I'm seeing this video couple years later but the most informative video I've watched regarding anything related to load shedding... Thank you so much for taking the time and explaining it in detail
How is this going a year later? Did you replace batteries yet, and does it have built in surge protection for the unit itself, or do you plug the inverter into a surge protector plug?
I have the exact same unit. The batteries suddenly drains after 1.5 hours with only my pc and tv plugged in. Batteries is 1 year old and suppose to last 5 years . Any idea what could be wrong ?
Thank you so much for the informative video, they manual is absolutely useless. I bought my mercer, 2400, in June 2022. It started to whirr on Sunday, all day and is still doing this, it usually only did this when we were in load shedding or just after. Please, is this normal for it to whirr 24/7. Many thanks
Thank you for the informative video. One definite answer I cant find online is can I leave it permanently plugged into the mains without damaging the battery?
If I may jump in? I run a similar setup and leave the battery and inverter online all the time - before this latest round of loadshedding, I would guess for a year or more without it begin used. The inverter drains some battery and recharges when the battery backup is not used for a prolonged period of time.
That's correct Daniel. However depending on the battery used, if its lead acid liquid, I recommend running the inverter down to 50% at least once every 2-3 months if its hasn't been used to prevent the batteries sulfating out.
I notice these units have a solar panels input, looks like we going to make use of this option soon, as 2 hours between blackouts. Could you do a video on panels to use and how to connect this up please. Many thanks
Hi, the two battery 24v unit can last up to 8 hours or more depending on the load drawn through it. It does get shorter with higher loads. If you need more info, pop me an email on enq.alternate@gmail.com and I will gladly send you more info.
Hi I have the same unit Everything works as explained Problem is when I put mains off it reverts to battery mode but both readings are blank Doesn't show battery power Where do I start
Thanks for the Info. I have the 720W. I noticed that when in battery mode during load-shedding the battery drains to about 50% but when the power comes back on, the battery start charging from 25% but then the bar moves quickly to 50% and continues charging normally. Just wanted to find out if this is normal. Thanks
Good inverter I did put the vid on slow mow but I did did the lamp flicked and came back on but the tv stayed on thank I will buy this inverter this will help a lot at this stage with stage 5 lowshedding
Thanks for useful video. My unit is connected as per your video , my battery is only a year old. For sum reason was working fine but recently after 30min it’s already running down the battery and does not last. Everything then switches off. What could be the problem?
@@alternatesolutions2408 I'm having the same issue. I bought my inverter in December with two royal 100ah batteries.I noticed it started beeping just before load shedding ended. What could the problem be? I was just running my t.v., wifi router and a pc.
I just got 2 batteries now, lasts more than 4 hours on my fan and TV with DSTV, I think it's possible to run more but take that with a grain of salt as I don't know too much about it.
Can this unit power devices such as laptop and charge the batteries at the same time? How many hours to change from 0-100% ? How long will it keep my desktop computer powered? Consumption 352w, 1832 mAh, 224v 😮
Hi there...you got high cycle batteries. Are they the same as deep cycle gel batteries?? I got 4 I'm gonna connect in series and bridge...105AH will up to 210AH. Battery protection:Does your inverter kick off when 50% to 70% capacity is reached?? I heard it's actually at 10% so deep cycle battery is no good with this inverter. Am I correct?
Yes in that video was high cycle batteries, switched over to AGM since in the units we used to build. They do work with Gel, just make sure you series them to 24v then add the extra two in a second series config and then in parallel to keep the voltage at 24v. It shows on screen the approx level of the battery and beeps once below 25%
Can you turn the annoying sound off when it switches to battery power? My PC is right next to my bed and I don't want the thing beeping in the middle of the night when the power goes out!
Thank you so much. Please could you do a video on adding a solar panel to these units. I see many people recommend that, but it would be helpful to go through the process of figuring this out
I have a RCT 3000VA/3000W INVERTER CHARGER 24V DC 600W and it hasn't stopped beeping since my last power outage even though power is back. How I solve for this
Very informative and to the point. I have a question, I have a mecer 2400va x 2 100ah batteries. Can I connect a 3rd battery to provide extended power supply. Thank you in advance
Hi i need help the inverter is working an everything but the plugs i connect to it doesnt seem to take power from the inverter itself. Its like the power is not pushing through the top plugs on it ? What could be wrong
Hi would you be able to use regular deep cycle batteries with the inverter? The documentation says so but some times practical experience is way more practical and important. What batteries are you using if I may ask. Regards.
Yes you may, like truck batteries 100AH work. I used AGM type back then but after a while they all fail around the 2 year mark depending how hard they work.
I am having a 24v, with 2×100ah battery with 2.5kw Invecter what can I run on that power, is it possible to substitute, or to just put on a fridge only?
It can be left on either - if you are using the 3 plug ports on the unit and not expecting any power interruptions you can move it over to standby mode. This turns off the inverter circuit and prevents you from accidentally overloading the unit with a large load, like a heater or iron for example.
Thanks for this great useful video. I have just ordered a Mecer 1200va 720W unit and a Gel battery 100Ah, is this the correct type of battery, will it work? I’m a bit anxious. Thanks I see you are responding to all the queries
Thank you so much for this very informative video mate. Much appreciated! I would like to know do I keep the unit constantly plugged into the mains at all times? And when the power comes back on, do I have to then unplug everything and plug it back into the mains. Or will it constantly run through the unit itself? I'm so confused 😞
Hey no problem, I am here to help. You leave it plugged in always it will charge as needed then remain idle waiting for an outage. Can also leave your essential items plugged into it, and you will have a seamless change over when the power goes down.
