If you’re looking for an inverter to run your compressor, then you’re in the right place.
Why?
Because this article is a complete in-depth guide on the subject.
Continue reading and you’ll have all the answers to what size inverter to run a compressor, the best inverter for compressors, and how long an inverter will run a compressor, plus much much more!
I’ve seen a lot of conflicting information about all of this and it can get a little bit confusing.
That’s why I decided to put together this information based on my own first hand experience with power inverters.
So whether you want to paint or inflate, together we’ll find you the inverter to run a compressor.
Can a Power Inverter Run an Air Compressor?
Yes, you can absolutely run an air compressor off a power inverter. It is very common to do so.
It is a great way to produce AC electricity almost anywhere, anytime. All you need is an energy source such as a deep cycle battery or car battery. Many contractors have an inverter hooked up to their truck battery in order to use power tools like this when there’s no mains electricity available.
You just need to make sure you have a big enough inverter to run your compressor.
What Size Inverter to Run a Compressor?
There is no exact size inverter to choose for your compressor. It all depends on how much power your compressor uses – this could be 200 watts to over 2000 watts!
For your inverter to work properly it should have a wattage capacity of 20% more than your compressor draws.
For example, a 1100W compressor needs at least a 1300 watt inverter.
To work out the size you need to multiply compressor wattage by 1.2. So the calculation for the above example is: 1100W x 1.2 = 1320W inverter. Personally, I’d go a little bigger still and use a 1500W inverter.
How Many Watts is My Compressor?
So now you’ll be wondering how do you know how many watts an air compressor uses??
Well, it’s pretty easy to find the information. It should be clearly listed in the technical specification and user manual. Quite often there’s even a stick on the equipment with the running wattage.
I also like to use a wattmeter. This is an awesome little device you can attach to any appliance to get a live power reading. Super useful if you’re running an inverter.
To give you an idea for any decent compressor you are probably looking at between 1100 – 3000+ watts depending on size.
Do You Need Pure Sine Wave Inverter to Run a Compressor?
Yes, you will need a pure sine wave inverter to run a compressor as it is an inductive load. Pure sine wave output replicates the AC electricity supplied by the mains grid.
Your compressor will not take kindly to a cheaper modified sine wave inverter due to the sharp steps in voltage change.
How Long Will an Inverter Power a Compressor?
The length of time an inverter can run a compressor comes down to two things – battery capacity and compressor power.
It’s important to understand that it is your appliances that decide how much energy is used, not the inverter itself. A 3000 watt inverter won’t always draw maximum load. For example, your compressor might only use 1500 watts.
Then, the runtime comes down to the energy capacity stored in your battery.
It can be a little confusing to work out, so I’ve created this handy formula for 12V battery and inverter runtimes.
(10 x battery capacity in Ah) divided by appliance power in Watts = Runtime
So let’s say you have a 12V battery with 200Ah capacity and a compressor using 1500 watts.
(10 x 200Ah) ÷ 1500W = 1.3 hours.
So a 200Ah battery can run a 1500 watt air compressor for 1.3 hours.
Final Thoughts on Inverter for Compressors
That’s it, everything you need to know about using an inverter to run a compressor.
There’s a couple of important points to keep in mind:
- Pure Sine Wave is a must
- Inverter should have 20% more power capacity that compressor
Take the time to find out how many watts your compressor uses so you can pick a suitable inverter for your needs. Don’t just use any equipment before checking it, air compressors tend to be very high-powered pieces of equipment, sometimes using thousands of watts.
Thanks for reading and happy compressing.
