2000w Inverter Install

OK sounds good. Congratulations!

 

Nice to know it doesn't draw 160 amps all the time. But it also will draw more than zero with nothing plugged in.

This is probably only true to a first order. Inverters typically have relatively poor efficiency at low utilizations but then get pretty good at higher utilizations. If you try to draw 100W, I suspect the inverter will draw more like 200W from the battery...Crank it up closer to the 2000W rated output and maybe the battery draw is also pretty close to the 2000W (160A) but even there it will not be 100% efficient.

Now are the two inverters exactly the same efficiency at all points on the curve? Probably not but maybe the difference is smaller than you care about.

Do be careful not to leave it on even if not using it. In my experience even the idle power draw can be enough to drain a battery pretty quickly.

 

I'm super happy to have discovered this thread. Thank you to all of the collective wisdom shared here. Great Install.
I had been curious if the PP was different than the other models as it relates to this Mod.
Having seen the YouTube videos of people camping/living out of their Prii with these Inverters installed... I have grown excited to do this with my PP.

Thanks again.

 

Many people, like our resident expert @bwilson4web say not to exceed a 1000 watt inverter.

Since he has installed one into a Gen 3 and now has a Prime, perhaps he can shed insight on any differences he sees. His Gen 3 with inverter is still going strong with a new owner, IIRC.

 

I'd be pretty comfortable with a 2kw inverter de-rated by way of an undersized fuse on the input side, and I agree that 90-100A would be about right. I would prefer that to a 1kw unit running full-out. The certification, breaker type and fan count are all positive elements worth keeping.

I can't speak for the AIMS inverters, not having worked with one, but as a class the 1-2kw PSW inverters on the market have a fairly flat efficiency curve. In other words, you might get 90% out of a 1kw rig running in the sweet spot and only 85% out of a 2kW at half-load. It's something, but I wouldn't make a big deal out of it. Most inverters are supplied with at least a couple of efficiency measurements published in the manual so you can look up your own and decide for yourself.

I have a 2kW inverter for an off-grid vacation home. It replaced a 1kW unit. We've been using solid state inverters out there since the 1980s, so we've had a little time to work through the finer points of the technology.

 

W=VI
So 2000=12*I
And 200/12=166.67Amps
But, surge is double
Or 323 Amps
So, quick bow v slow blow...
That picture shows quick

 

Don't listen to "folks." Most folks are idiots. Just find the one who is right. Ask an electrical engineer. Stop listening to folks

 

Just a comment on reviewing this thread again. If one extension is plugged into any good wall outlet, using the inverter, all outlets are now live, but there’s no current flow , you only want vital loads on the inverter,ie: Computer, heater, set low, refrigerator, a light. Use a good extension. All loads could be off at night, inverter disconnected, car off ( depending on ones particular temperatures.) I’m not a EE but I threw the main CB off while conducting my experiment for safety sake. If sources are out of phase with each other, total impedance could get out of hand. You don’t want that while your sleeping. Any sign of excessive heat should be noted and that load disconnected.

 

my electrician said it is illegal to connect a secondary power source to the house wiring without disconnecting the street.
he installed a bypass switch on our generator which cuts the street connection before starting the generator

 

Electric code requires a transfer switch, so that your house cannot be connected to the utility and your own generator/inverter at the same time. This is to prevent any backfeed from your generator to the utility line, which could electrocute any line workers or others working with the utility lines while they are (supposedly) dead.

A simple flip of a circuit breaker is not enough, as it is too easy for human forgetfulness to eff this up.

Grid-tie solar systems have an exemption to this requirement because they are built so that they cannot drive the power line themselves. They can function only by piggybacking on the utility source, and automatically shut down when the grid supply goes down.

When sources get significantly out of phase with each other, something blows up, and it won't be the utility grid itself. If you are well protected, it will be a popped fuse or circuit breaker. If not, you may permanently let the smoke out of your inverter, or worse.

Impedance is a normally a fixed characteristic of the circuit, not something created or altered by source phasing.

 

Though it looks to be worth pointing out that member Insighter was never planning to connect this inverter to his home system, other people may wish to do so. And in those cases it is worth doing it the right way.

When I put a new panel in my house I included a mechanical interlock so that the utility and my emergency input connectors are mutually exclusive. There are fancier and more automatic ways but safety is paramount in these endeavors.

 

Recommending a 323 Amp fuse, which really means a 325 Amp fuse on a 2000w inverter is Bad Info plain and simple. If anyone listened to you, they could suffer from damage or fire when that 325 Amp fuse does not trip first.


Rob43

 

Is see your point. Lower amperage but slow blow? How many amp fuse is recommended and what type is recommended for this circuit?

 

In the Gen 2, a Prius will not charge a 12v battery if it's 'at rest' voltage is low.

I am guessing the Gen 4 overcomes this limitation?

 

Can you clarify your goal? the thread seems to be fragmented between a few different ideas, so in the interests of safety would you mind (re) stating your intention?

 

Any circuit protection can be calculated by Ohms law, E= IR Voltage and current can be measured with a multimeter. Or just experiment with different fuses. Always go lower, if in doubt. If a too higher is inserted you could end up with equipment damage. smoke, fire, explosion, etc.

 

That’s not fair, You have your own Electrician ! I have never had a street connection. Does the City of Boston know you are using thier street connection?