Thanks for a great video. My inverter keeps on switching to fault, after quite a few times switching it on and off it eventually stays on and works. It sounds like the fan to me. Can it be that the little fan motor is faulty, or is it perhaps something else.
Yes you can add more banks of two batteries wired in series in a parallel configuration. Always make sure that the total system voltage does not exceed 24 to 27v. We have done quite a few systems with 4 batteries for clients who have more use out of it.
@@alternatesolutions2408 Don't mixed old and new batteries, the new ones will drain when compensating voltage for the older ones. 4 new batteries with identical voltages.
Hi. When AC is in, the battery charges with no issues. When I turn off the Ac, the inverter goes into Fault mode (red LED) instead of going into Battery mode. What can I do? Brand new setup. Mecer 720W 12V
Hi there I have just bought this inverter and it is stuck in battery mode any ideas how to reset it ? I have press the input breaker button countless times to no avail.
I believe they are Lead-Acid AGM batteries. These inverters do not support Lithium-ion batteries from what I have heard. But I do stand to be corrected, since it would be nice to replace them with Lithium if they have reached their life span
Yes thanks, I have tried a Lithium battery and it would not stop charging to a point that the inverter blew up. For Lithium ion the parameters need to be set for charging and discharging limits which this cannot do
Thank you for the great video... But I have a question... The load side of my inverter has been stuck on 25%..is there a way to increase.. Iv been trying all ways but failed
That’s fine it just means you aren’t pulling more than 25% energy through it. Plug a bigger appliance and it will shoot up, but be careful as appliances are either really small or really big so a kettle will take it over limit.
@@alternatesolutions2408 thank you so much.. Like my inverter before used to last about 13 hours during loadshedding.. How it lasts for a maximum of 3 hours.. Do you perhaps know what's the problem
How ? and when would I have to check the batteries on my inverter? After sooo many loadshedding cycles they might have a reduced capacity and need replacement.
Hi, why does our unit switch off when the power cuts off, then the PC and TV also switched off. This happened on two similar Mecer inverters but using the same extendaplug adapter. Could the adapter have the fault?
Hi today is the first day using this inverter it was fully charged when it switched over to inverter mode it dropped to 75% in 30min on the battery but there after stayed on 75% for the duration of the load shedding consumption is 300w just wanted to know if thats normal
Thanks so much man! Helpful video. If you may advise how one would connect a solar panel directly to this would it be just the same sockets as the battery thank you!
@@alternatesolutions2408 thank you so much for being so helpful and answering this question I will look Into that part. As the years are moving by I don't know how much longer we can rely on eskom :)
For those that live in apartments noise is a huge factor when deciding to purchase a invertor. When the invertor is charging and when it's in use during loadshedding is the sound load or quiet?
If you place it next to you, sounds like a low speed ceiling fan. It's not loud, but you can hear it. If you move the inverter to another room, you won't really hear it.
Thank you for this. Can you maybe help - I have the same one but as soon as we connect it to the AC power - nothing else is connected the fan starts running and it makes quite a noise. This only goes off when it’s pulling battery. Any idea how/why it’s doing this?
When connected to power it moves into charging mode, and if the fan is very loud then it could be on 20A charging at the back. Look out for a small black toggle switch to move it back to 10A. It goes off when on battery mode as the load is probably low and not needed to cool down.
Thank you for this info' Question please. We also have a Mecer 3000W with 2x 300ah batteries. Had loadshedding last night. For the first time the 'fault' light started beeping. Only have TV, security items and router connected. I pressed the enter button and all the other buttons. Nothing helped. It did stop after 10min. What should we do? How and where does one Reset the inverter? Any advice will be appreciated.
Hi, sorry for the delay. Has it done that again since? Unplug the unit, or if wired into a DB isolate the unit completely, turn off the switch on the bottom of the unit and make sure it goes off. Turn it on again and it should start up again.
@@alternatesolutions2408 Hi, thank you so much for your reply! It did do it again since my post. I will use the back 'off' button next time. How may we make contact via email if possible please' thx again, Cherine
Not at all, in the video you may hear the buzzing when on inverter mode but the TV drowns that out. On charging if you leave it on 10A it will be quiet, on 20A the exhaust fan is noisier.
@@alternatesolutions2408 Thanks buddy. This will be my next inverter and the one I'll recommend to people. While waiting for your response i did a lot of research. This is the best option avaible. Ps I'm already running a 2400va inverter thats another brand. The thing was noisy as hell but i modded it to run quieter. 😉
@@reiannaidoo that’s great. I have been working with small pure sine wave units as well which is even quieter. If you don’t mind email me on enq.alternate@gmail.com and I can share the deals I have.
Included in the packaging is the manual, which, in Step 4 reads: "Install a DC circuit breaker in a positive battery line." And a 75 Amp Circuit Breaker is suggested. No mention is made regarding this crucial instruction in you presentation.
Would strongly suggest purchasing deep cycle batteries, considder GELS also if budget allows. With the amount of load shedding we are getting High cycles seem to last no longer than 2 years.
@@alternatesolutions2408 Lithium should also have different charge and discharge voltage curves, which I believe this Mecer unit doesn't allow for. Usually the pure sine wave inverters (2400VA and up) are capable of charging to different voltages too. Do you sell these units?
