What type of resistor should I use for a 12v inverter

4 FAQs about What type of resistor should I use for a 12v inverter

What wattage resistor should I use if my inverter fails?

If the resistor fails open circuit after a few trial starts, try a higher wattage resistor. Not all inverters have similar starting characteristics, but if it really does need a soft start, it probably needs something pretty robust. 5w should work fine. I would go with 50w metal case resistor since they are cheap.

Is 20R a good voltage for a 48V inverter?

20R at 48V is about 2.5A or therabouts, I'd suggest that will be just fine, give it a suitably rated switch and you're good to go. You're just trying to avoid that massive (almost infinite) current splat when you first connect the discharged inverter. The Seplos 48V BMS has a 51R 10W pre-charge resistor for about 1A pre-charge.

Is a 20R resistor enough for a 48V BMS?

The Seplos 48V BMS has a 51R 10W pre-charge resistor for about 1A pre-charge. 20R at 48V is about 2.5A or therabouts, I'd suggest that will be just fine, give it a suitably rated switch and you're good to go. You're just trying to avoid that massive (almost infinite) current splat when you first connect the discharged inverter.

How much power does a 50V resistor have?

If you have 50v and five ohms, the instantaneous power E squared on R, or is 500 watts. Now it depends upon the thermal mass of the resistor, and how well it can sustain that kick in the guts, and for how many times. It might only be for a few milliseconds.