Inverter voltage (1 Viewer)

keith

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Aug 25, 2007
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What voltage should an inverter give out? I have a 150w one (used for last 2 years) that reads out at less than 200V now, sometimes as low as 180v.

Do they give a full 220/230V or will the output be a little lower? It only has a cig. lighter plug & no matter which socket I plug it into the read out is the same.

I use it for powering the sat. receiver when not on EHU & so far it has been OK for over 2 years. Now when we use it the remote on the Sky box it doesn't work when no EHU, but on mains it is OK. I checked the remote with our home one, & all OK worked fine. The sat. box will work using the buttons on the box with no EHU but they only have limited functions so that's not ideal.

Got a new inverter which gives more voltage, over 200V, but still don't work. Any ideas
 

pappajohn

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Aug 26, 2007
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should be 230v <> constant.

have you 'proved' the meter on a known 230v supply....could be the test meter and not the invertor.
 

scotjimland

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Jul 25, 2007
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Hi Keith

what type of inverter .. modified or true sine wave ?

In order to measure a non-sine wave or a modified waveform, a "true RMS" meter is required.

If have a modified sine wave inverter and you don't have an expensive RMS meter, connect an incandescent light bulb. If it looks like its normal bright white, you can safely assume that the RMS voltage is in its normal range.

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keith

keith

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OK

Next step test the meter, plug into home mains & it shows 240V so that seems to be OK. :thumb:

Next Jim's idea, plug into van electrics & plug a 60W bulb in. Inverter now shows 230V, bulb bright, uncomfortable to stare at, so that seems to be OK. :thumb:

Plug in Sky box & get 209V on test screen & box remote is now working OK. :Doh:

Any idea why? Have I woken the inverter up?

It does seem strange that the voltage varies as to what is plugged in. With no load it still shows below 200V but increases according to the load. Does that make sense?

PS It's a modified sine wave Jim
 

Douglas

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If you draw more watts than the inverter is designed for then the votage will drop. What is the wattage of the unit? Ah! just viewed you original post, 150w, so again, could it be that you are asking for more that the unit can provide?

Doug...
 
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keith

keith

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Aug 25, 2007
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If you draw more watts than the inverter is designed for then the votage will drop. What is the wattage of the unit? Ah! just viewed you original post, 150w, so again, could it be that you are asking for more that the unit can provide?

Doug...

No Doug. Sky b ox is something like 18W, doesn't even get warm running that.

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