Question. When it comes to charging . To maximize the cycles . Should you unplug it from the wall socket to let the battery drain a bit more then plug it in when you want to charge the batteries ?
To charge at a higher rate, approx 240w vs 480w, can be used if you need to recharge more frequently. However it makes tons more noise on 20A. Slight smell isn’t normal, battery might be leaking or over charging expelling gas
@@alternatesolutions2408 thanks for your response sir. I seem to be having an issue with mine. It seems to be charging but it isn't indicating that it's increasing (the battery is still dead). Surely I didn't set it up wrong? How hard could it be? Red goes to red, black goes to black. The smell definitely seems to be dangerous as everything on Google is indicating this. Load shedding is killing my work life! Any advice would be HUGELY appreciated! Thank you!
It is silent when the batteries are full, it then will come on with a fan sound now and again when it trickle charges the batteries or after it has been on inverter mode. Hope that helps
I’ve got one that I run my small led tv, and PlayStation but I only get around 1.5hrs out of it. That seems very little as I was expecting at least around 6-8hrs. How long does yours last running tv and gaming console?
Hi guys... I know I am a bit late... I also have a 1440w mecer inverter, but I only get 1 5hours as well from fully charged. I am running tv 55 inch TV, wifi rotor thats all... I tried 2 sets of batteries already but no luck... Did u manage to get a longer usage time on your inverter and if so which batteries did you use and where do I get them?
@@shanewoods2219 hi have you managed to sort out the issue? I notice mine is doing the same thing and my batteries are new i bought the unit in December, I haven't used it for January because the inverter went in for repairs under warranty
I have a question, to keep your Mecer Inverter Batteries in good condition should they constantly be plugged in online. My previous batteries drained and I want to avoid it this time round. Please advise
Hi Hannie, yes always advisable to keep the inverter and batteries plugged in. The inverter has a trickle charger built in so it constantly charges, allows discharges and then charges it up again. What you also can do, to cycle the batteries, if there has been no load shedding for a long time, just unplug the inverter and let it run on inverter mode and after 3 to 4 hours or when the battery percentage drops to 50% then connect it back up.
@@williehanekom858 Hi, sorry for the delay! You can permanently connect items although please make sure it’s not high load items at the unit will go into protection if you plug a hair dryer or something exceeding 1440w into it. I generally leave my WiFi and desk multiplug plugged in all the time as the outlets are just an adaptor cord. The magic happens when the AC goes down and it switches to inverter mode.
@@alternatesolutions2408 Thank you so much. Got a Ellies inverter(1440w) which was on sale and runs my whole system (2.1 sound system(720w), 42' TV, Wifi router, Desktop with expansion external HDD plugged in as well and all producing less than 220w during load shedding. The only thing I'm disappointed with, is that I can't add solar panels to it.
I need help. My UPS is written external battery 72Vdc, 50A Max. I would like to Know what this means. Can I plug in a 48V battery to this UPS? Thank you
Hi, I'm in search on how to fix something. My plugs tripped that was connected to the inverter device and since then the inverter powers on, charges and all, but for some reason it doesn't power any of my plugs connected to it. Is there a reset button and something I can do to get it working again? Its fully charged and when on battery mode, it's doesn't power my extension cables.... Any advice would be appreciated! I have the exact same setup as you have in the video, there is no fault light appearing. The machine runs normally, batteries are all green to go, and 100% charged. It just won't power anything I plug into the inverter. When the power is on, all those plugs work, even through the inverter (when plugged into a power source). However, again, as soon as the power goes off, the machine switches over perfectly. But doesn't give power 😅. I looked everywhere online. Couldn't find anything. I'm hoping you may have some magical answers!
Sorry may be an odd question - is the grey button on the front pressed in and its turned on? Do you see the online indicator shown at 1:43 in the video?
@@alternatesolutions2408 Yes, it shows itself as online when plugged into the wall, as presented in the video. It makes a single beep noise when switched on. Furthermore, when electronics are plugged into the sockets on the Mecer inverter - while the inverter is simultaneously plugged into the wall - then all the electronics plugged into the inverter work. However, as soon as I switch off the receiving power from the wall to the inverter, all the electronics plugged into the inverter don't work. Even when it switches over to battery. Everything else works, except for the job it is intended to do. The two truck batteries are green to go and are healthy. The inverter picks up the fully charged batteries. But does not output any power to my plugs, plugged directly into the inverter.
I have even drained the batteries and left the inverter running without being charged (It lasted surprisingly long, in fact. Almost two full days, lol!). After it finally kicked the bucket, I plugged the inverter power cable back into the wall charge up a bit. I hoped it sort of reset itself through this experiment since it died from insufficient power. That said, when it charged up a few bars, I decided to remove it from the wall outlet to run through the batteries. I powered it off, plugged in my phone charger, and plugged that into my phone. I then switched the inverter on (one beep noise and all, no alert signals, powered as normally, with that slight buzz noise presented in the video). To my surprise, the phone started charging, but only for a brief moment, then stopped. It was safe to assume no power was being passed through the inverter. For the life of me, I don't understand why.
@@sinz_sama shew that’s an odd one. Could be that even thought they batteries seem fine as soon as they get a load they drain out. Where are you based? Why don’t you shoot me an email on enq.alternate@gmail.com maybe we can test out two batteries on there and worst case check that inverter into Mustek for an evaluation…
It will run the pump, but it won't sound right and not recommended. I have run my fan in summer off it and it worked fine, but the risk is more on the appliance than the inverter.
