Help me buy an inverter

BFL13 wrote:

Careful of that voltage drop one-way or return that doubles the length. Some tables use the return trip on the single wire value while others use one way for the pair. Read the fine print.

Eg, this one uses one way for a pair

http://www.calculator.net/voltage-drop-calculator.html?material=copper&wiresize=2.061&voltage=12&phase=dc&noofconductor=1&distance=60&distanceunit=feet&eres=8&x=42&y=5

Yes, this one uses one-way length. I'm using Southwire, and it also uses one-way length even though it says in the comments: "The total combined load and length of the circuit must be used". It is interesting that Southwire provides HIGHER V-drop values for the same one-way length than the one in your link. Old cable manufacturing company, they are supposed to know what they are doing.

But this V-drop in cable is only half the problem, it can be helped with short and thick cable. There is "another V-drop" - in the battery under high load - and it doesn't depend on cable length and gauge. It only depends on the battery size and condition, i.e. how full/empty, how old etc. And on the battery type - wet or AGM. The OP has no control over this V-drop, and if it becomes too high, the inverter will shut down. There is also a risk of discharging the battery too deep due to Peukert effect at high current, thus shortening its life.

Mr Wiz - I haven't seen MW smaller than 700W "cooking power", i.e. about 1000W input power. Make it 1,100W after inverter losses. There were some reports on very small MW that uses a different wave length. It takes very low current but it's tiny, you can barely fit a cup of milk in there.