Steve from SoCal Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 I have a Studer Sinewave inverter SI1212, would this be a good choice for my truck? At present I have three starting batteries only in my truck? I will add a house bank in the future but, the truck is in the beginning stage of development. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yarome Posted September 16, 2015 Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 Don't see many of those. Anythings possible, but if I'm not mistaken those are the "industrial" grid tie inverters aren't they? If so, I think their nominal output is locked at 230v @ 50hz. You would have to step it down to 120v @ 60hz to be very usable. I could be wrong. I've only seen a small handful of Studer's before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyA Posted September 16, 2015 Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 They are beautiful pieces of equipment made in Switzerland. But, it is not really what you want for your truck. As Yarome noted they were designed for grid tie use, the output is 220 volts and the 50 Hz frequency is crystal controlled (fixed clock speed) and not switchable for 60 Hz. The bummer is in the USA it isn't even usable for grid tie due to the frequency. The output is "straight" 220 VAC with no center tap - meaning 110 is not there. In short, the inverter was designed for European markets where 220 VAC and 50 Hz is the standard. I'm curious...... how did you come by the Studer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve from SoCal Posted September 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 this inverter is 120 volt it came from the US government Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeverEasy Posted September 16, 2015 Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 http://www.studer-innotec.com/?cat=sine_wave_inverters&id=431 says the S1 1212 is 230/50 hz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve from SoCal Posted September 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 I posted this in part because the inverter is a black sheep! Studer has no presence in the USA or Canada, Mexico is listed as a market and they are 120/ 60Hz. I got it with some odd lots from Government Liquidation, it was in a large box with sterilization cases. I have a friend who is a doctor, when the military started surplussing medical equipment we bought a bunch of stuff, thinking we could sell it to other docs. Anyway this was part of an auction lot. It may have been used to power medical monitors or? It is a true sine wave inverter so I think it had a higher calling than powering Ipods! I have two picture of the inverter but the pic size is too big to attach Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yarome Posted September 16, 2015 Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 It's possible, or even likely, that even though it's a U.S. government liquidation that the equipment and inverter were in use outside of the U.S. Especially considering that Studer has no presence in the U.S. Mexico may be a market for other products they produce (solar controllers, battery isolators, etc.), but not necessarily the SI series of inverter. Because it's possible that Mexico may sell only some of there products I would not feel safe to assume your inverter is 120/60 since all of the literature they seem to have on their website indicates 230/50. The few I have run across where in Australia and where 230/50 units. Although I couldn't tell you what particular models I saw. At any rate, it's simple enough to temporarily connect to a battery and just read the output voltage... mystery solved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve from SoCal Posted September 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 This inverter IS 120/60Hz, there is no ambiguity about it. I am sure it was destined to be used outside the US, most of the stuff we bought was medical equipment for field hospitals. I am not sure if this particular inverter was ever deployed, about half of the thing we saw were never used. I am wondering if anyone else has run across one of these? https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yNQNJvA5FnU/VfmAXwi7JTI/AAAAAAAAAgs/MosTL5HTIm0/s400-Ic42/20150916_081232.jpg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9KXrXYfi-QA/VfmAX-J7cmI/AAAAAAAAAgs/SJiwjrIlSyQ/s400-Ic42/20150916_081248.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star Dreamer Posted September 16, 2015 Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 It's possible, or even likely, that even though it's a U.S. government liquidation that the equipment and inverter were in use outside of the U.S. Especially considering that Studer has no presence in the U.S. Mexico may be a market for other products they produce (solar controllers, battery isolators, etc.), but not necessarily the SI series of inverter. Because it's possible that Mexico may sell only some of there products I would not feel safe to assume your inverter is 120/60 since all of the literature they seem to have on their website indicates 230/50. The few I have run across where in Australia and where 230/50 units. Although I couldn't tell you what particular models I saw. At any rate, it's simple enough to temporarily connect to a battery and just read the output voltage... mystery solved. Actually at the very bottom of the data sheet for the SI units it shows that 120v is available per request. Sounds like you got a good deal. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyA Posted September 17, 2015 Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 Lucky dog. Getting a 120 volt/60Hz Studer would be a great find, especially if the price was what I would expect from a government auction. It is a rare animal and would not be compatible for grid tie - but for your intended purpose it would make no difference. If you decide you don't want it I would be glad to take it off your hands . It is a high quality sine wave inverter. Yes, I would put it in my (your) truck. Your starting batteries will not give you the reserve minutes you need for sustained use when dry camping. Adding another bank with at least 4 series/parallel golf cart 6 volt batteries should be part of your future plans - if $$ allows AGM or even lithium ion. But, if you just want to use the inverter to run a fridge while driving you are good to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkennell Posted September 17, 2015 Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 Yes, very interesting and rare find! Make sure you stay under the listed load and don't toast it...no parts! We've speced Studer components in Solar/generator/battery systems in Africa. 50-60hz, what fun! 25 years ago, in Liberia, the whole grid was US style, only place in Africa using 120/240 60hz. Then the war happened. Liberia is now rebuilding the infrastructure, using EU style like the rest of Africa, 230-50hz. The Mission Hospital/campus I've helped design the power system for is now facing replacing their entire distribution network so they can connect to the Utility. All new transformers, rewire the gensets and change the speed governors, 50hz controls. Thankfully most of the equipment in the hospital is already 50/60hz capable. Anyway...costs in the 1/2 Mil. $ range. The most frustrating thing---we installed all new 60hz transformers just 5 years ago...JUST before the government announced the 50hz switch! (BTW, a 60hz transformer is derated 50% on 50hz!) Been designing the control cabinets etc. Hopefully the funds will be there to switch soon....running 500kW of gensets 24/7 is EXPENSIVE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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