Inverter from Maplin

[DaveR]

At £99 not a bad buy, although it doesn't say, at this price it will be a modified sine wave.

 

 

Maplin

Edited February 20, 2005 by DaveR

[ChrisPy]

doesn't tell you what is the continuous 40degreeC rating. It might only be 250W.

 

See Sterling website for discussion on how inverters are rated.

[PhilipL]

It is listed in the Modified Sine Wave Invertor section.

 

I would imagine that unless you really need an invertor that will give you 1kW continuously, eg for more than half an hour, it will probably do what you want.

 

Phil

[Noah]

I was thinking of buying one of these from Maplin before the offer runs up (tomorrow?). However, I noticed that the Maplin FAQ page says that this inverter only has square wave output and not quasi-sine. I suspect that this type is of limited use so I'll continue to shop around.

 

Noah

[John Orentas]

Noah

 

As you say a square wave inverter is not much use for anything other than heating appliances.

 

I would be surprised if any inverters are sold with a specification that is anything other than 'continuously rated'.

[PhilipL]

To quote from the FAQ

 

>the output is square wave (modified sign wave)

 

So they are contradicting themselves there. I don't think anyone sells square wave invertors these days? I think the person writing the FAQ may not be fully qualified to do so. For example in answer to the question

 

>Is 1000W the continuous output rating....?

 

they answer

 

>Like all invertors, if you constantly pull the max wattage it will eventually overheat

 

Which is true as you would expect this invertor to overheat if you run it at 2500W, which the spec. implies is the maximum power, but does not answer the question.

 

They also state that it will not run a 700W vacuum cleaner or an 800W electic drill, as they are inductive loads, which I hope is not true.

 

When I bought my invertors 5 years ago it was the norm to quote an invertors power as the power it could run at for 30 minutes. Today things seem to be better but its alsways worth checking the spec or questioning what the continuous power rating is and at what temperature.

 

Of course all this is becoming less relevant as the special offer on there invertors has finished,

 

Phil

[Gary Peacock]

Ha,

 

I love the smell of burning inverter in the morning!

 

When I used to install them in vehicle I smelled plenty.

 

Gary

[weeble]

They also state that it will not run a 700W vacuum cleaner or an 800W electic drill, as they are inductive loads, which I hope is not true.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I agree. When dealing with a.c. ratings it makes more sense to talk in terms of VA (or kVA) rather than Watts. Inverter manufacturers should specify the output rating either in terms of kVA (or kW + maximum power factor).

 

Mike

Edited February 28, 2005 by weeble