How many amps can an inverter put out?

[twinboat]

If your thinking that the inverter output should be supplementing your 30 amp shore power service, they don't work that way.

BUT, they do make a Hybrid inveter that can do that. If you get close to 30 amps on the shore power, the hybrid inverter/charger stops charging and starts inverting, adding its output to the shore power.

[Persistent]

"I have a Magnum Energy Inverter/Charger Model MS2000. Its spec sheet says that the "Output power continuous watts" is 2000 which converts to 16.67 AC amps."

Manual:
https://www.solar-electric.com/lib/w...ies-manual.pdf

"However my inverter box has a 30 amp breaker on it and it has tripped twice when I tried to use over 30 amps."

I could not find a reference to a 30 amp breaker in the Magnum MS2000 manual. Installation requires a 30 amp breaker, usually in a main power panel for connecting the Magnum inverter/charger. Did you mean the main service panel 30 amp circuit breaker tripped?

The manual describes an "ON/OFF" reset button. It does not have a 30 amp rating.

"I tried several watts to amps converters online and they all say 16.67, which by the way is about 1/10 what batteries alone can put out, 170 DC amps before tripping it's breaker. So what piece am I missing to understand the difference between 16.67 amps and 30 amps AC?"

The inverter transfer switch is capable of passing 30 amps at 120 volts continuously. That is 3600 watts.

The inverter is capable of generating 17 amps at 120 volts from 167 amps at 12 volts DC continuously when shore power is not available. That is 2000 watts. The "on/off" switch will turn "off" if wattage is exceeded for an extended time. Pushing the button will reset it.

The battery charger function is capable of converting 120 volts AC shore power to 100 amps at 12 volts DC. That is 1200 watts.

When on shore power, the combined battery charger 120 volt consumption plus the pass through to the inverter sub panel must be less than 30 amps total. Battery charging will decrease to keep total consumption less than 30 amps. If total 30 amps is exceeded, main panel 30 breaker will trip.

There are losses due to conversion losses, but are less impotent. There are other complicated logic operations. See manual.

Inverter:
2000W / 120v = 16.66666667A AC
/ 12v = 166.6666667A DC
Shore Power:
3600W / 120v = 30A AC
Transfer relay capability:
30A AC X 120v = 3600W

[Persistent]

Originally Posted by RV Vagabond

So if I upgrade to a 4000 watt inverter, will it have a 60 amp limit?

4000W / 120v = 33.33333333A

[RV Vagabond]

Originally Posted by LeisurePursuits

I assume you are talking about amps for your 120v appliances, right?
4000w / 120v AC = 33.33 AC amps (theoretical since breaker would trip at 30)
Remember: watts / voltage = amps
or another way to write it: voltage * amps = watts
Also, watts are watts, same unit of energy no matter if talking AC or DC.
ETA: if you are plugged into shore power then your inverter is passive. Shore power is passing through and the inverter portion of the device is not doing anything. This is only true for inverters that have a built in auto transfer switch. Mine does not, so it does not have an input for AC power. My auto transfer switch is a separate external device.

I am now getting 30 amps from my 2000 watt inverter so how many amps would I get by upgrading to a 4000 watt inverter.

[Persistent]

Originally Posted by RV Vagabond

I am now getting 30 amps from my 2000 watt inverter so how many amps would I get by upgrading to a 4000 watt inverter.

As posted above, a 4000 watt inverter typically produces 33.3 amps continuously. You would probably need a 600 amp hour battery bank to support the 4000 watt inverter.

It is not likely you are getting more than 17 amps continuously from your 2000 watt inverter while inverting.

You can get 30 amps while the transfer switch is bypassing the inverter. The 30 amps comes from shore power or generator power, not the inverter.

How much you can pass through is dependent on the transfer switch. Different inverter designs have different transfer switches.

Some inverters have no transfer switches. In this case you purchase the transfer switch separately.

[Mudfrog]

Originally Posted by RV Vagabond

I am now getting 30 amps from my 2000 watt inverter so how many amps would I get by upgrading to a 4000 watt inverter.

A 2000 watt inverter is not capable of continually outputting 30 amps during its inverting process. If your amp meter shows 30 amps, then it's probable that power from shore or genset is simply passing through the inverter via the inverter's built in automatic transfer switch. (this is not the same as the shore/genset transfer switch in the RV).

If you're sure the inverter is actually inverting and your meter is showing the 30 amps, then I guess it's possible that either the inverter is larger than what its label indicates or that your amp meter is out of whack.