Tomthumb62
Solar Wizard
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2022
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- 1,871
Hello - I'm trying to determine if upgrading to a Victron 12/1200 Phoenix inverter (rated for 1000W continuous and 2200W peak) will work for my situation. Upgrade in quality/efficiency but a downgrade in watts.
Current inverter is a Renogy 2000W (4000W peak) and has worked fine, but has a stupid high idle draw. Only load is typically a 7.2 cubic foot AC fridge. Occasionally charging a lightweight laptop or phone - no other high-draw devices. Killawatt meter shows the fridge uses 50-75W when running and about 600-800W startup (for about 1 second or less). I realize that these killawatt meters might not be sensitive enough to pick up the actual startup reading, though, hence my question here.
On this page, Victron explains that for inductive loads (googling says that an AC fridge is typically an inductive load, I'm not an electrician), "double inverter size is needed". I think what they mean by that is if my measured startup load is 800W, then I need a 1600W inverter. BUT the spec sheet for the inverter, calls for a 2200W peak power. And on the Victron page I first linked, there's a chart that says "Overload: 200% of nominal power (short-circuit) = 0.5 seconds (30 cycles)"
Am I reading this right that this 1000W inverter should be enough for our AC fridge? Or what exactly do they mean by "double the inverter size" - double of what value?
Reason for wanting to switch inverters is I think 2000W might be overkill and the Renogy uses a whopping 24W idle (we keep the inverter on 24/7, so 576Wh daily right there). The Victron uses only 7W idle and if Eco mode is enabled, it's only 1W - even without Eco, we'd only use 168Wh. This could be enough for us to get by on just one 100Ah lithium instead of needing 200Ah (limited use RV - and on a budget). 400W panels and a charger and generator if needed, though I hate running a generator like the plague and only would do it boondocked away from any other campers, lol.
Current inverter is a Renogy 2000W (4000W peak) and has worked fine, but has a stupid high idle draw. Only load is typically a 7.2 cubic foot AC fridge. Occasionally charging a lightweight laptop or phone - no other high-draw devices. Killawatt meter shows the fridge uses 50-75W when running and about 600-800W startup (for about 1 second or less). I realize that these killawatt meters might not be sensitive enough to pick up the actual startup reading, though, hence my question here.
On this page, Victron explains that for inductive loads (googling says that an AC fridge is typically an inductive load, I'm not an electrician), "double inverter size is needed". I think what they mean by that is if my measured startup load is 800W, then I need a 1600W inverter. BUT the spec sheet for the inverter, calls for a 2200W peak power. And on the Victron page I first linked, there's a chart that says "Overload: 200% of nominal power (short-circuit) = 0.5 seconds (30 cycles)"
Am I reading this right that this 1000W inverter should be enough for our AC fridge? Or what exactly do they mean by "double the inverter size" - double of what value?
Reason for wanting to switch inverters is I think 2000W might be overkill and the Renogy uses a whopping 24W idle (we keep the inverter on 24/7, so 576Wh daily right there). The Victron uses only 7W idle and if Eco mode is enabled, it's only 1W - even without Eco, we'd only use 168Wh. This could be enough for us to get by on just one 100Ah lithium instead of needing 200Ah (limited use RV - and on a budget). 400W panels and a charger and generator if needed, though I hate running a generator like the plague and only would do it boondocked away from any other campers, lol.
