A 1500-watt inverter runs power tools and devices of up to 1300 watts. Running at full capacity is not good for the appliances, batteries, and inverter, as you’ll see in a few.
Key Takeaways
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This article will discuss what can a 1500-watt inverter run? You’ll also get the size of the recommended DC wire for the 1500-watt power inverter and the wattage it draws. Read on for more.
1500-Watt Power Inverter What Can It Run?
A 1500-watt inverter can run a heap of about 1200-1300 watts and run well without issues. Such appliances include the following.
Electric Appliances
- A cellphone
- 100W PC
- several 100W lights
Kitchen Appliances
- A refrigerator between 400W and 800W.
- Microwave oven between 800-1300 watts
Camping Appliances
- Power tools
- Water pump
- Dvd players
- Laptop
- Led lights
- RV refrigerators
Understanding a 1500 Watt Inverter: Features & Efficiency
A 1500-watt inverter, like any other power inverter, converts Direct Current from a battery. It then converts it into an Alternating current which is usable by household appliances.
A power inverter has an 85 percent efficiency because of the small power lost during Current conversion. But that shouldn’t worry you as long as your gadgets’ starting and running power requirements are below 1300 watts.
Operating at 85%efficiency means running 1300 watts of load will pull up 1300W plus 15%. That gives the DC wattage it pulls. So the inverter pulls up 1495 watts. That’s under the 1500-watt limit so the gadgets will run perfectly.
But suppose you want to run a 1500-watt load. It will pull up 1725 watts of DC. That’s above its capacity, which means increased inverter heat, which, when run continuously, causes damage to the inverter.
The trick is to minus 15 percent from the inverter’s full capacity. That gives the value of a perfect load to run.
Maximum Surge: Starting and Running Wattage Rating for a 1.5K Inverter
The surge power is the starting burst of power that an appliance requires to start. That’s different from the running watts. The inverter’s running wattage is the continuous power rating gadgets require from the power source to run when you want them to serve you.
Simply put, when looking for a new inverter, you should be aware that the its rating, in this case, 1500 watts, is the inverter’s continuous rating. Some devices state the starting surge power, not the continuous running power, and vice versa, so be keen.
Starting power is twice or thrice higher than run power, especially in gadgets with an electric motor. Such gadgets include a dishwasher, fridge, freezer, washing machine, and vacuum cleaner. The good thing about surge power is it’s required a few seconds to start the appliance, especially the ones with an electric motor.
Plus, an inverter usually has a manufacturer’s indication of the maximum surge power it can run. A 1500-watt inverter can handle two times, sometimes three times, its c- rating. But for the generator’s safety, that means up to 3000 watts.
Running devices like an electric kettle or a microwave oven simultaneously may require every high surge power the inverter would struggle to handle. That’s because the starting watts don’t come under the inverter’s surge ratings.
In such a case, you can switch off the other devices to ensure that one gets enough power from the 1500-watt inverter without overloading the inverter.
Will a 1500W Inverter Run a Microwave?
Running a microwave with a 1500-watt inverter, like a pure sine wave inverter, depends on the microwave type. Some microwaves require up to 2k watts, while others require as little as 800 watts.
If the microwave requires 1300 running watts and below 3k surge power, then the 1.5k inverter will run it comfortably. Pure sine wave inverters can run 1300 power loads and 3k surge power. The pure sine wave inverter is preferable for a microwave to a modified sine wave inverter (MSWI).
That’s because you have two types of sine wave inverters. They include modified sine wave inverters and pure sine (PSWI) wave inverters. So, (MSWI) uses a basic technology that supplies voltage erratically.
Therefore, it has more ebbs and peaks in the current flow with most modern appliances. Such kitchen appliances are a microwave. It makes them susceptible to power fluctuations, hindering them from operating optimally and from durability.
A pure sine wave inverter has higher-quality power which matches the microwave. Therefore, we recommend running your microwave with a pure sine wave inverter.
What Size Battery for a 1500 Watt Inverter?
The perfect size battery for a 12 volts 1500-watt inverter is 1500W/12V, which is 125 amps. That means a 125-200 amp battery is okay.
A 24-volt-1500-watt inverter is 1500/24V, which is 62.5 amps. That means one above 63 amps is okay.
And lastly, a 48-volt 1500-watt inverter is 1500W/48V, which is 31.25 amps. That means a battery above 32 amps is okay.
The formula used is Amps=Wattage/Voltage. And you’ll notice the lower the voltage, the higher the amperage required, and therefore the higher the price. Using the continuous power rating of the inverter ensures you’re safe. Otherwise, as we saw, you can use the total wattage you need for all gadgets, which shouldn’t exceed 1300 watts.
Lastly, the load size affects the battery size you’ll go for, so for heavy duties on your 1500-watt inverter, go for a battery that packs up more amps.
What Size Battery Cable for a 1500 Watt Inverter?
The ideal size cable for a 1500-watt inverter is 4/0 AWG for a 12-V system. The lower the voltage, the thicker the wire required.
Also, the perfect size for a 24-V system is 2/0, while a 48-V system requires 4/0 cables, but 2/0 could also do. But we recommend 4/0 cables for a 1500-watt inverter battery.
Battery and battery cable sizes depend on the C-ratings on the inverter and battery.
Recommended DC Wire Size for 1500 W Inverter?
The recommended DC wire size for a 1500-watt inverter is 4/0. The inverter size determines the DC cable size connecting to the power source.
Kitchen appliances, drills, air conditioners, power tools, and water heaters use more and therefore require a 1500-watt inverter with thick wires to support its system.
Will a 1500-Watt Inverter Run My Refrigerator?
Yes, a 1500-watt inverter will run a refrigerator easily because it requires 250 watts of running power. Most fridges require between 100 and 250 watts. A refrigerator requires a surge power of about 400-600 watts. So a 1500-watt inverter requires about 800 watts to run a fridge for one hour. 1500-watt Pure sine wave inverters are good for running fridges in your camping caravans or semi-trucks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does a 1500-Watt Inverter Run?
A 1500-watt inverter runs for 1.5 hours on a 24V-100-amp lithium battery. The battery capacity and the output load are the critical determiners of how many amps you can use and how long your power inverter will last.
How Many Amps Does a 1500 W Inverter Draw?
A 1500w inverter draws 85% Direct Power from the battery. At full capacity, a 1500-watt power inverter should take up loads of up to 1300 watts without strain. Beyond that, you risk wrecking your appliances and inverter.
What Size of Fuse to Use with a 1500 W Inverter?
The right size fuse for a 1500-Watt 12v is 125-amp. The size also depends on the C ratings of the battery. Also, on the voltage.
How Many Lithium Batteries Do I Need for a 1500 Watt Inverter?
One 100Ah Lithium battery is okay for a 1.5k inverter. But two 100Ah AGM or lead-acid batteries will do for a 12V system.
