Inverter and timers

[samkat]

I was checking some specs on the inverter i got (a duralast 200 W) and it states that it uses less than 0.4A per hour when NOT under load. Can someone tell me if that is 0.4A at 110 V? I mean if it is hooked to the battery and switched on is that 0.4 A draw from the batter per hour when on but not in use?

I plan to use it part time and will have it hooked up to a digital time i purchased. The inverter will make a beeping noise should the batter voltage drop and i believe it will not stop beeping until i reset it or increase voltage. I can not be resetting it all the time. and i do not want it to drain when not in use.

If i add the timer before the inverter and should it be such that voltage drops and it starts to beep will it resent when the time switches it off and back on some hours later or does the actual inverter on/off has to be used.

Not sure if i am making sense lol!

[Mike90250]

Inverter draw is from the battery, So that inverter consumes 0.4A DC just sitting there, being ready to go.

I use a morningstar SureSine 300w inverter, it has automatic standby of 0.055A DC When running gear it's 0.45A internal loss

http://www.morningstarcorp.com/products/suresine/

[samkat]

Mine just mentions no load consumption = <0.4 A So i think the best would be a timer before inverter and keep inverter switched on. That way it goes on and off based on timer and i ensure no waste of battery when device is not needed to be on.

[Mike90250]

That works too.

[PNPmacnab]

I just bought a cute new RIDGID 100W inverter off ebay for $7.50. It draws .4A just being on. The unit is fairly smart and doesn't turn on the fan till hot. That is still as much as my 400W inverter with the fans disconnected. Those inverters with a slide switch can be easily turned off and on. That switch only powers the control electronics ad is low current. Any little relay in parallel with this switch can control it. Newer push button inverters are a pain to control. A relay is recommended because this is also the power that is monitored for low voltage. Any voltage drop from solid state electronics could cause early low voltage shutdown. Most inverters have to be turned off to reset from low voltage. Something like a UNO or NANO can easily provide timing resets and voltage monitoring.