Calculating the inverter capacity required for a particular application involves the following steps:
- Determine the total power consumption of the appliances or equipment that you want to run on the inverter. This can be done by adding up the power ratings (in watts) of each device.
- Decide how many of the appliances will be operated simultaneously. For example, if you have a refrigerator and a TV, you may only use one of them at a time, so they will not be operating simultaneously.
- Determine the starting surge or peak power of the appliances. Some devices, like air conditioners and refrigerators, require a higher power supply to start up than to operate normally. The surge power can be as much as 2-3 times the normal operating power.
- Calculate the total power requirement by adding up the running power of all the appliances that will be operating at the same time and then adding the surge power of the largest appliance.
- Choose an inverter that has a capacity greater than or equal to the total power requirement calculated in step 4.
- It is recommended to add a buffer of 20-30% to the calculated inverter capacity to ensure that the inverter can handle any unexpected power surges or fluctuations in power demand.
It is important to note that the inverter capacity calculation should be done carefully, as an under-sized inverter may not be able to handle the required power demand, while an over-sized inverter may be more expensive and less efficient.
