Power Jack PSW 3000/6000 PSW inverter (ebay)

[JiminDenver]

You know me, I''m always on craigslist or ebay buying things that are not tested or recommended.

I found these inverters on ebay a while back. Power jack 3000/6000w psw inverter
Total cost shipped was $192. ($9 shipping)

They had been going for over $200 but I did see one go for $185. So I put in a low bid and forgot about it. A week later I got the email saying I won so I get to test it out. I could have gone for a smaller one but I was worried I the outlets would be split and we wouldn't be able to use the microwave. A Cobra 1500 would have done it but the Tailgater system needs PSW.

I figured I'd be lucky if the 8-d could handle the load of our 900w microwave using 1375w, and if it did, not for long. Today I hooked it up in the garage a put a 1875w hair dryer on it. The 8-D dropped down into the 11s but held there for the 5 minutes or so I ran the hair dryer. On low the voltage stayed above 12v and then back to 11.5 when I went back to high. The longest we run the microwave is 3 minutes to warm something up so I think it just might do it.

Now to see what happens when I have the solar hooked to the battery as the inverter is used. The Bosch panels will easily be good for over 30a at peak.

Oops, I had the wrong link, edited.

[JiminDenver]

Thank you green, that gives me some breathing room until I decide what to get. I can see the fan in the Powerbright giving out eventually.

[greenrvgreen]

Jim, I'm running my Tailgater off of 2-step MSW--works fine.

[JiminDenver]

I wanted to update on the Power Jack inverter. We used it a number of times for the microwave up to 8 minutes, the vacuum, hair dryer, coffee maker as well as smaller things like the TV/satellite, phone chargers, etc.

It doesn't have the massive idle draw I thought. It drew a few amps more than a small 150w inverter we ran just the TV/satellite on.

The one issue I had with it was when running very small loads, it would go to sleep for a instant, hardly long enough to notice except the TV and satellite would have to be restarted. It never happened with heavier loads like the coffee pot and TV for hours and small load small inverter makes more sense anyways.

So I am pretty happy with my cheap ebay PSW inverter. Even if it did have the high idle draw I would have only turned it on to run a load anyways. Knowing that the draw is lower means that the solar makes it so I don't care if it gets left on between uses.

On a side note, the smaller inverter is a Powerbright cw150 MSW. The TV/sat did run on it but I noticed the receiver and phone chargers were getting warmer than I would like so I will still replace it with a PSW. To its credit at times it ran all day so the TV could distract the dogs, unfortunately so did its fan. So I think a larger unit that isn't pushed so hard would be better.

[JiminDenver]

Nothing in in particular but I almost burnt my hand by grabbing the glass of water I had put in there to make sure it was warming things up.

[pianotuna]

Hi Jim,

Did you do Mex's temperature rise test on the Micro?

[JiminDenver]

Hi Don

I'm content with some microwave and some hair dryer for Honey in the morning. Attempting the air was never in the plans. I figure if the inverter didn't quit, the 8-D would lol

[pianotuna]

Hi Jim,

Don't try the air conditioner. That is a LARGE inductive load and the inverter might run it...once or twice.

[JiminDenver]

Today the inverter and 8-D did fine running the 900w microwave not just once but several times in a row as i watched both the voltage of the battery and the inverter. I'll definitely want to have the solar running to bring back up the 8-D, it was down to 12.5v or 12.4v after the test were run.

[JiminDenver]

I can't say I disagree with Don, buy the best you can. We don't "need" things like a microwave enough to justify spending that much on a inverter, much less the bank to properly run it. Should this not work I'll get something big enough to run the satellite/ TV and forget the rest.

So far so good with the inverter. Just testing on various things but no magic smoke has been released. Tomorrow I'll have the trailer home so I'll try the microwave.

[pianotuna]

Hi Mena,

Much better to stick with the Xantrex or Samlex/Go Power.

[mena661]

JiminDenver wrote:

Once I started looking for reviews on Power Jack inverters instead of Advanced as it is listed, I found more info. The caps are most likely to go out. The draw at idle is terrible and it isn't efficient. Half of the manual that comes with it is dedicated to repairs and how to test it if it does stop working. I just don't know that my eyes and hands are up to doing electronics anymore. Otherwise there are replacement parts available.

Damn! I was hoping for another diamond in the rough. At least the voltage is good.

[JiminDenver]

Don

I tested it today and the voltage at idle was no more than 121v.

[JiminDenver]

Hi Don

Someday I'll get something like the Magnum but I doubt it will be in this trailer. Ameri-lites are set up for camping, not living and there is little room for extra batteries. I've come to terms with the fact I will never run the Air due to this.

Westend

You are right, I looked all over the inverter and there is no inspection sticker. Hopefully I have the same good luck with it as I have the Eco-worthy which is also not rated.

Once I started looking for reviews on Power Jack inverters instead of Advanced as it is listed, I found more info. The caps are most likely to go out. The draw at idle is terrible and it isn't efficient. Half of the manual that comes with it is dedicated to repairs and how to test it if it does stop working. I just don't know that my eyes and hands are up to doing electronics anymore. Otherwise there are replacement parts available.

[pianotuna]

Hi Jim,

I currently use a 2500 watt Cobra modified sine wave inverter which is rated to run microwave ovens. It cost $200.00. I am replacing it with a much more expensive 3000 watt PSW from Magnum.