Stacked Inverters

[Jeremy]

Simple question I think - can any inverters be stacked together, or do they have to be built for the purpose? I've come across a cracking deal on an almost identical inverter to the one I've already got (same make a model but a different output wattage), and I'm just curious to know whether they can be stacked together. I don't really understand alternating current but imagine bad things would happen if two different power sources were out-of-phase with each other

Jeremy

[eagle19952]

here are a bit of info you may already know...i know nothing about the subject, yet...

i found this interesting...
http://www.fieldlines.com/index.php/topic,146532.msg1003680.html?PHPSESSID=68b8d08f4172aea1d8c98760fb4cfbe1#msg1003680

[luvrbus]

I had 2 stacked 2012 Traces for years but some cannot be stacked

[bevans6]

They need to be designed so that they can share a signal to put the two inverters in phase with each other.  It would usually be a pretty major part of the advertising and the manual if they can be stacked, it adds both complexity and value to the inverter.  Over here, with our 120 volt AC standard, they come with two ways of stacking - to add power at 120 volts, or to add a second inverter to create 240 volts from a pair of 120 volt units.  I would inquire with the manufacturer if Google fails you...

Brian

[luvrbus]

The guys at Trace balance mine through the interface some how back in 2000 only one of mine had the charger fwiw I was 120 volts but one inverter was not enough on a 12v system for the demand

[Jeremy]

Thanks for the replies; I figured that it would be a question of syncronising the inverters together so they would be in phase, and the inverters in question definitely don't have that capability (and I wasn't aware that it was even possible to stack inverters in series to double the voltage).

I'm tempted to buy the second inverter anyway and install it as a back-up, or even create a dedicated AC circuit for it - although that's probably just creating complexity for the sake of it.

Thanks

Jeremy

[Jon]

Even if inverters will not sync up the phases there is a benefit to having two. Each can have their own devices so instead of having 2500 watts of inverter power for example more devices can be added for a total of 5000 watts. That might mean that in addition to having the refrigerator and some outlets on an inverter circuit, it might be possible to have all outlets, the TVs and microwave on the inverters.

Additionally you have 2 battery chargers. You can allow both inverters to charge the batteries simultaneously, or you can opt to use one as a standby.

I have had 2 inverters used as described above, and now I have two synced together so I have more flexibility in what devices I choose to run on the inverters, including one or more AC units.

[Oonrahnjay]

Thanks for the replies; I figured that it would be a question of syncronising the inverters together so they would be in phase, ... 

    If you want more technical stuff, have a look at the online installation manual for Outback inverters.  I am not 100% crazy about the one in my bus, but the installation instructions and explanation of how stacking for US-standard 240V/60 Hz single phase and triple-phase works is very clear.

    Is there a good selection of UK 240V/50 Hz inverters?

[Jeremy]

Yes, there's no shortage of 240v inverters available - 220-240v 50Hz is vastly more common around the world than 110v. Mastervolt and Victron are blue-chip inverter brands here, plus all the usual cheap Chinese types which probably only produce their stated outputs when used at -272'C


Jeremy

[Oonrahnjay]

Yes, there's no shortage of 240v inverters available - 220-240v 50Hz is vastly more common around the world than 110v. Mastervolt and Victron are blue-chip inverter brands here, plus all the usual cheap Chinese types which probably only produce their stated outputs when used at -272'C

Jeremy 

     Yeah, that's what I thought but for completeness, it seemed good to ask.