I'm thinking of getting a 1500w inverter too. Which one did you get? Please post when you have it up and running.
GoWISE Power 1500W Continuous... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MKZPD66?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
But you need to buy an inverter and you will pay more than for a similar power generator, and end up with a much more limited and fragile solution.
I may get a bigger one in the future, or get a whole house generator, but here is what I purchased eight years ago.
a standalone 1500 watt pure-sine inverter costs around $200. Giving you up to 1500 watts output continuous if direct wired to MME 12v and 'backfed' thru house outlets or run from a powerstrip. My standard range MME has 66 kWhr max capacity.... so, if the battery was full to start, I could crank out 1500watts for 40 hours continuously.... considering 'important loads' in the average residence average 200-300 watts 'continuously' I'd guess that my MME could 'run my house' for closer to 200 hours.... more than a week.
Did you consider the "vampire drain" that happens when you leave the car on? I am not sure what that is, but the HVB will run down just because the car is on.
Actually you run out to Lowe's or the local grocery store and get a replacement tank. They can exchange propane tanks even if they don't have power. You definitely don't need to keep that many tanks on hand. I have five, and that is more than enough IMO.
parasitic loads from the MME being 'on' look to hover between 12-20 amp x 14.4v = 200-225watts. So yes the 'internal drain' would be about 5 kWhr/24hrs.... which would indeed reduce the duration of backup without recharge. In extreame emergency you could stretch it out by turning it off at night while sleeping I guess.
The scenario I thought we were talking about is 'emergency' where power was out... which probably means stores and cash registers are not open, and roads may be impassible. The comparison would be how much propane would you need on hand if you could not leave your house for 5-10 days versus using your MME sitting in your garage.
You aren't likely to be able to run any 240VAC loads off of a 1.5KW inverter. You can just tie the two sides of the 240V generator connector together and run them from one 120VAC inverter. I would turn off the 240V breakers but the voltage would be zero on those loads if you didn't turn them off.
correct, you cannot run 240v loads from a single 120v inverter.... but you CAN run 120v loads on both 'legs' of your main service panel if you tie together L1,L2 of a 240v (4-prong) backfeed plug so both legs are energized. 240v loads will not work because L1 and L2 will be 'in-phase' rather than 'split phase'.
You are right, it really isn't necessary to have 240V during a power failure. In-phase power on both legs would work just fine for what I would want it for.
you can accomplish the same thing by making two 120v 'suicide adaptors' and running two extension cords from your 120v inverter, one to any outlet that happens to be on different 'legs' of your service. Both legs will be energized, but in-phase. This is the way you might have to do it if you have your charger hard-wired and no 240v receptacle available for 120v-120v backfeed adapter.
What is your background Are you an electrical engineer? On The National Electrical Code Board, NFPA?
This forum is the perfect place for these topics and suggestions. There are many people here who are very smart about how electricity works, and we share our ideas to help others. Personally I have an electrical engineering degree and totally understand the risks of what Dan is suggesting.
