Inverter power usage

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   I have a 750 watt inverter from Harbor Freight. I can't find any power consumption levels in their literature. I have been leaving it turned on all of the time by connectning it directly to the battery with a pair of  fused #6 cables. Does anyone know if an inverter actually will drain your battery if you leave it connected all of the time even if there is nothing plugged into it? I'm trying to determine if this is one of the phantom loads that is draining our batteries.Thanks
Vann

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Pod People Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 22 Sep 2011 Location: Chapel Hill,NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 1066	Topic: Inverter power usage Posted: 24 Sep 2017 at 11:01pm
	I have a 750 watt inverter from Harbor Freight. I can't find any power consumption levels in their literature. I have been leaving it turned on all of the time by connectning it directly to the battery with a pair of fused #6 cables. Does anyone know if an inverter actually will drain your battery if you leave it connected all of the time even if there is nothing plugged into it? I'm trying to determine if this is one of the phantom loads that is draining our batteries. Thanks Vann
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M0tl3y Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 21 Sep 2014 Location: Utah Online Status: Offline Posts: 61	Posted: 24 Sep 2017 at 11:27pm
	All inverters will draw a small amount of amperage when turned on. Some may even draw a nominal amount when turned off because they keep their USB ports powered all of the time. You can be assured that your Harbor Freight 750W inverter is indeed adding to your vampire draw on your batteries if you have it connected and the power switch in the on position.
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StephenH Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6288	Posted: 25 Sep 2017 at 10:34am
	+1 The inverter will indeed draw a certain amount, but neither the web site nor the manual specifies how much. The best I can find from looking at other 750 watt inverters is that it probably draws about .5A at idle.
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GlueGuy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2628	Posted: 25 Sep 2017 at 10:49am
	Most inverters are between 85% and 95% efficient under load. So there will be some waste energy when they are in use. Frustratingly, the efficiency will vary by load, with the highest efficiency usually at the higher end of the scale. Based on that, I would expect that an inverter with no load will use some energy when there is no load on the output. However, I would hesitate to speculate on how much. My best advice would be to measure the actual current draw at various different loads. BTW - If you were to actually put a 750 watt load on the output of an inverter, that would amount to 62 amps at 100% efficiency. If your inverter is 95% efficient, it would be 65 amps; 73 amps at 85% efficiency. YMMV
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Pod People Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 22 Sep 2011 Location: Chapel Hill,NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 1066	Posted: 25 Sep 2017 at 11:35pm
	Thanks for all of the Great information. I want to keep the inverter and use it to recharge our computers, phones and ipads. What do you think about installing a 12volt automotive switch on the main power lead from the battery. If the switch is on, we can use the inverter and then turn it off when finished. Thanks for your help. Vannb
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Tars Tarkas Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 14 Jan 2013 Location: Near Nashville Online Status: Offline Posts: 1446	Posted: 26 Sep 2017 at 7:37am
	A switch is a good idea, but to do what you're talking about a 200w inverter would be plenty. I put in a 12v outlet, from which I charge any kind of usb charged device, I have 12v adapter for my laptop, and on those odd occasions when I need 120v for something I can plug in my 200w inverter. TT
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