When it comes to using an inverter to power electrical devices, choosing the right battery is essential for a reliable and sustainable power supply. A 1500-watt inverter can power a wide range of electronic devices and appliances, depending on their power requirements.
The battery requirements for a 1500-watt inverter depend on various factors including the duration you want to run the appliance and the wattage of the appliance.
In this article, we cover what you can run on a 1500-watt inverter and provide you with an overview of the battery options available for a 1500-watt inverter. I will also highlight the minimum battery capacity required for running a 1500-watt inverter and how to ensure compatibility between the inverter and the battery system.
What Can You Run off a 1500-watt Inverter?
As stated before a 1500-watt inverter can run a wide range of appliances. The actual continuous output of a 1500-watt inverter will be somewhere around 1200 watts with surge watts of between 2000 and 3000 watts. It also has a continuous surge watt of around 1800 watts for 15 minutes.
With this power you can run:
Kitchen Appliances: A 200 -500 watt refrigerator, 900-watt microwave, 700-watt instant pot, electric kettle, and kettles for short periods of time.
Small appliances: A 1500-watt inverter can power small appliances such as 400-watt blenders, 500-watt coffee makers, and a 900-watt toaster.
Home electronics: A 1500-watt inverter can power electronics such as laptops, TVs, and home entertainment system
Power tools: A 1500-watt inverter can power tools such as drills, saws, and sanders.
Small air conditioning units and some space heaters
It’s important to note that the actual power consumption of an electrical appliance may vary depending on its make and model, so it’s always a good idea to check its power requirements before plugging it into an inverter. Additionally, it’s important to ensure that the inverter is rated for the same voltage and frequency as the electrical device you want to run.
Another important thing is to make sure the battery capacity matches to your power requirements. The Battery will determine what appliance you can run and how long you can run the appliance.
How to Size a Battery for a 1500-watt Inverter
To determine the size of battery that we’ll need with a 1500-watt inverter we’ll first we first need to determine the number of amps the Inverter will draw then determine the number of amp-hours or capacity.
How many amps for a 1500-watt Inverter
To calculate the number of amps the inverter will draw you divide the watt rating by the voltage.
For a 12v system, you’ll need
1500/12 = 125 Amps
A 12-volt system should have a battery that can safely provide up to 125 amps of current in an hour if you use 1500 watts.
For a 24v Inverter, you’ll need
1500/24 = 62.5 Amps
A 24-volt system should have a battery capable of providing up to 41.67 amps of current per hour when running 1500 watts continuously.
In the case of a 1500-watt inverter, it is best to go for a 24v inverter as it will be drawing need fewer amps than a 12v inverter. Fewer amps will need smaller wire gauges, reducing system losses and reducing potential fire hazards.
How many Amp-hours for a 1500-watt Inverter
If you were to pick a 12V system you’ll need a big battery. Deep cycle batteries intended to be drawn over long periods of time have a 0.2C or 20% discharge per hour rating. So drawing 125 amps at 12v you’ll need around 625Ah. For a 24v system, you’ll need a 315Ah or 300Ah 24v battery lithium battery.
A lithium battery can allow a discharge of up to 50% of its capacity therefore it is possible to use a 24v 150Ah battery with a 3600-watt-hour capacity. This is especially if you have a charging source like a solar panel recharging the battery.
Also depending on how long you are running an appliance will determine how big a battery you’ll need. For example, a 1200-watt electric kettle will need a 1500-watt inverter. However, you will only be running the kettle for a couple of minutes. If you don’t intend to run many high wattage appliances or numerous smaller appliances at once you can go for a 700-watt inverter.
| Time | Power Requirements (Watts) | Amps Draw | Battery (24v) |
| 1 hr | 1500 | 30 | 300Ah |
| 30 minutes | 750 | 15 | 150Ah |
| 15 minutes | 325 | 7.5 | 75Ah |
Conclusion
A 1500-watt inverter can power multiple devices but the key determinant is the battery. It is important to ensure that the battery capacity is sufficient to meet your power requirements and that the inverter is compatible with the battery voltage and charging system. A 24v 300Ah battery lithium battery is an ideal battery for this inverter but you can go bigger or even smaller according to your needs.