Boeing
Platinum Member
Guys,
I finished installing Solar Panels, solar charge controller, deep cycle batteries and a 400 watt (small) inverter last month.
By and large I'm happy, the panels easily keep the two batteries PLUS the tractor battery charged. I wired 5 screw-in house type fixtures for light and split the system for lights across the shop and lights over the work bench area. The inverter was just to run a desk lamp, a power drill and charge my phone.
PROBLEM ONE....I used 12V flourescent light bulbs because they use so little wattage.....but one or two were blowing PER DAY..... I took them back to the RV place where I bought them and they had been replacing them. But it's getting too freq for either of us to accept. I did buy two LED bulbs. Last week it got cold during the day and I had the doors closed and was using the lights while it was sunny outside. The solar controller was varying between 19V and 14.7 volts.....then POOF!!!! 4 (FOUR) of my flourescent bulbs went POP and out. Being the smart guy that I am:laughing: I assume that the voltage spikes were getting to the bulbs. BTW, the LED bulbs were unaffected. I'll never understand why the bulbs were failing at night when there was no overvoltage.......
PROBLEM TWO....I was using my "house" phone charger powered by the 400W inverter to charge my cell phone over night. After three nights it was almost dead??? I charged it in my car and then the next night, though SHOWING an orange charge light, it actually DISCHARGED.....
QUESTION.......Are INVERTERS a problem for ELECTRONICS? I was considering getting a larger inverter to power a MICROWAVE. Is this a problem? How about a small flat screen TV. Perhaps I should look for 12V appliances rather than INVERT a 110V product???? I saw that they make 12V TV's but have never seen one.
Soooo, what are the limitations of an inverter?
I know this is long...sorry, wanted to share my "issues" with others who might consider "off the grid":confused2:
I finished installing Solar Panels, solar charge controller, deep cycle batteries and a 400 watt (small) inverter last month.
By and large I'm happy, the panels easily keep the two batteries PLUS the tractor battery charged. I wired 5 screw-in house type fixtures for light and split the system for lights across the shop and lights over the work bench area. The inverter was just to run a desk lamp, a power drill and charge my phone.
PROBLEM ONE....I used 12V flourescent light bulbs because they use so little wattage.....but one or two were blowing PER DAY..... I took them back to the RV place where I bought them and they had been replacing them. But it's getting too freq for either of us to accept. I did buy two LED bulbs. Last week it got cold during the day and I had the doors closed and was using the lights while it was sunny outside. The solar controller was varying between 19V and 14.7 volts.....then POOF!!!! 4 (FOUR) of my flourescent bulbs went POP and out. Being the smart guy that I am:laughing: I assume that the voltage spikes were getting to the bulbs. BTW, the LED bulbs were unaffected. I'll never understand why the bulbs were failing at night when there was no overvoltage.......
PROBLEM TWO....I was using my "house" phone charger powered by the 400W inverter to charge my cell phone over night. After three nights it was almost dead??? I charged it in my car and then the next night, though SHOWING an orange charge light, it actually DISCHARGED.....
QUESTION.......Are INVERTERS a problem for ELECTRONICS? I was considering getting a larger inverter to power a MICROWAVE. Is this a problem? How about a small flat screen TV. Perhaps I should look for 12V appliances rather than INVERT a 110V product???? I saw that they make 12V TV's but have never seen one.
Soooo, what are the limitations of an inverter?
I know this is long...sorry, wanted to share my "issues" with others who might consider "off the grid":confused2: