Inverter and Battery capacity for washing machine

[Ho jo]

I ran my washer in heavy load. kilowatt read 220 what hours 783 peak watts. On a 12 volts wouldn't a 1000 watt inverter and array be needed?

[Mike90250]

I ran my washer in heavy load. kilowatt read 220 what hours 783 peak watts. On a 12 volts wouldn't a 1000 watt inverter and array be needed?

Most likely at LEAST a 1kw inverter. At 800w, the inverter will pull 66A from the battery. There may be a problem with an inverter not being able to supply the surge power needed to start the motor if the battery is less than 100% full

[PNW_Steve]

I am not sure how you are measuring power consumption.

I have used the "kill-a-watt" meter and found that it works well for measuring overall consumption but does not give an accurate measure of "locked rotor current". The initial surge of current needed to start the motor.

I have a refrigerator that consumes less that 250 watts when running. I experimented with inverters and found that I needed a 1000 watt Xantrex to handle the startup.

IMHO: An occasional large load may be better supported by a generator rather than sizing your entire system for a once a week load.

[Ho jo]

Yes I've heard kilowatt meters aren't very good at showing peaks. A generator is how I've been running my machine. Just enlarging my system for running a washing machine wouldn't be a good idea. But with winter I need to grow my system any way. Just wondering if anyone knew how large of inverter and battery I would need.

[SunEagle]

Yes I've heard kilowatt meters aren't very good at showing peaks. A generator is how I've been running my machine. Just enlarging my system for running a washing machine wouldn't be a good idea. But with winter I need to grow my system any way. Just wondering if anyone knew how large of inverter and battery I would need.

It will really depend on what the motor of your washing machine requires to start up. A 1000w pure sine wave inverter should work but then again it may not.

[thastinger]

Would really need to know the HP rating of the WM motor. I have a 1HP well pump which, on 115 is supposed to be an 11.2A draw, that is 1100W. My little Yamaha 2000 will not start it, IIRC the max for the Yamaha is 1600W on startup.

[Paul Land]

Yes I've heard kilowatt meters aren't very good at showing peaks. A generator is how I've been running my machine. Just enlarging my system for running a washing machine wouldn't be a good idea. But with winter I need to grow my system any way. Just wondering if anyone knew how large of inverter and battery I would need.

Is your washer Energy star or Power Hog. If Hog swap it out

[Ho jo]

I'm not sure how much a energy star uses. On mine wash time on heavy was 31 mins. it used 220 whrs 783 watts spinning My 2000 surge 1700 generator runs it with no problem. And its not an inverter type .I've read about washers that take 2200 surge watts starting spin cycle with heavy wet clothes.Thats 183 amps on 12 volt wow.Not really doable . Ive also read about dc soft start motors In new washers. But my guess the washer.would be out of my budget. At $2 a gal i may just keep using the jenny for 30 mins .At 25 cents a load I'd have to wash a lot of clothes to justify the cost of the inverter.

[Paul Land]

I'm not sure how much a energy star uses. On mine wash time on heavy was 31 mins. it used 220 whrs 783 watts spinning My 2000 surge 1700 generator runs it with no problem. And its not an inverter type .I've read about washers that take 2200 surge watts starting spin cycle with heavy wet clothes.Thats 183 amps on 12 volt wow.Not really doable . Ive also read about dc soft start motors In new washers. But my guess the washer.would be out of my budget. At $2 a gal i may just keep using the jenny for 30 mins .At 25 cents a load I'd have to wash a lot of clothes to justify the cost of the inverter.

If your tech inclined you can add a start capacitor to wash motor and it will push start it. ( cap provides needed surge)

[Mike90250]

I have an energy star front load washer (samsung), and it runs the drum about 4 revs each direction. When it reverses, I can hear the inverter grunt as the motor sucks juice. So mine has lots of peak loads - about every 90 sec as it reverses.

[Ho jo]

Not sure about what uf etc capacitor; iI'd need or where to wire it in . guess its like my air compressor it has capacitors to start and run. I read somewhere that the 2 hp i have has 3x surge vs run. I believe it was 3300

[Ho jo]

Mike what size inverter

[Paul Land]

I have an energy star front load washer (samsung), and it runs the drum about 4 revs each direction. When it reverses, I can hear the inverter grunt as the motor sucks juice. So mine has lots of peak loads - about every 90 sec as it reverses.

Yup! I have same 1 as you do. It sips H2o and juice hardly registers voltage on my transfer panels voltmeter

[Mike90250]

Mike what size inverter

It's 6Kw 48V with 800ah battery. only registers about 300w running, but the reversals are real power hogs. I am pretty sure it's a inverter drive motor in the washer, to get all the speeds and directions.

[Greta Gremlin]

Yes I've heard kilowatt meters aren't very good at showing peaks. A generator is how I've been running my machine. Just enlarging my system for running a washing machine wouldn't be a good idea. But with winter I need to grow my system any way. Just wondering if anyone knew how large of inverter and battery I would need.

I might need some correcting on this. Edit: Sunking has corrected this information on post #25 of this thread
For sizing your battery with inverter, you will want to consider two things; PF (power factor) and inverter efficiency.
I tested this on a mini fridge and the losses from PF alone is what steered me to 12 volt only appliances.

Not sure if PF is ever mentioned in-depth in the stickies.
this thread gives a good idea about what to expect from PF (8 year old thread).
https://www.solarpaneltalk.com/forum...-in-the-system

Following example given is based on that thread.
If your peak load is 783 watts, you'll want to check the PF to get a good idea of what it will draw in voltamps and not
watts.

Example, PF is 60%, then 783/.6 = 1305 voltamps

Then put in inverter efficiency.
Example, inverter efficiency is 80%, 1305/.8 = 1631 voltamps

783/.6/.8 = 1631
So an estimate may be 1631 voltamps being pulled during peak loads.

To get a true estimate you'll have to measure the PF on the appliance during both surge and continuous.
(Note: For my fridge test, I noticed PF is around 80-90% during surge but 50-60% for continuous. You may have similar
results on the washing machine so you might be able to cover that surge load with inverter.)
The inverter efficiency won't always be giving peak efficiency so may want to leave yourself some room for sizing
inverter there also.

Since the estimate was that 1631 voltamps were being pulled,
then sounds like an inverter rated 1000 continuous with 2000 surge would work.
Your generator rated at 2000 surge ran the washing machine fine, so that offers some confidence.
Though the peak load of 1631 voltamps may run longer than the inverter surge is capable of handling.(some can supply
surge no more than a second)
In which case the 1000/2000 inverter won't work. You may have to get an inverter than handles 1631 voltamps continuous.
Your generator was rated at 1700 continuous so it'll be hard to tell whether or not your 1631 voltamps are going to be
surge or continuous.
If committed to getting it to work, you may want to look into how long those peak loads go for.

I'm seeing most recommendations on the forum are not to go above 1000 watts for 12v.
Though I don't know if that recommendation is for surge or continuous.
If your set on safely running washing machine, might make sense to make the switch to 24V or even 48V if you're
enlarging your system.