FAQs: Inverters

Can I use my inverter in parallel with the generator or shore power?

Definitely not! If you have a generator on board or a shore connection you must
install a Masterswitch. The switch is available with various applications, but
its main function is to switch automatically and safely between shore,
generator and inverter power.

Can I run a computer on the inverter?

Yes, you can. All Victron pure sine wave inverters can easily and safely supply
a computer. In fact the output voltage from an inverter is often better than
that from the electricity grid. A Victron inverter, combined with a battery
charger and a battery set, is often used as a back-up system on shore in places
where the grid connection voltage is contaminated or unreliable.

Can I run a microwave on an inverter?

Yes. You can connect any model of microwave to your inverter, but keep in mind
that an 800 watt microwave consumes 1200 to 1300 watt from the 230V system, so
you must make sure you choose the correct size inverter.

How much battery capacity do I need with an inverter?

As a rule of thumb you can assume the minimum battery capacity for a 12V
installation is about 20% of the inverter capacity. For a 24V installation this
would be 10%. In other words the minimum battery capacity for a 1000W inverter
is 200Ah at 12V or 100Ah at 24V.

Are there any appliances that cannot be run on an inverter?

In general you can connect almost any appliance to an inverter, with a few
practical exceptions. While the inverter can easily supply a heavy load like an
electric heater, the battery capacity is often too low to maintain the supply
for any great length of time. The same applies to air conditioning units. As
long as the battery capacity is high enough you can use a large inverter to run
a washing machine, a large single cooking element or a small two-ring electric
cooker.

How much power does an inverter consume?

If you connect a 850W coffee machine to an inverter, consumption will be 850W
divided by the voltage of the electrical system (12V) = 70 Amperes. Add another
8% (100%-92% =8%) to this total for the inverter consumption. The total power
consumption is then 70 Amperes + 6 Amperes = 76 Amperes. Of course a coffee
machine is only in use for about 10 minutes so the actual Ampere consumption is
relatively low (76 x 10 min = 13Ah).