Would be EXCELLENT if a few problems were fixed
I have purchased two of the 48vDC input, 120vAC/60Hz output inverters; they shipped directly from China, and arrived in 5 days (no, seriously!) In both cases, when I opened the box, I was greeted with a very strong smell of solvents (carburetor cleaner??) An included bag contains ten 10A automotive fuses (exact replacements in the very unlikely event that the internal DC input fuses blow), and two power cables (a red and a black). The cables are 24 inches long, and each one has two lengths of wire apiece, around 8AWG each (adequate for 48v, but not 24v or 12v). The inverter looks exactly like the photos on these listings. Case dimensions are roughly 17.5(W) x 6.5(D) x 3.25(H)", not including the battery terminals or mounting tabs on the base.
The input voltage range is EXCELLENT, and also the reason for which I purchased it. The (somewhat loud) low battery alarm sounds at 42vDC, but the inverter continues to function down to 40vDC. On the upper range, it goes into shutdown at 64vDC. That's really good for outdoor installations where a temperature-compensated battery bank charge voltage could easily rise above 60vDC in subzero days. (Note that I did request a higher OVP setting when specifying the input/output voltages.) HOWEVER...note that the (10) 820µF internal DC filter capacitors are only rated for 63v.
The (bright) red LED voltage displays appear to be quite accurate. Under no load, the output defaults to around 125vAC. Interestingly, the inverter does a "soft-start" when switched on: the output voltage quickly rises to 125vAC over the period of two seconds or so. I don't particularly like that...but as it is a function of the EG8010 output stage controller, I should be able to disable it.
With this inverter connected to a more-than-ample 48v battery bank, I went for some load tests. Two 1500W space heaters should run a 3,000W inverter to full continuous load, right? Well, after four seconds of running perfectly (123vAC @ 24A output), the inverter shuts down, beeping loudly. Wha??? I tried a 1350W + 1500W combination (= 2850W), with the same result. (In each case, it's the EG8010 shutting down.)
- It starts a 15A circular saw with difficulty: voltage falls to ~60vAC, and slowly comes to 123v over 2 seconds, just like power-up. If the saw is purposely stalled, voltage falls to 50vAC, and the inverter does not overload.
- A 15A T-50 stapler doesn't work at ALL--it can't even punch a staple out! (For comparison, it works just fine on a brand-name high-frequency inverter.)
- It cannot start a dehumidifer rated 7.5A (only uses 700W input power, output voltage falls to 60vAC, doesn't overload). Fortunately, it easily starts a 3A chest freezer.
- Runs a 1600W microwave with no complaint. BUT...when I add a 500W space heater (or an induction cooktop set to 700W) at the same time...the inverter starts clicking like a ratchet, and output voltage falls to 100vAC.
Basically, this inverter has no problem with purely resistive loads (and the AC waveform is fine.) However, with inductive/noisy loads, the AC waveform looks "chopped", with over half of each cycle missing (=less power output). Worse, there's a huge inductive "spike" in the center of the positive wave...which is where the EG8010 reads the output voltage! No wonder the output voltage falls!
If the voltage regulation and output current issues can be fixed, it will be an EXCELLENT inverter for the price.
I'm told that a "10% deviation" (of output power) "is normal." But 2,700W isn't 3,000 by my book.
I will update this review and create a guide if I can fix these issues.
No-load current is between 350mA-400mA @ 60vDC input, or better than the specification. (I measured 267mA @ 42vDC input.) There is no power-save mode--this inverter is always on.
When the fans are off, the inverter runs absolutely silent. The high speed cooling fans move a good bit of air through the inverter, although they're only on/off, and not temperature speed-controlled.
NOTE: The ground terminal on the output block IS NOT CONNECTED. UL/CE? Don't think so. Interior design/layout looks very good, with all the MOSFETs/IGBTs nicely mounted to heatsinks that the fans blow through.
Like most inverters, the AC output is completely isolated from the DC input: shorting either prong of the outlet to the DC "negative" input terminal only sinks 0.1mA current. That means that it's technically possible for me to hack two of these inverters into a cheap 6KW split-phase setup...after making my own SPWM controller, that is!
I'm still trying to figure out what kind of plug I can use to safely get the 25A AC output, though...the closest I can manage is a 125vAC/20A plug, as this unit does not have an output terminal block. Fingers crossed...
Verified purchase: YesCondition: New