How much electricity do the batteries consume when charging and what happens if the batteries are not fully charged and load shedding happens. I live in an area with a lot of power outages and worry that maybe a generator might be best ?
It will shorten the duration it can support you during the outage if the batteries are not fully charged. A generator might be better in your case if it cannot charge in time. This unit can also take a solar charging option but also add's onto the cost.
If its an older amplifier with a mains transformer inside, there may be extra noise from the amp or a slight distortion on the output. Floor fan motor will also make more buzzing, its because of the type of output from the Inverter. Fan motor will run hotter, but I've run a fan on mine for a few months no problem.
I'm seeing this video couple years later but the most informative video I've watched regarding anything related to load shedding... Thank you so much for taking the time and explaining it in detail
Way more informative than the guide that came with it. Thank you.
Glad it helped, I look back and find so many things I could have done better on this video but I am grateful how helpful it has been.
@@alternatesolutions2408how long does a battery last
@@alternatesolutions2408how long will the batteries last
Straight to the point demonstration that is clear and makes a lot of sense.
Thank you.
Absolutely
Well explained. Exactly what I wanted to know. Thank you
You are welcome!
Well explained no frills gud! Thks
@@alternatesolutions2408 good day. How long would the power last if I only power a tv of 150Watt and router?
Very clear & imformative thank you. I also like the fact that it doesnt beep continiously like other ups's do.
UPS and Inverter are two different things.
Yes it is nifty. It is a UPS and an inverter, UPS = Uninterrupted power supply which means it has an auto change over feature.
How is this going a year later? Did you replace batteries yet, and does it have built in surge protection for the unit itself, or do you plug the inverter into a surge protector plug?
I have the exact same unit. The batteries suddenly drains after 1.5 hours with only my pc and tv plugged in. Batteries is 1 year old and suppose to last 5 years . Any idea what could be wrong ?
Great job sir, extremely informative and well done!
Glad it was helpful!
thank you for mentioning the buzzing sound.. I was worried when I switched mine on now for the first time and it was buzzing when power is off ;)
Thank you so much for the informative video, they manual is absolutely useless. I bought my mercer, 2400, in June 2022. It started to whirr on Sunday, all day and is still doing this, it usually only did this when we were in load shedding or just after. Please, is this normal for it to whirr 24/7. Many thanks
Yes, when it moves to inverter mode it does buzz a little
Thank you, the other guys were just confusing us.
Awesome, there are so many things I would improve in that video but it seems popular. Look out for new ones soon
Great video, thank you. Only question is how to turn of the beeping when the unit gets to 50% ?
Thank you for the informative video. One definite answer I cant find online is can I leave it permanently plugged into the mains without damaging the battery?
If I may jump in? I run a similar setup and leave the battery and inverter online all the time - before this latest round of loadshedding, I would guess for a year or more without it begin used. The inverter drains some battery and recharges when the battery backup is not used for a prolonged period of time.
That's correct Daniel. However depending on the battery used, if its lead acid liquid, I recommend running the inverter down to 50% at least once every 2-3 months if its hasn't been used to prevent the batteries sulfating out.
@@alternatesolutions2408 would the same practice be recommended for gel batteries?
@@JimboJamboYT yes I would recommend the same practise. Gel batteries are still lead-acid and will die over time with continuous draining.
I notice these units have a solar panels input, looks like we going to make use of this option soon, as 2 hours between blackouts.
Could you do a video on panels to use and how to connect this up please.
Many thanks
It needs a stand along controller which I have no tested, these units have become rare slo haven't had one in front of me for ages.
How long does it last with same connection all on.... Thanks for the info
Hi, the two battery 24v unit can last up to 8 hours or more depending on the load drawn through it. It does get shorter with higher loads. If you need more info, pop me an email on enq.alternate@gmail.com and I will gladly send you more info.
Hi
I have the same unit
Everything works as explained
Problem is when I put mains off it reverts to battery mode but both readings are blank
Doesn't show battery power
Where do I start
Thanks for the Info. I have the 720W. I noticed that when in battery mode during load-shedding the battery drains to about 50% but when the power comes back on, the battery start charging from 25% but then the bar moves quickly to 50% and continues charging normally. Just wanted to find out if this is normal. Thanks
A battery under-load will have a different voltage from when the load is removed.
🙏🏾 Thank you. Very informative and straightforward!
Good inverter I did put the vid on slow mow but I did did the lamp flicked and came back on but the tv stayed on thank I will buy this inverter this will help a lot at this stage with stage 5 lowshedding
Thanks for useful video. My unit is connected as per your video , my battery is only a year old. For sum reason was working fine but recently after 30min it’s already running down the battery and does not last. Everything then switches off. What could be the problem?
Hi there, sounds like one or both batteries are on their way out. What battery are you using?
@@alternatesolutions2408 I'm having the same issue. I bought my inverter in December with two royal 100ah batteries.I noticed it started beeping just before load shedding ended. What could the problem be? I was just running my t.v., wifi router and a pc.
I've been using one of these for years. Is it possible to double up on the batteries for extended run time or is it not recommended? Thanks
I just got 2 batteries now, lasts more than 4 hours on my fan and TV with DSTV, I think it's possible to run more but take that with a grain of salt as I don't know too much about it.
