Since I've never had an inverter that also charges this is new territory.
When I'm plugged into only a 15amp service, can I simply keep the inverter powered to charge the batteries, but pull my main power from the inverter so I can intermittently run heavier loads than the 15amp allows?
Not unless the inverter has the load sharing option
Not really thinking of sharing any loads. Just want to use the charger on the 15amp but use the inverter exclusively for the heavier loads
Quote from: Tikvah on August 12, 2015, 04:32:10 PM
Not really thinking of sharing any loads. Just want to use the charger on the 15amp but use the inverter exclusively for the heavier loads
depends on the inverter circuitry...it might carry loads..untill the batteries reach the set point..then revert to charge only... or it could share, but in order to do that MOST have a setting telling it what the incoming ampearge is available...
not all inverters are the same.
What inverter are you using, that will determine what it will do...
http://www.invertersrus.com/aims-picoglf30w24v120v.html (http://www.invertersrus.com/aims-picoglf30w24v120v.html)
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fep.yimg.com%2Fay%2Fyhst-6122897076971%2Faims-3000-picoglf30w24v120v-9.gif&hash=ac8d888a573364acf6ce44c1cfdd0bab25ccc2fc)
http://site.invertersrus.com/pdf/PICOGLF30W24V120V.pdf (http://site.invertersrus.com/pdf/PICOGLF30W24V120V.pdf)
I do not see anything here that suggests the unit is capable of load sharing.
or an ability to carry excess.
Look at Magnum inverters and read up on load sharing inverters.
Yes you can do what you want to do, as long as the charger doesn't take more than 15amps even when the inverter is sucking power. Good Luck, TomC
Unless the inverter is a newer design that has "load sharing" when shore power is available it becomes a battery charger, drawing the current limit you program it to draw. I think I set mine up for 10 amps. The shore power to the inverter also passes through the inverter via a relay to the electric panel for other loads. To determine if the 15 amp circuit will work, add the current setting of the inverter in charging mode plus add whatever other loads you are adding, such as a refrigerator.
That does not mean your inverter is drawing the current load you have set. If the batteries are fully charged and you have no loads on them such as lights and the inverter is in float you are likely to have less inverter current draw than the set point.