Anyone using the inverter to power a factory installed or window unit A/C? If so, how is the performance?
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most inverters will not have the capacity to "start" the compressor of either a factory or window unit, but to be sure check the units for compatibility i.e. start up draw vs. inverter output of particular units and then battery bank will determine how long it will run but my best guess is not long at all. Sorry not what you wanted to hear.........
AC/Inverter
Unless you have an enormous house bank, odds are not very good that you will have enough power to run it for more than a few minutes. You can do the math yourself.
How large is your battery bank in terms of total Ah?
What size AC unit do you want and how much power does it draw to start and then run?
One of our heat pumps rated at 16,000 BTU draws ten amps of 120V AC. It might spike to about 15 amps to start. Our house bank is rated at a total of 480 Ah, with 50% consumable capacity of 240 Ah. Our 2500 watt inverter might start the heat pump and run for a few minutes, but not for long. That is the reason that Hunter installed an 8KW Genset just for the purpose of running the heat pumps while on the hook.
Terry Cox
Unless you have an enormous house bank, odds are not very good that you will have enough power to run it for more than a few minutes. You can do the math yourself.
How large is your battery bank in terms of total Ah?
What size AC unit do you want and how much power does it draw to start and then run?
One of our heat pumps rated at 16,000 BTU draws ten amps of 120V AC. It might spike to about 15 amps to start. Our house bank is rated at a total of 480 Ah, with 50% consumable capacity of 240 Ah. Our 2500 watt inverter might start the heat pump and run for a few minutes, but not for long. That is the reason that Hunter installed an 8KW Genset just for the purpose of running the heat pumps while on the hook.
Terry Cox
AC is not a real good answer
There are other, less power hungry, ways of staying cool on a boat.
12 volt fans are WONDERFULL at night and only draw a few amps. I'm sure you noticed that off the stern was this big body of water. I've used it to cool off in on numerous occasions. Sun shades are great additions to any boat as they lower the temp inside. makes everything less uncomfortable whether you use AC or not.
There are other, less power hungry, ways of staying cool on a boat.
12 volt fans are WONDERFULL at night and only draw a few amps. I'm sure you noticed that off the stern was this big body of water. I've used it to cool off in on numerous occasions. Sun shades are great additions to any boat as they lower the temp inside. makes everything less uncomfortable whether you use AC or not.
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