@@XiiLoR i have the same one, for how long should it charge, only till 100% or is there a certain time from low battery till full
Can this unit power devices such as laptop and charge the batteries at the same time?
How many hours to change from 0-100% ?
How long will it keep my desktop computer powered?
Consumption 352w, 1832 mAh, 224v
😮
Hi there...you got high cycle batteries. Are they the same as deep cycle gel batteries?? I got 4 I'm gonna connect in series and bridge...105AH will up to 210AH. Battery protection:Does your inverter kick off when 50% to 70% capacity is reached?? I heard it's actually at 10% so deep cycle battery is no good with this inverter. Am I correct?
Yes in that video was high cycle batteries, switched over to AGM since in the units we used to build. They do work with Gel, just make sure you series them to 24v then add the extra two in a second series config and then in parallel to keep the voltage at 24v. It shows on screen the approx level of the battery and beeps once below 25%
Mine almost 2 years old. Great investment for the price i paid.
Essential items with some of the outages we have.
Can you turn the annoying sound off when it switches to battery power? My PC is right next to my bed and I don't want the thing beeping in the middle of the night when the power goes out!
Thank you so much. Please could you do a video on adding a solar panel to these units. I see many people recommend that, but it would be helpful to go through the process of figuring this out
YEs, I would also like to add a solar panel to my similar Mecer set up.
Very well explained. Thank you for the great video!
Most welcome, glad it helped!
I have a RCT 3000VA/3000W INVERTER CHARGER 24V DC 600W and it hasn't stopped beeping since my last power outage even though power is back. How I solve for this
Hi thank you for this video. What Mecer model is this? And does it come with the batteries inside? Thank you.
Very informative and to the point. I have a question, I have a mecer 2400va x 2 100ah batteries. Can I connect a 3rd battery to provide extended power supply.
Thank you in advance
Hi, you need to add two more as it is a 24v system
Hi i need help the inverter is working an everything but the plugs i connect to it doesnt seem to take power from the inverter itself. Its like the power is not pushing through the top plugs on it ? What could be wrong
You say the green led flashes to show it is connected to AC. What does it mean when the green led doesn't flash please?
Quick question. How long can you run those devices if you let the battery drain to 50%
5 hours for 240w
Hi would you be able to use regular deep cycle batteries with the inverter? The documentation says so but some times practical experience is way more practical and important. What batteries are you using if I may ask. Regards.
Yes you may, like truck batteries 100AH work. I used AGM type back then but after a while they all fail around the 2 year mark depending how hard they work.
I am having a 24v, with 2×100ah battery with 2.5kw Invecter what can I run on that power, is it possible to substitute, or to just put on a fridge only?
Great Video! Just a question for clarity - Should the unit simply stay plugged in and on Standby Mode or Line Mode?
It can be left on either - if you are using the 3 plug ports on the unit and not expecting any power interruptions you can move it over to standby mode. This turns off the inverter circuit and prevents you from accidentally overloading the unit with a large load, like a heater or iron for example.
@@alternatesolutions2408 awesome! Thanks so much - appreciate the advise!! 🙏
My unit runs only the wifi for 1hour then it goes off its fully charged .do I have to buy new batteries please any advice will be appreciated
Thanks for this great useful video. I have just ordered a Mecer 1200va 720W unit and a Gel battery 100Ah, is this the correct type of battery, will it work? I’m a bit anxious. Thanks I see you are responding to all the queries
Thank you so much for this very informative video mate. Much appreciated! I would like to know do I keep the unit constantly plugged into the mains at all times? And when the power comes back on, do I have to then unplug everything and plug it back into the mains. Or will it constantly run through the unit itself? I'm so confused 😞
Hey no problem, I am here to help. You leave it plugged in always it will charge as needed then remain idle waiting for an outage. Can also leave your essential items plugged into it, and you will have a seamless change over when the power goes down.
Thanks for a great video. My inverter keeps on switching to fault, after quite a few times switching it on and off it eventually stays on and works. It sounds like the fan to me. Can it be that the little fan motor is faulty, or is it perhaps something else.
yes the fan failing will put it into fault.
@@alternatesolutions2408 thanks, I'll have it checked out
Informative video. All the relevant information - Thanks.
You mentioned this inverter has 2 batteries, can more batteries be added?
Yes you can add more banks of two batteries wired in series in a parallel configuration. Always make sure that the total system voltage does not exceed 24 to 27v. We have done quite a few systems with 4 batteries for clients who have more use out of it.
@@alternatesolutions2408 Don't mixed old and new batteries, the new ones will drain when compensating voltage for the older ones. 4 new batteries with identical voltages.
Hi mine only worked for 4 months, as soon as power goes off it jumps straight to red light,what could be the problem?
Did you manage to figure out the problem?
Hi.
When AC is in, the battery charges with no issues. When I turn off the Ac, the inverter goes into Fault mode (red LED) instead of going into Battery mode.
What can I do? Brand new setup. Mecer 720W 12V
Hi there I have just bought this inverter and it is stuck in battery mode any ideas how to reset it ? I have press the input breaker button countless times to no avail.
Thanks. Do you keep the inverter plugged in everyday without switchibg off?
Yes correct
Could you provide any information on the batteries you used in this solution?
I believe they are Lead-Acid AGM batteries. These inverters do not support Lithium-ion batteries from what I have heard. But I do stand to be corrected, since it would be nice to replace them with Lithium if they have reached their life span
@@adambarnard562 The come with an option of EITHER Lead-Acid of AGM, the AGM price is usually a bit more expensive.
