What Inverter do I need for Lazer printer ?

[NahanniV]

I have a Brother DCP-L2520DW printer on board, works great from shore power, but my 2008 vintage Xantrex X-Power1500W inverter will not start it.

I don't think it is a wiring issue, checked the voltage input at the inverter with a minimum recording multimeter and it never even dips when the printer is turned on, but the inverter momentarily shows the fault light and the printer re-starts it's power-up. Other equipment works OK on the inverter.

Is there anyone else running a lazer printer on an inverter ?

What works for you ?

[Adelie]

I have a WestMarine 1000w (2000w surge) inverter in my car that runs a Brother laser printer for work.

Before I permanently mounted it under my seat I used a clamp multimeter the check amperage. At startup it draws 140a then settles down to 80-90a. I checked so I could size the feedlines. Didn't want to find out they were too small after I'd gotten them thru the firewall.

140a @ 12v is 1680w, 1820w @ 13v. Under load the battery is probably dropping to 11v but that's still right around 1500w for my printer.

My guess is your cables may be under sized which drops you voltage too much, the inverter may be at its limit or a bit of both.

If you have a clamp multimeter see if you can get the amps at startup.

[Lepke]

You might need a pure sine wave inverter.

[Mirage35]

Adelie is pointing you in the right direction - laser printers take a big current surge when they start up. Your inverter showing its fault light as you describe is probably indicating that it doesn't have the capacity to handle it.

My office at home is a standard 15 amp (i.e. 1800 W) AC circuit, and the lights dim when I print.

[NahanniV]

Adelie: Is your inverter true sine wave ?

My printer specs say 450W while printing, but there must be a larger surge while starting up.

[Adelie]

It's a $110 inverter from 4yr ago so it might be a modified sine wave (2-step) but no way is it a "true" (multi-step) wave-form.

When laser printers start up there is a huge power surge because ther is an element in the print flow that needs to be heated up very fast. Once it's hot maintaining temp takes significantly less power though still a substantial amount.

[Scot McPherson]

plug your iphone into the inverter, if the iphone charges but becomes mostly unusable while it's plugged in then you probably have a modified sine wave inverter.

[Avionics_Joe]

Try plugging in a 1500 watt hair dryer or heater into the inverter and see if it runs it.
If it does not, troubleshoot why, battery going bad, cables bad or coroded or undersized?

[anacapaisland42]

Laser printers have an INCREDIBLE POWER SURGE at the start of operation....get rid of it and use a jet type printer.
Bill

Originally Posted by NahanniV

I have a Brother DCP-L2520DW printer on board, works great from shore power, but my 2008 vintage Xantrex X-Power1500W inverter will not start it.

I don't think it is a wiring issue, checked the voltage input at the inverter with a minimum recording multimeter and it never even dips when the printer is turned on, but the inverter momentarily shows the fault light and the printer re-starts it's power-up. Other equipment works OK on the inverter.

Is there anyone else running a lazer printer on an inverter ?

What works for you ?