Find the right inverter
Power Inverter Guide
Start with the continuous wattage your equipment needs, check the start-up surge, then match the input voltage to your battery bank and the waveform to your most sensitive load.
Inverter Type |
Voltage |
400W |
1000W |
2000W |
3000W |
5000W |
| 12 Inch color Television | 16 Watts |  |
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| Video games console | 20 Watts | |
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| Satellite TV receiver | 30 Watts | |
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| CD or DVD player | 30 Watts | |
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| HiFi stereo 4-head VCR | 40 Watts | |
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| Guitar amplifier (at average volume ) | 40 Watts | |
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| Stereo system (at average volume) | 55 Watts | |
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| CD changer / mini system | 60 Watts | |
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| GE 9 Inch color TV/radio/cassette | 65 Watts | |
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| 13 Inch color TV | 72 Watts | |
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| 19 Inch color TV | 80 Watts | |
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| 20 Inch TV/VCR combo | 110 Watts | |
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| 27 Inch color TV | 170 Watts | |
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| Stereo amplifier | 250 Watts | |
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| Home theater system | 400 Watts | |
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| Power Drill | 400 Watts | |
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| Small Coffee Machine | 600 Watts | |
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| Small Microwave Oven | 800 Watts | |
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| Toaster | 1000 Watts | |
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| Full Size Microwave Oven | 1500 Watts | |
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| Hair Dryer & Washing Machine | 2500 Watts | |
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| Air Conditioner 16000 BTU | 2500 Watts | |
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| Air Compressor 1.5HP | 2800 Watts | |
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| Heavy duty power tools | 2800 Watts | |
12 Volt Battery Chart
Inverter
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Typical Load |
Battery Size |
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| BCI Group Size | 22NF | 24 | 27 | 8D | Dual 8D | ||
| Reserve Capacity | 90 Min | 140 Min | 180 Min | 400 Min | 900 Min | ||
| Amps-Hrs | 50 | 75 | 100 | 200 | 400 | ||
| 50 | Stereo System | Operating Time | 9 HRS | 14 HRS | 20 HRS | 40 HRS | 80 HRS |
| 100 | 19" Color TV | Operating Time | 4 HRS | 6 HRS | 10 HRS | 20 HRS | 40 HRS |
| 200 | Computer System | Operating Time | 2 HRS | 3 HRS | 4.5 HRS | 10 HRS | 20 HRS |
| 300 | Blender | Operating Time | 1.3 HRS | 2.2 HRS | 3 HRS | 6 HRS | 12 HRS |
| 400 | Power Drill | Operating Time | 1 HR | 1.5 HRS | 2 HRS | 4.5 HRS | 10 HRS |
| 600 | Small Coffee Maker | Operating Time | N.R. | N.R. | 1HR | 2.5 HRS | 6 HRS |
| 800 | Small Microwave | Operating Time | N.R. | N.R. | N.R. | 1.5 HRS | 4 HRS |
| 1000 | Toaster | Operating Time | N.R. | N.R. | N.R. | 1 HR | 3 HRS |
| 1500 | Full Size Microwave | Operating Time | N.R. | N.R. | N.R. | 0.5 HR | 2 HRS |
| 2500 | Hair Dryer & Washing Machine | Operating Time | N.R. | N.R. | N.R. | 0.2 HR | 0.8 HRS |
Wattages and runtimes below are estimates
Appliance wattages and battery runtimes are typical figures for planning only. Your actual requirement depends on the rating label of your own appliance, its start-up load, inverter efficiency and the usable capacity and condition of your battery bank. Always size from the label on your equipment.