So I'm trying to properly size both batteries and an inverter. I plan on starting off powering a small upright freezer....and depending on my success, expanding that to several more appliances including a side-by-side refrigerator, furnace, WiFi router, computer...etc.
For each of these appliances I'm trying to gather the following information:
I'd like to ask a couple more questions and see if you can help clarify my understanding a little further:
For each of these appliances I'm trying to gather the following information:
- Running watts (for sizing the inverter)
- Surge watts (for sizing the inverter)
- Daily watt hours (for sizing the batteries)
I'd like to ask a couple more questions and see if you can help clarify my understanding a little further:
- A clamp meter with inrush should be used to measure surge watts. The meter will measure that value in amps which can be multiplied by the volts (measured by the same clamp meter). For surge watts, a line splitter should be used. I can either pull out and separate the wires in an extension cord or else purchase something like this. What is a good brand of clamp meter that measures inrush?
- For running watts, I've seen something like the Kill-A-Watt recommended several times. Is this something that I can plug in and determine the running watts after just a few seconds?
- For daily watt hours, just multiply the running watts by the number of hours the appliance runs daily. For the refrigerator, freezer, and router, those would be 24 hours per day. For the other appliances, I would need to make an estimate.
- I've heard duty cycle mentioned in another thread. How do you all determine that? Is it better to let the Kill-A-Watt run for a longer period of time like a week or so and then just get the average watts?
- In the next couple of years, I think that I want to try making a small portable amateur radio solar setup. If possible, I would be interested in a clamp meter that does DC too (for your recommendation on #1 above). Otherwise I'll worry about that down the road.