Yes thanks, I have tried a Lithium battery and it would not stop charging to a point that the inverter blew up. For Lithium ion the parameters need to be set for charging and discharging limits which this cannot do
@@alternatesolutions2408even if the Lithium batts have a BMS?
you mentioned gaming station, about what size power supply are you able to run on that inverter and about how long does it last?
I have tested it on Xbox Ones, Playstations etc, they do not use a lot of power. Gaming computers will use much more.
Thank you for the great video... But I have a question... The load side of my inverter has been stuck on 25%..is there a way to increase.. Iv been trying all ways but failed
That’s fine it just means you aren’t pulling more than 25% energy through it. Plug a bigger appliance and it will shoot up, but be careful as appliances are either really small or really big so a kettle will take it over limit.
@@alternatesolutions2408 thank you so much.. Like my inverter before used to last about 13 hours during loadshedding.. How it lasts for a maximum of 3 hours.. Do you perhaps know what's the problem
@@ismailjiwa776 how old are the batteries? Sounds like the batteries are on the way out. Have you increased load on it over time?
@@ismailjiwa776 Batteries only have a couple of hundred duty cycles. My batteries are half the original capacity after 18 months of load-shedding.
@@ismailjiwa776 13 hours?.. Please share with me what batteries you used
I bought same model for myself and sister ,good affordable machine ..all rooms have lights ,2outside lights TV DStv wola
That's great
Can i please get a link to a reliable place where i can get this from
Howsit bro,what size TV did you have hooked up there
How ? and when would I have to check the batteries on my inverter? After sooo many loadshedding cycles they might have a reduced capacity and need replacement.
How do you stop the beeping once it drops below 50%?
Hi, why does our unit switch off when the power cuts off, then the PC and TV also switched off. This happened on two similar Mecer inverters but using the same extendaplug adapter. Could the adapter have the fault?
Its either over loading or the grey button isn't pressed in so its on OFF position
Just moved into a house with an inverter. Just struggling to turn it on when there's loadshedding following former owners instructions.
Hi today is the first day using this inverter it was fully charged when it switched over to inverter mode it dropped to 75% in 30min on the battery but there after stayed on 75% for the duration of the load shedding consumption is 300w just wanted to know if thats normal
Typically on initial use it does drop quickly but recovers after a few rounds of charging. Monitor it and see
hello, thank you, which inverters can power things like kettles, fridges and hair dryers?
You would need a 3000w minimum but then too, not recommended to run those items for long periods
Thanks so much man! Helpful video. If you may advise how one would connect a solar panel directly to this would it be just the same sockets as the battery thank you!
No please do not! You need to purchase a solar charge controller, there is one for this unit but I have not tested it.
@@alternatesolutions2408 thank you so much for being so helpful and answering this question I will look Into that part. As the years are moving by I don't know how much longer we can rely on eskom :)
For those that live in apartments noise is a huge factor when deciding to purchase a invertor. When the invertor is charging and when it's in use during loadshedding is the sound load or quiet?
If you place it next to you, sounds like a low speed ceiling fan. It's not loud, but you can hear it. If you move the inverter to another room, you won't really hear it.
Thank you for this. Can you maybe help - I have the same one but as soon as we connect it to the AC power - nothing else is connected the fan starts running and it makes quite a noise. This only goes off when it’s pulling battery. Any idea how/why it’s doing this?
When connected to power it moves into charging mode, and if the fan is very loud then it could be on 20A charging at the back. Look out for a small black toggle switch to move it back to 10A. It goes off when on battery mode as the load is probably low and not needed to cool down.
Does the invertor come with the battery or is that a separate purchase?
Batteries are separate. They're two deep cycle lead acid batteries, connected in series if it uses 24v and parallel if your unit needs 12v.
Correct, can be used with many variants of batteries from Normal, High, Deep Cycle and AGM
Thank you so much. Helped me a lot
want to ask should I keep the inverter on or turn it off once loadshedding finished?
Keep it on the whole time. You turn it off if you want, but that will also turn off whatever you have connected to it.
Hi can the mecer power on without batteries?
Great video mate. This has been very helpful.
I’m glad it helped
Can you add more batteries to a 2400va inverter like 4 batteries?
Thank you for this info'
Question please. We also have a Mecer 3000W with 2x 300ah batteries. Had loadshedding last night. For the first time the 'fault' light started beeping. Only have TV, security items and router connected. I pressed the enter button and all the other buttons. Nothing helped. It did stop after 10min. What should we do? How and where does one Reset the inverter? Any advice will be appreciated.
Hi, sorry for the delay. Has it done that again since? Unplug the unit, or if wired into a DB isolate the unit completely, turn off the switch on the bottom of the unit and make sure it goes off. Turn it on again and it should start up again.
@@alternatesolutions2408 Hi, thank you so much for your reply! It did do it again since my post. I will use the back 'off' button next time. How may we make contact via email if possible please' thx again, Cherine
@@cherinemaartens8799 sure the email address is enq.alternate@gmail.com
I don't know if I missed the question below, but how long will the system stay on running a pc and router only, maybe one 15watt light.
Yes the whole point is to have it plugged in so that it can kick in when there is loadshedding.
It will last more than 12 hours
Wil the lcd screen come on if the battery is not connected?.. Only input power provided..
No it will not
Thanks for this - can you tell us, does this use extra electricity? or add to the power bill?
