Forum Discussion

Naio's avatar
Naio
Explorer II
Mar 20, 2016

Why is my inverter freaking out?

I have a 1500watt HF MSW.

I don't use it often, so I am not acquainted will all of its oddities.

Last year I tried to use it with my 65w fridge at it would not work (alarm sounded). Although it had no problem with 300w electric heater!

I upsized the cables, tested it with the fridge, and it was fine.

I pulled it out again last week, and it would not run my mattress pad, which it previously had no problem with. Sometimes it would not even run a 15w heating pad! Other times it would run two of them.

All comnections are tight, battery fully charged. Inverter fan is not coming on. Plastic case feels warm in one spot, but not hot.

Suggestions? I am baffled.
  • CJW8's avatar
    CJW8
    Explorer
    Mar 23, 2016
    The specification most overlook in MSW inverters is THD, total harmonic distortion. With MSW inverters it is anywhere from 25 to 50%, depending on the type of load, and every bit of that is wasted power.
  • Naio's avatar
    Naio
    Explorer II
    Mar 23, 2016
    Thanks, everyone, for the input :).

    I ran some tests on mine. Could not get it to do the same thing twice. On testing day it was perfectly fine with the freezer, and fine with the heat pads MOST of the time. Again, no pattern. Mex's comment about the HF ones being wacky in general was most helpful. At least I know it is not me ;).

    As for buying PSW, I will if I find I want an inverter often. But so far it's only been a few nights a year. Thing is, when I want that mattress heater I really want it!

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