01-15-2014, 04:15 AM
quote:
Originally posted by MarkP
I fixed my friend up with the same re-purposed SmartUPS 3000 that I installed for myself. It runs his catchment pump OK. This UPS inverter has a capacity of 2,700 watts (3,000 volt-amps) and is pure sine wave. His pump is 1/2 hp and is set up for 120 volts. Checking the obvious first, what voltage and HP is your pump? If you are trying to run a 220 volt pump on 110 it's not going to run well. When you say it wouldn't power the pump, what happens? Does the inverter trip off? Does the pump sit there and hum?
Some motors will run on modified sine wave but will draw more current. Given that my friend's pump runs OK on a 2,700 watt inverter I would suspect the problem is due to a MSW inverter rather than too small an inverter. Course if you already have a TSW inverter then I am obviously wrong.
It's a 1 HP pump and according to the stats it can be run either 120 or 220 volt (ours is setup for 120). It is a modified sine wave inverter. When I try to run it the inverter and the pump cycle on and off which is what these inverters are supposed to do when they are overwhelmed. The cycle is quick so the pump never gets over it's required starting load.
I did initially suspect the inverter, but I have two of them and they both behave the same way, not to mention that just one of them can run a full size fridge, TV, DVD, lights, and everything else in the house with no problem. When the pump kicks on under normal use it does cause the lights in the house to flicker.