Nespresso machine on inverter - horrible noise

[stranded]

As the title says, the Nespresso machine we have just bought for the boat makes a godawful sort of grating noise when used on inverter. On mains power it is fine. Still works perfectly and makes good coffee (though I wonder if the noise is worth it). The Nespresso needs <1280 watts, the inverter (Mastervolt Mass Combi Ultra) puts out 3kw continuous, 6kw peak, pure sine wave, 400ah agm battery bank, so to my simple mind should be up to the job.

Any ideas what’s going on, and is there a cure?

Thank you.

 

[RJJ]

Does it work better when running the engine?

We have a similar set up, the inverter works fine for e.g. laptops and charging cordless drill, but doesn't like running a hoover, kettle or the Nespresso without charge coming in the other end.

 

[RAI]

What does the inverter handbook say about inductive loads, like power tools?

 

[stranded]

I haven’t yet had the chance to try with engine or generator on - first use was on board and I assumed the Nespresso was faulty, but then it worked fine when I tried it at home before returning it. SWBO has therefore taken it back to the boat and says horrible noise is back - not ideal as she has a bunch of girlfriends on board, all suffering from sore heads this morning and not appreciating the noisy machine. I’ll be back on board tomorrow and try different combinations then.

I can’t find anything in the manual about inductive loads - that would be the pump I assume? It does say it has voltage and current protection - don’t know if that is relevant?

 

[starfire]

More than likely it will be the switch mode power supply in it drawing uneven pulses of current, except for the heating element.

An old trick with generators with mechanical stabilisation was to run a resistive load as well, try with a couple of ordinary incandescent lamps switched on at the same time, if you can still get the bulbs.

My problem was trying to run a powerful ssb transmitter, the results of the generator trying to stabilise was interesting on the ssb speech.

A 500w floodlight cured it

 

[stranded]

Ah, OK, that starts to make sense. Without wishing to give the impression that I have a clue what I am talking about: I think the inverter is set on eco mode so it switches out at very low load and automatically switches in when it detects a load. The horrible noise is about 50/50 with normal sound. So that could be the issue - in which case simply switching out of eco might do it. Or alternatively I’ll try your resistive load suggestion. Whichever, the Nespresso has reportedly been a great hit with SWBO’s ‘girls’, so I’m stuck with it!

 

[stranded]

Or, stepping ever deeper into the mire of my own ignorance, would it be possible to get some sort of simple (and cheap!) plug in inline capacitor or something to smooth out the load?

 

[starfire]

Eco mode sounds like it might be the problem, it depends on how quick the inverter is to decide there is no load. I would have thought there would be a delay of minutes rather than a second or so.

There is no simple capacitor solution, easy is a resistive load to give the inverter something to 'bite on.

Could even be a fan heater on low heat ?

 

[RAI]

One of the girls hairdryers?

 

[stranded]

Sadly the girls will be gone by the time I get there, and my girl is a proper sailor!

 

[Iliade]

A could of days ago a friend just set up his camper with a 3kw inverter and Nesspresso Pixie. Apparently it works fine so the 'eco mode' idea could hold water.

 

[ashtead]

Our mastervolt inverter does power the nexpresso machine when afloat but doesn’t like hairdryers -you could heat up coffee in the microwave of course.

 

[stranded]

Our mastervolt inverter does power the nexpresso machine when afloat but doesn’t like hairdryers -you could heat up coffee in the microwave of course.

You could, but it wouldn’t make you an espresso.

 

[ashtead]

Agreed -capsules become quite addictive

 

[stranded]

They do - and the Pixie makes damn fine coffee - much better than our earlier gen Nespresso. And at only £79 from AO it was cheaper than our rather fetching copper cafetière!

 

[ashtead]

Yes the biggest issue is finding one that’s not to tall for the locker and storing the capsules. I just wish we could rig ours so it could stay out when sailing in some form of gimballed nexpresso bracket.

 

[stranded]

Eco mode sounds like it might be the problem, it depends on how quick the inverter is to decide there is no load. I would have thought there would be a delay of minutes rather than a second or so.

There is no simple capacitor solution, easy is a resistive load to give the inverter something to 'bite on.

Could even be a fan heater on low heat ?

So, ECO mode was the culprit - switched it off and it works fine - just enjoying a hairs on your chest double shot of Inspirazione Palermo Kazaar - thank you all so much for your ideas.