Using a Leaf with an inverter

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Using a Leaf with an inverter

nic.wise

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#303541 17-Feb-2023 14:49

You're never going to guess why I'm asking! :)

We have an inverter already. And a 2014 24kwh leaf. Obviously I dont have a V2L adapter for the Chardemo :(

But thinking, if we needed it - connect the inverter (1000W I think, need to check) to the battery, leave the car "on" to keep the 12v charged from the traction battery, and plug the fridge in.

I think there is a 1500W limit on the 12v charger, so within that limit, any issues?

If we lost power (we did, but only for around 30 mins, but... this isn't going to be the last case), the fridge is really the only thing which would be a problem. We can cook, wash, ablute, etc, without power for a while already (septic + big tank which can gravity feed if we need it to).... 20kwh should last the fridge for a while.

And yes, I'd prefer a BYD Atto 3 (lovely car to drive) but hey, I'm not spending 50k :)

Nic Wise - fastchicken.co.nz

richms

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#3038188 17-Feb-2023 15:10

Dont know about the leaf, but I tried my ciggy lighter inverter on my tesla and it was just constantly cycling between working and alarming about the voltage and shutting off. Might be because it has the lithium 12v system, but not sure.

Old fridges are a really nasty load to drive, modern ones will be inverter motors so easy to run. Some cheap new fridges are still using a primitive motor drive so starting them can be a problem. Also you have no control over the defrost timing so you might find that when you decide to run it back up again to keep cold, it just wants to defrost and you see it go way over where it should be because of the dumb timer that it uses. Only chest freezers are free of the defrost nonsense so able to have the power cycled at will.

Richard rich.ms

Cybnate

71 posts

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#3038324 17-Feb-2023 19:13

A 2016 30Kw Leaf owner here. Got my hands on a 500w inverter earlier this week while anything higher was sold out unsurprisingly.

I can also confirm that 500w is certainly not enough to get a fridge going :-( Did connect it directly to the 12v battery.
It does work to run a few lights, alarm clock radio and chargers though. Just make sure you also buy a long power extension cable which can reach from the garage into the house where you need the power.

Hope someone can confirm they run their fridge successfully on an say 1500w inverter for many hours using a Leaf.

lchiu7

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#3038569 18-Feb-2023 12:39

Cybnate:

A 2016 30Kw Leaf owner here. Got my hands on a 500w inverter earlier this week while anything higher was sold out unsurprisingly.

I can also confirm that 500w is certainly not enough to get a fridge going :-( Did connect it directly to the 12v battery.
It does work to run a few lights, alarm clock radio and chargers though. Just make sure you also buy a long power extension cable which can reach from the garage into the house where you need the power.

Hope someone can confirm they run their fridge successfully on an say 1500w inverter for many hours using a Leaf.

See if they will ship this to NZ

https://www.evextend.com/Nissan-Leaf-Inverter-Kit-2013-2017.php

Cybnate

71 posts

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#3038594 18-Feb-2023 14:40

Thanks I did see that. Certainly a nicer solution, however my application is only for power outages and they are not that often and my Leaf is housed in garage so perhaps overkill. Just dived into the deep and ordered a 1500w inverter (with 3000w peak), that should work my local Jaycar shop told me.

lchiu7

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#3038599 18-Feb-2023 15:10

Cybnate:

Thanks I did see that. Certainly a nicer solution, however my application is only for power outages and they are not that often and my Leaf is housed in garage so perhaps overkill. Just dived into the deep and ordered a 1500w inverter (with 3000w peak), that should work my local Jaycar shop told me.

I have an Atto3 with the V2L adapter but fortunatly I live in Welly so have not had to experience the issues. But it's nice to know should we get a power outage, I have a backup plan

timmmay

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#3038664 18-Feb-2023 17:00

lchiu7:

See if they will ship this to NZ

https://www.evextend.com/Nissan-Leaf-Inverter-Kit-2013-2017.php

"Utilizes 12V accessory power system of the Leaf" - does that mean it doesn't use the main large battery?

Technofreak

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#3038744 18-Feb-2023 18:49

lchiu7:

Cybnate:

A 2016 30Kw Leaf owner here. Got my hands on a 500w inverter earlier this week while anything higher was sold out unsurprisingly.

I can also confirm that 500w is certainly not enough to get a fridge going :-( Did connect it directly to the 12v battery.
It does work to run a few lights, alarm clock radio and chargers though. Just make sure you also buy a long power extension cable which can reach from the garage into the house where you need the power.

Hope someone can confirm they run their fridge successfully on an say 1500w inverter for many hours using a Leaf.

See if they will ship this to NZ

https://www.evextend.com/Nissan-Leaf-Inverter-Kit-2013-2017.php

Ouch. That's circa 85 amps for 1000 watts using the 12 volt battery. You need some relatively heavy duty wiring and connectors for that.

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Azzura

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#3038839 18-Feb-2023 22:12

lchiu7

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#3038842 18-Feb-2023 22:24

Technofreak:

lchiu7:

See if they will ship this to NZ

https://www.evextend.com/Nissan-Leaf-Inverter-Kit-2013-2017.php

Ouch. That's circa 85 amps for 1000 watts using the 12 volt battery. You need some relatively heavy duty wiring and connectors for that.

I just realised (I think) that this unit doesn't directly tap into the Leaf's battery like a true V2L. But what it appears to do is use the Leaf's battery to keep the 12V battery charged or that is what I think.

everettpsycho

614 posts

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#3038852 18-Feb-2023 23:10

This is with the newer model leafs and they didn't hammer it all day but it sounds doable as they did run a chest freezer intermittently off of theirs. Effectively it's running the 350V battery to charge the 12V battery and using that feed to power 230V appliances from the inverter.

ashtonaut

614 posts

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#3038856 18-Feb-2023 23:28

Interesting Reddit post here (repost from FB):

https://reddit.com/r/nzev/comments/1151yf5/emergency_power_from_an_ev/