Bryan's Inverter build

Author	Message
Revlac Guru Joined: 31/12/2016 Location: Australia Posts: 1142	Posted: 05:39am 12 Oct 2023       Mike, Pet. The transformers I used were from old Telecom battery chargers, They were well made, bolted together, or clamped not welded cores, how much difference that make we will have to find out. Most of these chargers were multiple taps  for different input voltages and sometimes out put voltage as well, they were often left switched on ready to charge when the demand was needed. I have heard a few stories about the W7's and the likes, might be worth powering one with a variac. lower the voltage and see if the idle current drops much, just for curiosity anyway, not sure how hard it would be to put on a few more turns. The EI type can be used as a back up inverter I guess, so you have power while the main inverter is under repair, I thing think its best use is for powering a shed or workshop during the day and solar will help supply the loads taking up the inverters inefficiencies, keep the Toroids for running the house overnight. At the moment I'm running 3 HF inverters continuous with a total of 150w Idle consumption, will change them out soon after the next inverter is built. What quality these welder cores are I don't know, The single phase welder I fixed up the other day was around 60w orso when the trigger was pulled and power setting 8 I should have tested the power consumption at lower power settings (check Transformer voltage in and out) also I should have disconnected the fan, and power supply circuit that runs the wire feeder, power consumption would have been lower then. Easy for someone to check on this if they want to experiment, spare time job.