more efficient 12v to 24v step up or 120v to 12v inverter?

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  • georgia088
    Member
    • Sep 2018
    • 71
    #1

    more efficient 12v to 24v step up or 120v to 12v inverter?

    Hello, as I talked in another post, I am trying to run a ubiquiti wireless internet device off of solar panels. I would obviously like to do it as efficiently as possible. The devices come with a power adapter that is a 120v to 24v adapter. So, basically I have a 12v solar system. I am using a modified sine inverter to convert the 12v to 120v. Then the power adapter converts it from 120v to 24v. This seems like it has to be super inefficient. Would I be better off getting a 12v to 24v step up adapter? or not?

    Also, in a similar application, I am powering a camera with a power adapter plugged into inverter. The power adapter (plugged into modified sine inverter) drops the 120v to 5v. Would I be better off getting a 12v to 5v step down adapter?

    Thanks!
    Tags: None
    • Mike90250
      Moderator
      • May 2009
      • 16020
      #2
      Find out what the device actually needs. My wireless router has a 12V wall wart, and then an internal 5V regulator. Your gear may actually run on 12 or 9 or 5 volts.

      Otherwise, yes, you are stuck using 120VAC as your middleman. But you can use an efficient inverter like the Morningstar Suresine 300. I'll bet it consumes half the power of your current mod sine inverter. 0.45A idle.
      SureSine | Pure Sine Wave Inverters - 150 to 2500 Watts
      https://www.morningstarcorp.com/products/suresine/
      Experience reliable power with SureSine Off Grid Pure Sine Wave Inverters from Morningstar Corp.
      Last edited by Mike90250; 09-10-2018, 06:44 PM.
      Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
      || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
      || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

      solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
      gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

        Comment

        • Sunking
          Solar Fanatic
          • Feb 2010
          • 23301
          #3
          Seems simple to me, use a 24 volt system.
          MSEE, PE

            Comment

            • Logan5
              Solar Fanatic
              • Feb 2013
              • 484
              #4
              A number of After market equipment manufactures sell ubiquiti wireless DC voltage POE inserter to replace the AC to DC POE adaptor that comes with the device. If you run a 12v or 24v battery, you can connect directly to this inserter, negating the need for an inverter. Find them on Amazon and E-bay. I run a 24v battery for my ubiquiti wireless devices without any issues.

                Comment

                • PNW_Steve
                  Solar Fanatic
                  • Aug 2014
                  • 433
                  #5
                  I have successfully run a variety of UBNT gear on 12 volts.

                  Their earlier gear came with a POE injector that used an external 12 volt wall wart. Newer stuff has a built in 120 volt power supply in the POE injector.

                  However, running on 12v we found distance limitations on the POE cable runs. As expected... .

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