Looking for inverter recommendations

[umbrellajive]

Hello everyone,
I am currently full-timing in the TC for a few months while moving from NH to WA via a southern route and making a fine roadtrip of it!

All has been going well but I would like to install an inverter and solar along the way. Looking for inverter recommendations - brand, wattage. What's working for you?

Thank you.

[brholt]

We run a Samlex PST 150 watt pure Sine wave. It powers all of our electronics (TV, DVD, IPad and phone chargers) well, takes up very little space (velcroed to the wall by the 12 volt outlet), is quiet, and has a good reputation.

A number of suggestions:

- Get a pure sine wave inverter, it allows you to run anything with less interference.

- Figure out how many watts you need at once to size it. There are trade offs with size. If it's small you have more options where to put it (ours is velcroed to the wall by the TV/ DVD unit and the 12 volt outlet. We carry a 120 volt extension cord in case we need power elsewhere) and the unit itself will tend to have a lower power draw, idle and under load. On the other hand if you work it too hard the fan will come on and draw power and make noise so a bigger unit may be quieter than a small one.

- Consider how noisy the unit is. Some have fans that run all the time, others have better passive cooling and only need the fan under severe conditions (ours rarely comes on).

[kbaum]

I recently installed a Xantrex xm1800 pro series inverter. 1800 watts was minimum size for me, because I like to have a cup of coffee from my Keurig first thing in the morning. My previous Cobra 1500 watt was not enough to run the Keurig or to use our microwave.

[kerry4951]

Im on my second Xantrex. First one was a modified sine wave (2000 watt) and it worked great. Second one is a 1000 Prowatt SW pure sine wave and that one works great too. I find that 1000 watts is more than adequate to run what we run. I bought mine on ebay for about $250 with free shipping.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

I wrote exeltech about two years ago. At that time a 12 volt input 3000 watt unit cost over $1 per watt. "This unit would measure 9" W x 7" H x 15" D and is $3319."

[2oldman]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

What do you plan to run from the inverter?

yes.

[Unyalli]

Exeltech are 100% made in USA and I have not found a bad remark on them.

Exeltech

Samlex look pretty good as well.

Samlex

[Shadow_Catcher]

Magnum or Victron or if you can live with 300W a Morningstar Suresine. Most others are Chinese in origin.

[trail-explorer]

First step would be to get some measurements of the sapce where you want to mount the inverter, then find a model suitable to that space.

Top name Brands:

Outback Power
Magnum Energy
Xantrex (used to be Heart Interface and Trace Engineering)

[pianotuna]

Hi,

What do you plan to run from the inverter?