Solar User
New Member
Hello everyone. I am planning the build of my first power station although I already have a bit of experience with manufactured ones (mainly Jackery and Bluetti) and I have some questions (and will probably have more as I go along).
First, on the question of inverters, I am considering getting a 24V inverter as opposed to the 12V inverters I have had in the past (I have four 12.8V batteries and can connect two of them in series if going with 24V). I am only considering a 1500 watt or 2000 watt inverter. I have always heard that 24V inverters are more efficient than 12V inverters but how much more efficient are they? I understand that the wiring used can be smaller due to less current but is the energy conversion more efficient enough to make a difference? I already have a small Samlex 12V inverter and really like it but I was looking at the Samlex 24V inverters and noticed that the current draw with no load seems to be higher for the 24V inverters. As an example, a 12V inverter lists a no load current draw of less than 0.5 Amps and the 24V inverter of the same size lists a no load current draw of less than 0.4 Amps. If I understand correctly, wouldn't that mean that for an hour of sitting idle, the 12V inverter would draw 12.8V X 0.5A = 6.4 Watts but the 24V inverter would draw 25.6V X 0.4A = 10.2 Watts (which is more)? Just wondering about these questions.
On the topic of fuses, if I go with appropriate gauge cable from the batteries to the inverter (ex. 2AWG for 1500 watt 24V inverter), I know that I need a fuse pretty close to the batteries. I have used the T Tocas switchable circuit breakers in the past but I read somewhere that these are not good to use in higher power situations and that a T Class fuse is needed. I am not familiar with those fuses - Are those what I should use in the situation of a 1500 or 2000 Watt 24V inverter? Any advice here would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance for reading and any feedback that is offered.
First, on the question of inverters, I am considering getting a 24V inverter as opposed to the 12V inverters I have had in the past (I have four 12.8V batteries and can connect two of them in series if going with 24V). I am only considering a 1500 watt or 2000 watt inverter. I have always heard that 24V inverters are more efficient than 12V inverters but how much more efficient are they? I understand that the wiring used can be smaller due to less current but is the energy conversion more efficient enough to make a difference? I already have a small Samlex 12V inverter and really like it but I was looking at the Samlex 24V inverters and noticed that the current draw with no load seems to be higher for the 24V inverters. As an example, a 12V inverter lists a no load current draw of less than 0.5 Amps and the 24V inverter of the same size lists a no load current draw of less than 0.4 Amps. If I understand correctly, wouldn't that mean that for an hour of sitting idle, the 12V inverter would draw 12.8V X 0.5A = 6.4 Watts but the 24V inverter would draw 25.6V X 0.4A = 10.2 Watts (which is more)? Just wondering about these questions.
On the topic of fuses, if I go with appropriate gauge cable from the batteries to the inverter (ex. 2AWG for 1500 watt 24V inverter), I know that I need a fuse pretty close to the batteries. I have used the T Tocas switchable circuit breakers in the past but I read somewhere that these are not good to use in higher power situations and that a T Class fuse is needed. I am not familiar with those fuses - Are those what I should use in the situation of a 1500 or 2000 Watt 24V inverter? Any advice here would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance for reading and any feedback that is offered.
