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Electrical-Non flying

Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 8:51 pm
by KFA
Hi guys, looking for help with inverter system in my hanger. Currently I am using a small inverter with battery and solar pannels to power the outside lights of the hanger(4x15w globes). I want to know if it is possible to take say two or three 1000watt inverters use bigger batteries and more solar pannels and place them in parralel would this give the desired 220v with more amps?? maybe add a capacitor or two??. The system must be able to smultanously power a small fridge a 12000 btu aircon and 6 x 15 watt energy saver globes.

Is this possible?? I want to give Eskom a middle finger the next few years.

Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 6:36 am
by Aerosan
Hi KFA
what is it exactly you want o know? whether the solar panels should be in paralell or the batteries ? or have I got it wrong.

Cheers San

Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 8:58 am
by Griffin
I think you will understand the term “getting more bang for your buck” if you try to connect them in parallel. The problem with an inverter is that it produces an AC voltage at a nominal 50Hz. This means that the voltage changes polarity 50 times per second. If you connect two together and the outputs are not synchronized (which they will not be) you will get the equivalent of a short circuit.

I don not know what the power requirement of the Air Con and fridge is but you could connect them to their own inverter. You could increase the capacity of the batteries by fitting higher ampere hour units and more/bigger solar cells. This will allow the system to operate for longer but the maximum power of the system will still be limited by the total power rating of the inverter(s). I would rather get 12Volt units and power them directly from the batteries. Another thing to remember is that the inverters are not 100% efficient so you loose power in the inversion process and will need more/higher capacity batteries to do the job.

Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 8:36 pm
by KFA
Hi Aerosan, I think Griffin has answered my question. I wanted to put the inverters in parallel to get more oomph from the inverters. Looks like I will have to look for bigger inverters instead.
Thanks for the responses.

Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:24 pm
by Duck Rogers
And remember to get "deep-cycle" batteries. Ordinary automotive won't last long, regardless of the Amp/Hour rating.
Oh, and a decent battery charger.....a Midas or Autozone el-cheap-o will just end up cooking them for you.

Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 3:39 am
by GR8-DAD
Duck Rogers wrote:And remember to get "deep-cycle" batteries. Ordinary automotive won't last long, regardless of the Amp/Hour rating.
Oh, and a decent battery charger.....a Midas or Autozone el-cheap-o will just end up cooking them for you.
Duckie, just give him your phone number :twisted: you've got the goods :!: :wink: