why does a 230 to 110v transformer trip a 12-230v inverter?

 

What do you mean by "Trip it"?
Are you sure you are connecting it Correct?

What is the Output Load?

 

output on inverter is 800W. if i plug the transformer into the inverter (with no load) the inverter shuts down

 

It may be seeing the transformer as a short or other high current load.
Have you tried to plug in transformer then turn on inverter? We just installed one in a racing support trailer that will trip every time you turn the air conditioning on, but if the air is turned on when the inverter is turned on it runs fine. It's a 3kw (4.5kw surge) inverter and a 1kw air unit.

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gerty

 

av tried all dif ways. inverter then connect transformer, connect transformer then switch inverter on with and without load on transformer

EDIT: if i connect the transformer and a drill and press triger, then switch inverter on it trips off. if i do the same with a 500W floodlight it stays on but makes a weird noise (prob tryin 2 produce power) but when i tried it with a 230V floodlight, it didnt make as much noise.

 

Any transformer takes a large surge current when you apply power to it, the bigger the transformer the larger the surge. Toroidal transformers are much worse than conventional ones, it's common practice to use a 'soft start' circuit on high power amplifers that use toroidal mains transformers. Anything over 300W or so will usually do this, is your transformer a toroid?.

Try connecting your transformer via a high wattage resistor to limit the surge, and see if it starts up then! - a 220 ohm would limit it to about 1A. If it starts up you can then short it out with a switch, usually a triac circuit is used, fed by a delay circuit - but a simple switch would be fine just for a test.

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PIC programmer software, and PIC Tutorials at:
http://www.winpicprog.co.uk

 

Maybe the inverter haven't sinus waweform on output so don't like the inductive load. Most of cheap inverters designed for computer use (for switching power supply) or ohmic load.

 

itz a modified sinewave 800W (1200W surge) inverter. the transformer is a standard 3.3KVA site transformer. not sure what kinda core. all try the resistor thing l8r

 

Have you monitored the input voltage to inverter? does it dip when transformer connected?

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gerty

 

That depends too, though, on where in the voltage cycle the transformer is energized. It seems counterintuitive to me, but energizing at peak voltage minimizes inrush. Apparently there are max-voltage switching devices:

http://relays.tycoelectronics.com/app_pdfs/13c3206.pdf

j.