by Justin Gray
A common question that we always get in regards to power inverters is, "How long will my inverter run for?" The runtime of an inverter depends on several factors:
Battery Capacity: The primary factor determining the runtime of an inverter is the capacity of the battery connected to it. The higher the battery capacity (measured in watt-hours or ampere-hours), the longer the inverter can run before the battery is depleted.
Load or Power Consumption: The amount of power (watts) drawn from the inverter also affects the runtime. The higher the power consumption of the devices connected to the inverter, the faster the battery will be drained.
Efficiency: Inverters have an efficiency rating that indicates how much power is lost during the DC to AC conversion process. Higher efficiency means less power is wasted, resulting in longer runtime.
Battery State of Charge: The initial state of charge of the battery before using the inverter will impact how long it can run. A fully charged battery will provide more runtime than a partially charged one.
Depth of Discharge: The depth to which the battery is discharged (expressed as a percentage of its total capacity) also affects the runtime. Deeper discharges may reduce the overall lifespan of the battery.
Battery Age and Condition: The age and condition of the battery play a role in its overall capacity and ability to deliver power efficiently.
To estimate the runtime of an inverter, you can use the following formula:
Runtime (in hours) = Battery capacity (Wh or Ah) / Power consumption of devices (W) x Inverter Efficiency
For example, if you have a 100Ah battery and the connected devices consume a total of 200 watts of power, and the inverter has an efficiency of 90%:
Runtime (in hours) = 100Ah / 200W x 0.9 ≈ 0.45 hours (or approximately 27 minutes)
Keep in mind that this is a rough estimate, and the actual runtime may vary depending on real-world conditions and other factors such as temperature and the specific type of battery being used. Regularly monitor your battery's state of charge and the power consumption of your devices to ensure you have a good understanding of the inverter's runtime capabilities.
What are your thoughts or comments on this?
Links:
Blog: What is the difference between a Pure sine Wave (PSW) and a Modified Sine Wave (MSW) inverter?