It uses about as what you would use if the mains didn't go off in recharging the battery. Not significantly more at all
I have the 1200VA unit. And mine seems to be leaking battery acid. Do you know why that would be?
The battery has failed, be careful as you remove and replace it
Can I use lituim battery in the unit
What battery are you using, how many of them and how long does it last ?
you need 2, around the 100AH mark. lasts easily around 3-4 hours on the loads in the video
How loud are the fans in battery mode and when charging? Will it be annoying when watching tv for example? Thanks for the great video.
Not at all, in the video you may hear the buzzing when on inverter mode but the TV drowns that out. On charging if you leave it on 10A it will be quiet, on 20A the exhaust fan is noisier.
@@alternatesolutions2408 Thanks buddy. This will be my next inverter and the one I'll recommend to people. While waiting for your response i did a lot of research. This is the best option avaible. Ps I'm already running a 2400va inverter thats another brand. The thing was noisy as hell but i modded it to run quieter. 😉
@@reiannaidoo that’s great. I have been working with small pure sine wave units as well which is even quieter. If you don’t mind email me on enq.alternate@gmail.com and I can share the deals I have.
Very informative, thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Does it work with lithium batteries
Included in the packaging is the manual, which, in Step 4 reads: "Install a DC circuit breaker in a positive battery line." And a 75 Amp Circuit Breaker is suggested. No mention is made regarding this crucial instruction in you presentation.
Thanks for this, was a long time ago and we do add these in when we build them.
Would strongly suggest purchasing deep cycle batteries, considder GELS also if budget allows. With the amount of load shedding we are getting High cycles seem to last no longer than 2 years.
That’s correct, we have moved over completely to AGM keeping pricing still in line. Lithium would be great but the pricing is just another level.
@@alternatesolutions2408 Lithium should also have different charge and discharge voltage curves, which I believe this Mecer unit doesn't allow for. Usually the pure sine wave inverters (2400VA and up) are capable of charging to different voltages too. Do you sell these units?
Question.
When it comes to charging . To maximize the cycles . Should you unplug it from the wall socket to let the battery drain a bit more then plug it in when you want to charge the batteries ?
I'm commenting because I also wanna know
What's the purpose of the 10A / 20A switch on the back? I'm using a singular 12V battery. Also it produces a very slight smell, is this normal?
To charge at a higher rate, approx 240w vs 480w, can be used if you need to recharge more frequently. However it makes tons more noise on 20A.
Slight smell isn’t normal, battery might be leaking or over charging expelling gas
@@alternatesolutions2408 thanks for your response sir. I seem to be having an issue with mine. It seems to be charging but it isn't indicating that it's increasing (the battery is still dead). Surely I didn't set it up wrong? How hard could it be? Red goes to red, black goes to black. The smell definitely seems to be dangerous as everything on Google is indicating this. Load shedding is killing my work life! Any advice would be HUGELY appreciated! Thank you!
Thank you for the video, does your inverter make a noise when it's not under load?
It is silent when the batteries are full, it then will come on with a fan sound now and again when it trickle charges the batteries or after it has been on inverter mode. Hope that helps
Where can I get this and how much is it? Also if it doesn’t come with the batteries how much are they?
Thanks for demo bro. Much Appreciated. Once the batteries are charged , Do you keep the inverter running 24/7......?
yes you can, it doesn't draw too much power being idle
How long does the battery last
My is cutting off it self when the power is gone ?
I’ve got one that I run my small led tv, and PlayStation but I only get around 1.5hrs out of it. That seems very little as I was expecting at least around 6-8hrs. How long does yours last running tv and gaming console?
What type of batteries do you have in there? Did you buy it brand new?
Hi guys... I know I am a bit late... I also have a 1440w mecer inverter, but I only get 1 5hours as well from fully charged. I am running tv 55 inch TV, wifi rotor thats all...
I tried 2 sets of batteries already but no luck...
Did u manage to get a longer usage time on your inverter and if so which batteries did you use and where do I get them?
@@shanewoods2219 hi have you managed to sort out the issue? I notice mine is doing the same thing and my batteries are new i bought the unit in December, I haven't used it for January because the inverter went in for repairs under warranty
Hi If I am only using it to plug an entry level i7 desktop with a 24inch monitor. How long would you estimate it would last.
Well over 8 hours on the two battery setup, that’s a small load of under 100w
I have a question, to keep your Mecer Inverter Batteries in good condition should they constantly be plugged in online. My previous batteries drained and I want to avoid it this time round. Please advise
Hi Hannie, yes always advisable to keep the inverter and batteries plugged in. The inverter has a trickle charger built in so it constantly charges, allows discharges and then charges it up again. What you also can do, to cycle the batteries, if there has been no load shedding for a long time, just unplug the inverter and let it run on inverter mode and after 3 to 4 hours or when the battery percentage drops to 50% then connect it back up.
@@alternatesolutions2408 Thank you so much! Appreciated
@@alternatesolutions2408 Hi.Just want to know , can you permanently connect the stuff on it and uses it as n UPS
@@williehanekom858 Hi, sorry for the delay! You can permanently connect items although please make sure it’s not high load items at the unit will go into protection if you plug a hair dryer or something exceeding 1440w into it. I generally leave my WiFi and desk multiplug plugged in all the time as the outlets are just an adaptor cord. The magic happens when the AC goes down and it switches to inverter mode.
Thank you so much. How much can this set with batteries be and can I plug my pc(Desktop)
in there as well?
