Decent inexpensive modified sine wave inverter

BFL13 wrote:
You need to say the wattage you want.

I can't believe I forgot that ! 4000W surge capability

MSW at low price? Just sort by price and buy it. What could go wrong?

I had a 2500 watt Cobra MSW that was rated to run motors. I did sometimes use it on my roof air conditioner. It was $199 in 2009. I did use it at -20 C.

https://www.amazon.com/Cobra-CPI490-Compact-Power-Inverter/dp/B00S9S8NA4/ref=sr_1_32?crid=390AZDCJ7IRLK&dchild=1&keywords=msw%2Binverter&qid=1593236950&refinements=p_n_condition-type%3A6461716011&rnid=6461714011&sprefix=msw%2Binverter%2Caps%2C503&sr=8-32&th=1

owner's manual: https://www.manualslib.com/manual/932468/Cobra-Cpi2590.htmlContinuous output power (1 hour) . . . . . . . . . . . 2500W
Surge rating (0.1 second) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5000W
Peak efficiency (12V – 1/2 load) . . . . . . . . . . . . . > 88%
Installation
Efficiency (full load, 12V) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . > 83%
Secondary Icons
No load current draw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . < 0.6A (12.6V)
Output waveform (resistive load) . . . Modified sine wave
Output frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58HZ – 62HZ
Output voltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109V – 120V
Notice
Caution
USB output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5V
Input voltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.4VDC – 14.4VDC
Alarm voltage (unload) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11.0V – 11.6V
Shutdown voltage (unload) . . . . . . . . . . . 10.0V – 10.6V
Operating temperature range . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0°C – 40°C
Storage temperature range . . . . . . . . . . . . -40°C – 85°C
Protection . . . . . . . . . Overload, short-circuit, overtemp,
reverse polarity, under/over voltage



2500 watt = $299.95
130 watt = $14.95

I suppose they are all good in that they do what they are designed to do. I've got a 400w and a 2000w from Harbor Freight, they both work. The thing I have noticed about the cheap ones is they have a high idle current draw. This is compared to my Xantrex pure sine that uses almost no power at idle.

You need to say the wattage you want. If you want any one receptacle to handle all the rated wattage or if having one that shares the wattage among the receptacles--which is no good for whole house, eg.

A typical 3000w with three receptacles will do about two on any one of two 15s and the third 15 can pick up the other 1000w, eg. Some 1000w are actually two 500s so can't run anything over 500, but can do two of those.

You have to phone their tech supports to find out the truth about all that. The store salesmen won't know and the users' manuals are vague.

On quality, I would look at the store's return policy. Some stores say you can only deal with the product maker for any complaints.