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manich's avatar
manich
Explorer
Sep 28, 2016

Testing new inverter?

I just received an Aims 600w PSW Inverter from Amazon. It was shipped UPS in the product box, no outer box, and was not sealed. I only had to pull on a cardboard tab to open. My first suspicion is I was sent an open boxed item that was returned. I would like to check it out to see if it performs to "spec". Can I do this with a meter, or do I need to find someone with an oscilloscope? Or do I need to just try and pull a load of 600watts thru it and see if my devices operate properly, which doesn't sound like something I would want to try.

thanks,
martin
(2) 50w panels
6v+6v, 235aH batteries
600w Aims PSW Inverter

9 Replies

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  • MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
    MEXICOWANDERER
    Explorer
    Sep 29, 2016
    One of the tests to confirm an inverter is not mere hyped foo-fah is to increase loads until such time as the pseudo sine wave reverts to square wave then determine that point in percentage of rated output.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Sep 29, 2016
    To test a PSW inverter you need a good quality 'scope.. but you can test most of it with just meters

    If you have TWO Volt meters, one if which states it is a "True RMS" and the other which does not.. Do they agree within a volt or two? MSW inverters will often read different (low usually) on the NON RMS meter.
    Also meter shore power with the same two meters to insure they agree.

    Frequency can be measured with some multi-meters or a Kill-a-watt but only after the above test shows good.

    Total capacity can be measured with the Kill-a-watt and a bunch of 100 watt light bulbs or lamps, or other known value loads in the range.

    but for the waveform. ONLY a 'Scope is for sure.
  • MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
    MEXICOWANDERER
    Explorer
    Sep 28, 2016
    I buy components wrapped in bubble wrap then taped. Dropped into a large box, then shipped. I imagine a 600 watt SAMLEX or Meanwell PSW inverter would cost more than $130. Heavyweight inverters are OK. Lightweight jobs are chew & spit.
  • manich's avatar
    manich
    Explorer
    Sep 28, 2016
    2oldman wrote:
    Aims is not known for high quality. Yeah, put a 600w load on it. Why not?

    Yeah, for $130, and Chinese, I wasn't expected the highest, even with 5 star rating on Amazon.
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Sep 28, 2016
    All we do is shop by price and lowest shipping. Then it comes barely wrapped :R
    BTW my GoPower came the same way.

    Inverter is probably fine. Install it and plug something in.
  • MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
    MEXICOWANDERER
    Explorer
    Sep 28, 2016
    With a strong magnifying glass, meticulously examine studs, connectors bolts and nuts for the very slightest of abrasions, scuffs or evidence of having been installed.

    New is a separate category from return merchandise or open box.

    Simple inverters tend to work, yes or no. When they malfunction voltage will tend to be screwy with any kind of load. A hundred watt light bulb is good enough to test with plus your hand held meter.
  • MrWizard's avatar
    MrWizard
    Moderator
    Sep 28, 2016
    Very usual shipping
    I think who ever did the packing, messed up
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Sep 28, 2016
    Aims is not known for high quality. Yeah, put a 600w load on it. Why not?

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