Yes you can plug your pc, the price depends of the amount of power you wish to go for, you can get an inverter plus a battery as little as R5000
You can, prices are now over R10000 for a unit like this with good batteries
@@alternatesolutions2408 Thank you so much. Got a Ellies inverter(1440w) which was on sale and runs my whole system (2.1 sound system(720w), 42' TV, Wifi router, Desktop with expansion external HDD plugged in as well and all producing less than 220w during load shedding. The only thing I'm disappointed with, is that I can't add solar panels to it.
Stoooopid question... so does it charge when you first plug it in before pressing the button or does the unit have to be on to charge?
as its plugged in it will charge
I need help. My UPS is written external battery 72Vdc, 50A Max. I would like to Know what this means. Can I plug in a 48V battery to this UPS? Thank you
It would need a 72v battery setup - which is 6 12v batteries in series. Be careful when you work with higher DC voltage please
@@alternatesolutions2408 Thank you very much for the help
Brilliant. Thanks so much
You're very welcome!
Hi, I'm in search on how to fix something. My plugs tripped that was connected to the inverter device and since then the inverter powers on, charges and all, but for some reason it doesn't power any of my plugs connected to it.
Is there a reset button and something I can do to get it working again? Its fully charged and when on battery mode, it's doesn't power my extension cables.... Any advice would be appreciated! I have the exact same setup as you have in the video, there is no fault light appearing.
The machine runs normally, batteries are all green to go, and 100% charged. It just won't power anything I plug into the inverter.
When the power is on, all those plugs work, even through the inverter (when plugged into a power source). However, again, as soon as the power goes off, the machine switches over perfectly. But doesn't give power 😅.
I looked everywhere online. Couldn't find anything. I'm hoping you may have some magical answers!
Sorry may be an odd question - is the grey button on the front pressed in and its turned on? Do you see the online indicator shown at 1:43 in the video?
@@alternatesolutions2408 Yes, it shows itself as online when plugged into the wall, as presented in the video. It makes a single beep noise when switched on. Furthermore, when electronics are plugged into the sockets on the Mecer inverter - while the inverter is simultaneously plugged into the wall - then all the electronics plugged into the inverter work.
However, as soon as I switch off the receiving power from the wall to the inverter, all the electronics plugged into the inverter don't work. Even when it switches over to battery. Everything else works, except for the job it is intended to do. The two truck batteries are green to go and are healthy.
The inverter picks up the fully charged batteries. But does not output any power to my plugs, plugged directly into the inverter.
I have even drained the batteries and left the inverter running without being charged (It lasted surprisingly long, in fact. Almost two full days, lol!). After it finally kicked the bucket, I plugged the inverter power cable back into the wall charge up a bit.
I hoped it sort of reset itself through this experiment since it died from insufficient power. That said, when it charged up a few bars, I decided to remove it from the wall outlet to run through the batteries. I powered it off, plugged in my phone charger, and plugged that into my phone. I then switched the inverter on (one beep noise and all, no alert signals, powered as normally, with that slight buzz noise presented in the video).
To my surprise, the phone started charging, but only for a brief moment, then stopped. It was safe to assume no power was being passed through the inverter. For the life of me, I don't understand why.
@@sinz_sama shew that’s an odd one. Could be that even thought they batteries seem fine as soon as they get a load they drain out. Where are you based? Why don’t you shoot me an email on enq.alternate@gmail.com maybe we can test out two batteries on there and worst case check that inverter into Mustek for an evaluation…
Is there a way to use these to power the ceiling lights in the event of a trip
It can be wired into the DB with appropriate change over switches and isolation to power the lights.
Hi there,
How do you know if your inverter is charging? I recently got an inverter but for some reason it is not working
The green light will flash when charge and turn solid when fully charged
@@alternatesolutions2408 my 2400VA 14000W Inverter always has a flashing green LED and constantly "online" , it never goes to solid, is that normal?
Hi. I really like the video.
Do you think that this inverter will run an air pump. The pump is 56 watts. (it is motor driven tho)
Should run it easily. Depends on how long tho…
@@ryanhenry21 just during loadshedding
It will run the pump, but it won't sound right and not recommended. I have run my fan in summer off it and it worked fine, but the risk is more on the appliance than the inverter.
How much electricity do the batteries consume when charging and what happens if the batteries are not fully charged and load shedding happens. I live in an area with a lot of power outages and worry that maybe a generator might be best ?
It will shorten the duration it can support you during the outage if the batteries are not fully charged. A generator might be better in your case if it cannot charge in time. This unit can also take a solar charging option but also add's onto the cost.
Can i run my stereo amplifier and floor standing fan without that humming sound.
If its an older amplifier with a mains transformer inside, there may be extra noise from the amp or a slight distortion on the output. Floor fan motor will also make more buzzing, its because of the type of output from the Inverter. Fan motor will run hotter, but I've run a fan on mine for a few months no problem.
Hi
Mine stays on the orange light yet it’s plugged into the wall?
Please advise
It’s not getting ac power, what happens when you unplug it? Can you try another plug?
my ups shows the input voltage and output voltage shows nothing (zero volt). the fault button is on as well as continuous beep, how can i solve it
does it have batteries in it? I would suspect the control board is blown
Hey
Can you use this for church sound system? Like a mixer , amp , speakers, instruments
that might be a too large load and won't last long enough
@@alternatesolutions2408 thank you