How Much Power an Inverter Draws with No Load
For example, a 100Ah battery at 12V theoretically provides about 1200 watts for 1 hour, but factoring in inverter efficiency (approximately 85%) and discharge safety limits
Continuing the previous example, if your inverter draws 1111 watts from a 12V battery, the current draw would be approximately 92.6 amps. Measure duration of usage: If you want to calculate the total energy consumed, multiply the power draw by the time the inverter operates.
Medium and large inverters generally draw between 1000 to 5000 watts from a battery. This range reflects their power consumption when converting DC (direct current) electricity from a battery to usable AC (alternating current) electricity for devices. For medium inverters, typical power draws range from 1000 to 3000 watts.
To find out how much power an inverter draws without any load, multiply the battery voltage by the inverter no load current draw. A 1000 watt 24V inverter with a 0.4 no load current has a power consumption of 9.6 watts. 24V x 0.4 = 9.6 watts If you want to figure out the no load current in amps, divide the watts consumption by the battery voltage.
Different inverters operate optimally at different input voltages. If the battery voltage is lower than the inverter's rated voltage, it may draw more power to maintain the desired output. For instance, a 12V inverter operating on a 10.5V battery may increase power draw inconsistently, reducing efficiency.
PDF version includes complete article with source references.
Get specifications and technical data for our MW-scale energy storage and PV integration solutions.
45 Energy Innovation Park
London WC2H 8NA, United Kingdom
+44 20 7783 1966
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM GMT