In this article, we’ll help you discover how much power an inverter draws with no load. We’ll further talk about the typical inverter current draws for 12V and 24V inverters before answering some of your frequently asked questions.
Let’s go!
Typical 12V Inverter Current Draw
A typical 24V inverter draws about 0.1A to 0.4A of current once it is switched on, even though NO LOAD IS CONNECTED YET. You can also find this value in the electrical specifications of the inverter provided by the manufacturer.
How do I know How Much Power my Inverter Draws With no Load?
If you would like to know the exact amount of power your inverter uses in idle when there is no load on it, you need to OBTAIN THE IDLE CURRENT FROM THE SPECIFICATIONS of the inverter and multiply it by the inverter’s voltage rating.
This follows from the fact that:
power = voltage x current
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an inverter use any Power if it’s not Plugged into Any Power Source?
Yes, AN INVERTER USES SOME POWER IF IT IS PLUGGED INTO ANY POWER SOURCE even if no load (appliances) have been connected to it.
Here’s how.
Well, for a start, the INVERTER DOES SOME WORK RUNNING IN THE BACKGROUND to keep it in power mode. The power for doing this work is obtained from the power sources such as the battery.
Secondly, following the law of conservation of energy, the INVERTER LOSES SOME POWER AS A FORM OF HEAT during the transition process from DC power to AC power.
How many Amps does a 2000W Inverter Draw with no Load?
A 2000W inverter can draw about 1.5A to 1.8A on average with no load. Now, we were able to come up with this value range by testing different 2000W inverters with no load.
The value depends on the efficiency of the inverter based on circuit design and the choice of components.
How many Batteries are needed to run a 2000W Inverter?
You’ll need about two batteries drawing 200Amps with 12V to run a 2000W inverter.
Here’s how:
For an inverter supplying 2000W power, it follows that such an inverter draws 2000W/12V = 166.6Amps in one hour. Now, for the battery with 200Amps of current stored, it means the battery will be exhausted in 200A/166.6A = 1.2hrs.
Now, it isn’t advisable to max out your batteries. In fact, you shouldn’t deplete the energy storage beyond 50%. Therefore, having two batteries of this rating means you’ll have two 200A, 12V batteries to deliver 2000W of power in 1.2hrs.
Can you Leave a Power Inverter on all the Time?
You SHOULDN’T leave your power inverter on all the time. Leaving your inverter on all the time increases the chances of your battery being drained without doing any meaningful work.
It is advisable for you to SWITCH YOUR INVERTER OFF WHEN IT’S NOT DOING ANY WORK.
Will an Inverter Drain the Power in Idle?
Yes, AN INVERTER WILL DRAIN THE POWER IN IDLE. Being in Idle means that no load (appliances) is connected to your inverter, and so, no meaningful work is being done.
Do Larger Inverters Draw More Power Efficiently?
Larger inverters WILL NOT draw power more efficiently than smaller ones just because they are larger. Inverters draw power more efficiently If they are well matched with their load size.
You should run an inverter rated 2000W with a load of about 800W -1000W instead of running it with a load of 20W. Likewise, you should run an inverter of 200W with a load of 50W to 100W.
Inverter efficiency depends on two parameters mainly DC input power and AC output power. The efficiency is calculated as the ratio of both these parameters, and it depends on how well-matched the inverter capacity is with the load size.