Invertor - is it worth fitting?

[MisterB]

I have a 500w Victron invertor that i bought on here last year, still waiting to be fitted. I am not sure i actually need it though. i have just fitted a 50A Sterling B2B and have a Battery Master on order, whenever Jim can get it sent. i have two leisure batteries (which i will upgrade to 130Ah when the current smaller ones start to flag) and a 100w solar panel.

I suppose having the invertor does give an option if ever needed, but i am struggling to see when that would be and to power what? the only thing i can think of would be for the microwave, just to use for the odd 5 minutes here and there, but then i would prob need a 1KW invertor. there is an other issue in terms of where would the power outlet best be installed, as i dont want to have to use extension leads. Installing power point(s) would also require additional work, so i am back to the question, is it worth fitting and what benefits would it give me?

of course if i decide not to fit it, then its absolutely brilliant, you shouldnt be without one AND i have one for sale LOL

any help or comments would be appreciated

 

[DBK]

A 500W inverter would be useful for charging eBike batteries I suspect and for any other charger you can't get a 12v version for. Other than that I can't see it being very useful. I have a 1500W one which is used for a coffee machine and a hairdryer. We also use it to recharge the handheld vacuum cleaner.

 

[Nasher]

I'm no expert, but a 700w microwave would probably need to draw 1100w (the 700w is the output not the input)

Unless you have a specific requirement, I would suggest not fitting it - it's just another thing to go wrong ?

 

[funflair]

I wouldn't be without one for microwave coffee machine hair dryer and hopefully air conditioning and remoska on the new van Oh and the awning is 240v, we will have 320 amps/hr of LiFePO4 and 520 watts of solar to start with, but if you can't see what you would use it for it is possible that you wouldn't use it if you bothered fitting it and 500w isn't much anyway.

Martin

 

[two]

An inverter may be the start of a slippery road to more and more spend. You can survive without quite easily. Some things are not as essential as might be imagined - just as some are discovering whilst in lock-down. Campers enjoy life just as much as motorhomes, yet they manage with canvas and one stove.

I've not done the sums, but I'll bet that electricity generated from the alternator is the most expensive you can buy. Limit the amount you consume and feel good about it.

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[hilldweller]

First thing I did on last van, rip out microwave and make really useful cupboard space.

I fitted a 300 PSW inverter. Yes you can get 12V chargers for many things but I already had chargers for ebike ( two different chargers ), laptop, beard trimmer etc. The inverter is the easy option.

Only you know what 240v things you need when off hook-up.

 

[Taran_Las]

I installed a 300w PSW inverter in my last van. It was used to run a laptop, blender, charge toothbrush, shaver and other small gadgets. I have a 1000w in my current van and haven't used it yet

I've since discovered that a new type of toothbrush has been invented that doesn't need electricity

I'd wait to install your 500w until you find a particular piece of equipment you can't live without

 

[Stealaway]

Why would you not want one - much wider choice of appliances. Including bigger better cheaper TV and Soundbars. They pay for themselves times over. A 1000w minimum though.

 

[Richard n Ann]

The best hair straighteners are ceramic 230v so I fitted a 1000w pure sine wave inverter for Ann.
As has been said above 230v availability gives a massive choice of appliances, absolutely (I think) everything can run on it. I fitted a small high quality pure sine inverter for everything else. TV, toothbrush chargers, vacuum cleaner charger and ceiling fan. The advantage of a small inverter over large is their small standby power consumption, ours is jusr 0.2 amps ??

 

[thebriars]

Why would you not want one - much wider choice of appliances. Including bigger better cheaper TV and Soundbars. They pay for themselves times over. A 1000w minimum though.

Lots of reasons.
1. We don't watch a lot of TV, and the 12v Cello works fine for us, without a soundbar even though I have lousy hearing.
2. Don't need lots of mains appliances.
3. Stuff like razors, toothbrushes, tablets and Kindles charge from USB sockets.
4. We are on holiday, so OH doesn't need a hair dryer.

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[Reallyretired]

We use ours for microwave, hairdryer and kettle while on the road ( avoids heating the interior) and electric blanket in cold weather and the little washing machine if we take it.
1500w (3Kw peak) runs most things.
If you've nothing you want to run then I shouldn't bother fitting it.

 

[MisterB]

From the feed back so far it looks as though a 500w inverter isnt worth fitting for me for the 'benefits' it might give.

Anyone need a 500w Victron pure sine inverter to charge their electric bikes...?

 

[Lenny HB]

We have a 100W inverter only gets used for the e-bikes & washing machine, if I didn't those I wouldn't bother with one.

 

[Googlebot]

We use ours for the slow cooker, and nothing else.......

If it wasn’t already fitted, I wouldn’t have bothered.

 

[Gromett]

I have a 300 watt invertor which I have only ever used once. I used it for my electric toothbrush during a period where I went offgrid for almost a year and solar was enough to keep me going.
I never needed to kick my generator into action so the tooth brush went flat.

I am not sure I will have it in my next build to be honest due to the lack of use over the last 9 years.

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[stevewagner]

I have a 150 watt portable inverter which I use to power my CPAP machine while sleeping and for charging E-bike batteries while driving. I have 200 watts of PV panels with a Victron MPPT controller and a Sterling B2B charger. Everything else is 12 volt and we never have a power issue.

 

[Figaro]

Anyone need a 500w Victron pure sine inverter to charge their electric bikes...?

How much did you have in mind ?

 

[Graham of Madrid]

I'd recommend fitting it if it's an easy / straightforward install i.e you have somewhere to put it that's close to the leisure battery and doesn't involve too much dismantling/drilling. It's one of those satisfying installations you can do during lockdown. I only have 600w and I rarely use it but it's bloody useful when you do. We usually use it for the electric fan during the hot summer nights on holiday in Spain off grid. We usually leave it on all night, it makes a difference. Also for charging walkie talkies or the handheld vax

It's more beneficial if you have solar

 

[Lenny HB]

We have a 100W inverter only gets used for the e-bikes & washing machine, if I didn't those I wouldn't bother with one.

Edit meant 1000W.

 

[MisterB]

I'd recommend fitting it if it's an easy / straightforward install i.e you have somewhere to put it that's close to the leisure battery and doesn't involve too much dismantling/drilling. It's one of those satisfying installations you can do during lockdown. I only have 600w and I rarely use it but it's bloody useful when you do. We usually use it for the electric fan during the hot summer nights on holiday in Spain off grid. We usually leave it on all night, it makes a difference. Also for charging walkie talkies or the handheld vax

It's more beneficial if you have solar

it is a simple fix with not a lot of wiring required. i am now considering fitting it as part of a 3 pin socket with usb connection(s) if i can find one that matches the rest of the electric fittings.

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