PART 2:Connecting a 24v Battery Bank to a 12v 1200w Power Jack GT Inverter

Got my GT inverter running off a 24v battery bank. Find it real interesting that a 1200w Inverter that is supposed to be able to max out at 2400w only runs at 600w with max voltage? Sounds fishy. Was the product mislabeled or is there another explanation?

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Solar power
• off the grid
• grid tie inverter
• power jack
• batteries
• 12v
• 24v
• watts

[dalamar437]

I'll see what i can do if I get some time. I only have 2 12v 85w panels. So in full sun I only put about 100w into the inverter. It never gets too hot at the 100w in fact the little fan inside never even turns on.

[nrodge1]

But you didn't get 1200W yet, 600W is only 25A and the GTI is 78% so really 800W in is what you would need on th input for 600W out (sorry) so 33A. And those breakers are for DC? Most like that are AC so don't depend on that to give you a amp reading. But you did confirm that if it's 24V in then your wire size isn't an issue but 24V is possibly too low for full output, like right now my 300W is at full out and the input is at 26V, so maybe put two car chargers on them? Or connect your solar!

[dalamar437]

@nrodge1 Yeah I'm using 8 gauge wire so I think that's okay. Hmm yes these are probably AC breakers, any recommendations where I can find some DC breakers? So technically this inverter is intended for a 12v system even though it's range is 14 - 28v. I'm scared to put anything more than 24 in it so I don't damage it. Sounds like I need to find a way to keep it cool too. I still would have thought if it's not operating at full capacity that it wouldn't get so hot.

[pro311031]

12v computer fans that can run as long as the inverter is running

[pro311031]

get some 12v fan to keep your inverters cool, on each inverter, and shorten your cables

[MINIMAKERSHEAD]

1200 watts is its peek power

[built2bfree]

Its like the old cheap car amps vs. old Punch car amps theory a better product makes more power.

[pro311031]

what is your current reading?

[SquirrelFromGradLife]

24 volt in a 12 volt inverter? it might say up to 28 volt but you will merely turn electricity into heat that the inverter have to dissipate..you're ruining both the inverter and your batteries. Put two batteries in series to get your 12 volt and then run those in parallel increasing your amps. You want high amps when using an inverter not high volts.

[rboos]

Do the batteries have a discharge rate? Maybe they give a initial peak and then stall at a low discharge rate? I noticed those GT have a small fan to exit the air, but no air entrance? Many ppl install them with the fan upwards, heat tends to go up... My bet is the batteries are not keeping up with the energy drain... or indeed heat is keeping you from obtaining the output you want... BTW 24v is excelent for the 14-28v input. I have the same GTI but in the 28v-55v, operating with 40v in.

[BullittMcQueen1]

Have you tried connecting the grid-tie inverter from your solar panels to the home electrical plug? How does that work?

[Alchaeon1]

....I bet the other 600W is heat - you seem to be runnign at 50% efficiency

[bigjon1359]

I have the same inverter and found out that the ground lug was not a good ground. I put the ground from my 120 ele box right to one of the screws that hold the end plate on and over doubled my output. I was getting 400+ watts directly from 3 - 200 watt panels on a partly cloudy day after changing the ground.