Solar panels and inverters

[plongson]

Here is one that has me wondering... . You have a 100w solar set connected to a battery bank (size not necessary) and a 300w inverter. You connect a 300wHr load, is there a 200wHr drain on the batteries?



Is the solar low volt input, nearly 1 for 1 to the 120v inverter output, or is there some huge loss in the voltage being stepped up.



Another example with no batteries connected... a 100w solar set connected directally to a 300w inverter... would you only get say 99 watts of 120v output???

 

[RMcCulloch]

A few "minor" things to remember:



1. All those ratings are maxima: that 100W solar panel will only provide that much power at high noon on the Equator and that 300W inverter will pull 30A if, and only if, you have that much actual load on it.



2. The input power requirement of the Inverter is directly proportional to the output demand.



To answer your questions:

1. If the actual load is 300W-Hr [~30 AH] you'll pull at least 20AH/hr out of your batteries.



2. You can plan on needing 1A @ 12V for each 10W @ 120V.



3. See above.