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Raynor Shine Samba Member
Joined: November 07, 2005 Posts: 552
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Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 7:49 am Post subject: Half Pint Microwave question |
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So I finished installing the norcold & half pint. My question is, the half pint runs normally with plugged into the outlet, however, when I try it on my inverter, it runs very slow. My inverter is 750 W and the halfpint in 600W. I have the recommended interstate battery w/ go westy aux set up.
Do I need a larger capacity inverter or odddesey deep cycle battery? Any insight?
Thanks |
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Tomswesty Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2005 Posts: 194 Location: Moscow, ID
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Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 10:19 am Post subject: |
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Raynor,
I have the same set up and run it with an 800Watt. I think the big thing is that it is 600 Watt Power, takes a long time to cook anything. Maybe Dog Pilot can chime in since he runs one too. I am using a Yellow Top Deep Cycle battery with the inverter. Took about 10 minutes to do popcorn the last time I used it. (The little bags) I am using 6AWG wires straight from the battery to the inverter. _________________ 87 Westy
2.2L Suby convert
Last edited by Tomswesty on Mon Nov 05, 2007 7:00 am; edited 1 time in total |
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tds3pete Samba Member
Joined: April 04, 2004 Posts: 914 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 10:44 am Post subject: |
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It sounds like you're running they system a bit over max. Remember 600w appliances will draw more due to line loss in the system and inefficiencies in the inverter. You could be trying to pull 60 amps out of your battery.
You could test the amp draw right at the battery to see what is actually happening.
You might try running the system with the car idling as a test, and see what that does. Your alternator would then be adding back in to reduce the battery drawdown. _________________ '58 Westy camper-come and gone
'73 Westy-bought new in Holland,now gone
'86 Syncro weekender-come and gone
'79 Westy...Oscar
'95 Eurovan Camper/5 spd...Marsha Mellow
Last edited by tds3pete on Sun Nov 04, 2007 11:38 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Taylor L Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2007 Posts: 95
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Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 11:55 am Post subject: |
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Do you have a link to any info on this unit?
Taylor |
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tencentlife Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2006 Posts: 10075 Location: Abiquiu, NM, USA
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Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 2:51 pm Post subject: |
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Inverter inefficiency as mentioned and line loss from undersized inverter supply wires can prevent the inverter from producing its rated power. You would need at least 6AWG DC wires to the inverter for it to make its full 750w without browning out (I know, you can't brown with a microwave, but toaster ovens are all at least 1200w so that crispy crust will remain a dream for now). The cheap small inverters sold these days mostly come with undersized supply wires. Just because the wire supplied is a certain size doesn't mean it's adequate for sustained use.
Running the engine may help because the alternator can uphold voltage and prevent battery brownout, but ultimately the DC supply wires should be sized right for both performance and safety. _________________ Shop for unique Vanagon accessories at the Vanistan shop:
https://intrepidoverland.com/vanistan/
Please don't PM here, I will not reply.
Experience is kryptonite to doctrine. |
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r39o Samba Polizei
Joined: May 18, 2005 Posts: 9800 Location: San Diego
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Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:54 pm Post subject: |
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I have a half pint. It ended up in our office instead of the Westy. Microwaves suck the juice. Unless you are on shore power or have an inverter that creates a good enough sine wave, it will just suck your battery dry.
Ya, ya I know well about inverter efficiency, but some devices really want a better sine wave than many inverters supply. A 4 step wave like like many produce just does not cut it for many devices.
You hooked a scope up to your inverter? What the wave look like????
I like a 1KW inverter to run the big stuff and a smaller one to run the little stuff. Reason is the idle current on those puppies can be quite high even when doing nothing.
The general run of the mill inverter just is not all that great. _________________ "Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!
1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....
Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently) |
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Raynor Shine Samba Member
Joined: November 07, 2005 Posts: 552
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Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 7:34 am Post subject: |
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thanks for all the insight, I figured until I upgrage the inverter, shore power is the way to go. I do have the inverter connected to the 2nd battery with 6 guage jumpers. |
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tds3pete Samba Member
Joined: April 04, 2004 Posts: 914 Location: Seattle, WA
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tencentlife Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2006 Posts: 10075 Location: Abiquiu, NM, USA
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Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 9:53 am Post subject: |
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That auto-transfer switch on that site is an item some of you Westy-heads would like, if you want to have a single ac branch circuit system:
http://www.theinverterstore.com/the-inverter-store-product.php?model=pwr3axfer30-front-large
Also, Walt's point is important; some ballasts in electronic appliances like microwave ovens won't digest the modified square wave output of the cheaper inverters, and will run inefficiently if they do. It may still be necessary to overrate the inverter by a fairly large factor to compensate for the true power factor after the waveform is utilised. Thankfully, true sine wave inverters are becoming cheaper in the smaller sizes. Their output can be utilised efficiently by power supplies and ballasts in electronic appliances. _________________ Shop for unique Vanagon accessories at the Vanistan shop:
https://intrepidoverland.com/vanistan/
Please don't PM here, I will not reply.
Experience is kryptonite to doctrine. |
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