[Trikky2]

Better to use gas to boil a kettle - it takes a large amount of energy to boil water and gas is going to be more efficient. I guess thats why they fit them as standard equipment.

 

[BJ1]

240v hookup will run a small toaster but most of us use a fork over the gas ring or the gas grill. It's a bay mate - not a Winnebago. Can't even get a Jacuzzi in mine :lol:

 

[faux]

I think the best advise here is to remember it is camping.

When I do weekend's away then I use gas to run the fridge, to boil a kettle and to toast etc

If we go for a week somewhere then I use 240v hook up and set up a kettle, toaster, lamp and fridge in the awning, even all my 12v stuff in the van runs off the 240v through the zig unit.

I do have an inverter up just in case so I can charge phones, laptops etc but it gives the leisure battery a hammering.

 

[froggy]

The name sort of gives it away, a leisure battery. Designed to run 12V items (lights,stereo's etc) in a way that doesn't flatten the start battery, Invertors are used to adapt 12v to 240v but OHMS LAW is the boss of this, (V=IxR) any serious load will drain the leisure battery without even trying.
Do as most do and use gas hobs for toast and tea

 

[bobbyblue]

thanks for all the advice, its taken onboard

cheers

 

[AGC]

I had a 12 volt kettle..... it took 40 minutes to boil a mug full of water Its now with all the other "camping" stuff that doesnt work or is not needed and is gathering dust in my shed!! Gas is the only answer or hook up to 240