sbingham
Payson, AZ
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Joined: 10/01/2004
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Search as I have, I can't find any actual tests on inverter efficiencies. I really suspect that all are NOT created equal! Any factual info on the 400-800 watt range? Are we talking 70% . . . 80% . . . 90%. Years ago it was 50%. Maybe 80% now? Maximum efficiency and warning beeps, or NOT, are of interest to me. My inverter is 5 years old and I suspect there are more efficient units out there.
Steve and Bobbie (and Shotgun - my 115 lb dog)
Down sized to a Nash 25S 
My web page is www.dustylens.com
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pulsar
Lewisville, NC
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Joined: 12/30/2001
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Moved from Technology Corner to Tech Issues.
2002 Adventurer 32V - Workhorse chassis
1998 CRV toad - manual transmission
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sbingham
Payson, AZ
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In general technology is the relationship that society has with its tools and crafts, and to what extent society can control its environment. The Merriam-Webster dictionary offers a definition of the term: "the practical application of knowledge especially in a particular area" and "a capability given by the practical application of knowledge".
And that is exactly what I was looking for. Please move me back. "A practical application of knowledge" is exactly what I was seeking.
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Wayne Dohnal
Banks, OR.
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I've looked at a lot of spec sheets and they're all pretty much clustered in the 85% to 90% range. Some of them go into the low 90s at optimal load.
2009 Fleetwood Icon 24A
EU2000i generator
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smkettner
Vladivostok, Russia (temp)
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Joined: 03/21/2005
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MSW or PSW?
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dmartin@newarts.com
Ames, IA
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Joined: 02/13/2004
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sbingham wrote:In general technology is the relationship that society has with its tools and crafts, and to what extent society can control its environment. The Merriam-Webster dictionary offers a definition of the term: "the practical application of knowledge especially in a particular area" and "a capability given by the practical application of knowledge".
And that is exactly what I was looking for. Please move me back. "A practical application of knowledge" is exactly what I was seeking.
Unfortunately, this forum (and other publications) have morphed the title "Technology" to refer to consumer electronics, mostly computers and communications, not the underlying science and engineering technology. That's called "Tech".
Sigh, we've just got to live with it I guess.
1980 Born Free 22' Class C (minus) - 1985 Honda Scooter
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nny12972
NY
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Joined: 10/25/2006
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My Xantrex XS-400 max efficiency is 88%...that varies with input voltage and load---and it has all the bells and whistles..
J
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dmartin@newarts.com
Ames, IA
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Joined: 02/13/2004
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sbingham wrote:Search as I have, I can't find any actual tests on inverter efficiencies. I really suspect that all are NOT created equal! Any factual info on the 400-800 watt range? Are we talking 70% . . . 80% . . . 90%. Years ago it was 50%. Maybe 80% now? Maximum efficiency and warning beeps, or NOT, are of interest to me. My inverter is 5 years old and I suspect there are more efficient units out there.
The data is hard to come by. Sometimes maximum efficiency and no-load current are listed, but that is rare for small units. I think there may be more variation in no-load current than in max efficiency.
I'm guessing that efficiency is mostly fixed by the forward voltage drop in silicon based devices, while no-load current requirement is due to design details. I'd love to hear from an expert on this.
I'd gladly pay a little more for a unit that automagically turns on its high power stages as the demand requires. For example, my electric fridge runs about 5% of the day. Meanwhile the stupid inverter is sitting there burning up about 3 watts doing nothing but waiting 95% of the time.
I think such smart inverters exist but are not common.
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ScottG
Bothell Wa.
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Joined: 02/25/2005
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The cheapest MSW units have the best "efficiency" but it comes at the cost of clean power.
Scott, Grace and Wesly
2003 Dodge 3500 4x4 Cummins (lightly bombed),
2004 Forest River 25RKS many, many mods.
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2oldman
WA
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Actual tests? That might be hard to come by on THIS forum. Google maybe.
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