Inverter Watts: I want to use an inverter to power my heating system during electrical blackouts. System motor draws 5 Amps (running), but start-up is 19 Amps for 1-2 seconds. Do I need an inverter capable of 20 amps peak or 20 Amps running ? Maybe a soft-start inverter with 20 Amps peak?

Thanks -cd mulford-

Hi cd, I have no answers but I am interested in what you have planned. Would you care to explain your set-up? Have you researched inverters? What would be your power source? Thanks and I hope an expert jumps in with some good info. Good luck

I also use an inverter for power outages, runs the fans on my insert and a few lights.

Contact inverter suppliers/manufacturers

parttime: I plan on using a car battery as the source. My heating system draws 5 amps (600 Watts), so it will draw 50 amps from the car battery while it is running - The 12 Volts will be connected into a manual transfer box which I have wired wired into my main PSE&G utility service. The manual transfer switch allows me to legally disconnect from PSE&G and connect to my alternate 12 Volt supply with a switch. (My wife does not want a generator, so this is my alternative plan). Since my heating system motor needs 19 Amps to start the
Motor, I have to find an inverter capable of handling the 19 Amp start-up motor current.

cd mulford

Thank you cd for the reply. I also didn't want a generator (fuel storage) I have a cobra 2575 that I connect to my truck during outages but I'm not sure if it would do the for your job.

parttime: I think the Cobra 2575 would do it for me. Thanks for your inputs.

Cd nulford

It brought a smile to my wife's face last outage when I was able to power the t.v. for her favorite show. Good luck and post back with the results if you can.