Power Inverters

[Barks]

Hi, recently bought a Mk7 that has a 2000w Power Inverter fitted. I understand I'll be limited as to what it will power by the amp rating of what I use but I have never used one before so how long does it take to run the battery down if say powering a kettle for example. The van has just one battery fitted, do inverters damage the batteries, is it advisable to run the engine when using the inverter....any advice very welcome

[dumper]

I have a 1600 W in my camper to run a 500 W microwave it’s powered by 2 125 amp leisure batteries I use my van on car rallies I run the microwave for 10 to 15 minutes probably twice over the weekend with no problem but when I first set it up in my previous van I had too long a power lead to the inverter and the power draw was to much to run the inverter so I started the engine to try it was charge by a standard split charge relay and it burned out the relay not to long after the alternator needed replacement but it had done over a 100000 miles so may have just been a coincidence I now never run the engine when using the inverter after putting the inverter next to the batteries I’ve had no problem in the last 10 years.

[Barks]

Thanks Dumper

[Joe in Oz]

As you only have one battery, it would use around 150A to run an 1800W kettle. If the kettle takes 6 minutes to boil, you will have used 15Ah from your battery. If your battery is a 100Ah lead acid battery or SLA, you have access to about 50Ah before the voltage is too low. So you could boil the kettle maybe 3 times before your battery is flat - and you probably won;t start the engine again after say 10 minutes.
Your alternator is theoretically capable of producing around 100A. So boiling your kettle with the engine running will only drain the battery at 50A - so you should have a bit more time.... My wife's hair dryer is our biggest power drain and she seems to take ages with it.....