The inverter beeps. Then it shuts off. The screen says overload. Here is why.
Two kinds of overload
1. Too much at once
Iron (1,200W) + kettle (2,000W) + fridge + fans on a 3kVA inverter = too much.
2. The start-up surge
Motors need a big burst to start. A normal AC can pull several times its running power for a second. Pumps and fridges do it too.
Heavy items to watch
| Appliance | Watts |
|---|---|
| Electric kettle | 1,500–2,200W |
| Pressing iron | 1,000–1,200W |
| Microwave | 1,000–1,500W |
| Hair dryer | 1,000–2,000W |
| 1.5HP AC (running) | 1,100–1,500W |
| 1HP pump (running) | ~750W, big surge |
Simple habits
- One heavy item at a time.
- Start the AC or pump first, then other loads.
- Use inverter ACs. Read inverter AC vs normal AC.
- Iron and pump in the daytime.
Fixes
- A soft starter for pumps
- A bigger inverter if overload is daily
- Moving some loads to a separate circuit
Read 3kVA vs 5kVA.
