Small Inverter question

[Gonzo42]

My TV runs off the house 12V, but the Satellite Receiver runs off 120VAC which is fine if I am on a hookup or have the generator running. I bought a small inverter to run off house 12V but I was told I have to have a pure sine wave inverter. This one does not.

Is a pure sine wave inverter actually required and will a modified sine wave inverter damage the receiver?

[garry1p]

Should be no problem worst case is interference lines on the TV.

[Gonzo42]

I was toying with the idea of one larger inverter but I was thinking of having several cheap low power inverters that would only be running whenever a particular device was on. Having one larger one would be sucking current constantly. Also having small cheap units, having to replace one ($20 ea or so) has low cost impact on failure.

[ferretgrandpa]

If you have Dish Network, and their service plan, they'll cover the receiver, hook it up and try. If the receiver fails, call dish and tell them your receiver died, They'll sent you a new one.
They replaced both of my old receivers with new HD ones for free, one was starting to freeze up after 9 years. I owned the original receivers, and I have the paperwork that says I own these new ones.

[wa8yxm]

Damage to the electronics.. Well on the devices you specified, not likely,, There are some devices that can be damaged by MSW but generally a Sat Receiver or Television or Radio are not on that list,, Strangely some night lights are, and electric blankets, (One would think otherwise but hey.. This is what is reported)

What is more likely is the blasted sat receiver will loose signal on an MSW inverter... The reason for that is the wave form.. Now a well built, filtered and shielded MSW inverter,, No tribble.. but those are not all that common epically in the small low cost ones... Those may radiate interference well into the microwave reagon. In fact I have (somewhere) the plans for a device that basically is a square (Well retangular) wave generator.. And it has been measured in the microwave range by its designer. (Who happens to be a friend, I have a lot of "Techie" Friends).

[RoyB]

You are probably going to end like the rest of us doing this. Once you add the INVERTER just for one item you will quickly discover "Hey this is nice" and then start wishing you have enough Inverter power to run other 120VAC items.

I started out with a 150WATT model, then went to a 300Watt model, and finally ended with a 600Watt model.

My INVERTER is the AIMS PSW 600WATT model purchased from AMAZON for $149 I think it was five years ago...

I routed two 120VAC Extension cords with multi-head 120VAC receptacles on the end and permanently mounted them to the back of the Home Entertainment Ceneter location and the Bedroom night table location.

These extensions cords are hidden from view going behind cabinets and inside wire management cable protector from LOWES with only the multi-tap 120VAC receptacle showing on the back on the table tops. These two 120VAC extension cords plug into the front panel of the 600WATT Inverter.

Being PURE SINE WAVE I don't to worry about what I can or cannot plug into it. This works good with other unknowing folks in my trailer. All they will see is a 120VAC receptacle and who knows what they might plug into it. made good sense to me to just go with the PURE SINE WAVE model Inverter.

My low wattage MSW Inverter didnt go to waste as I use it to power up my outside lights when camping off the power grid...

Roy ken

[jhilley]

I have run satellite receivers off MSW inverters without any problems. Some times they create interference lines on the TV. Give it a try, very little chance it will hurt the receiver. Just helped a neighbor install a Harbor Freight 750 watt MSW. It runs the TV, satellite receiver and stereo surround sound with no problems. Make sure you feed it with large enough wire, the cigarette lighter sockets usually are wired with too small wires. Locate as close to batteries as possible.

[Gonzo42]

So far the PSW inverter I have found are >$100 but the receiver is=$100 and is rented from Dish. Replacement might be expensive, don't know.

[KD4UPL]

The answer is maybe. Some electronics are very sensitive and will be damaged by a MSW inverter. Apple computers and some gas ranges I know have been damaged by some of my off grid customers.
It's quite likely that a sat. receiver would be fine on MSW but as cheap as PSW inverters have gotten why take a chance? I bet the inverter is less expensive than the replacement sat. box.