I have a small 'modified' sine wave inverter that I have used in the car to power computers etc but have been told that the 'modified' sine wave can hurt various appliances. Is this true? Where can one buy a 'pure' sine wave inverter that is small and portable? Not all my stuff can be recharged by dc outlets in the car or motor home. Suppose I could turn the generator on and use the ac outlets, but don't have those in the car.
Jim

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Originally posted by Jim and Tere:
I have a small 'modified' sine wave inverter that I have used in the car to power computers etc but have been told that the 'modified' sine wave can hurt various appliances. Is this true?

As with so many things, it depends. It depends on both the inverter and the device it is powering. Some devices are fine, some are not, and some overheat and take forever. Chargers are often problematic. Our toothbrush takes around 3 times longer to recharge on an inverter, but does not overheat. I have had phone chargers that did not like inverters. I had a DeWalt drill charger that died on a MSW inverter. Later models had a fix for that problem. Both of our laptops are OK on a MSW inverter, but not as efficient on a good 12 volt power supply. Things with motors, like coffee grinders and blenders do OK on an MSW inverter. Microwaves generally do not. Televisions are all over the map, with some TVs not liking inverters that are OK on other TVs.

Very little of this is helpful in specific instances, but gives you an idea of what to look for.

To make matters more confusing, many companies not only outsource production, but change outsourcers often, so a recommendation might not be current.

I can't give you rv based info, but for photography equipment pure sine wave is the only way to go. The Paul Buff Co. makes a portable power supply called the Vagabond for photo lights and it is pure sine wave. Most of the flash companies have warnings about using only pure sine wave inverters.

There are a bunch of cheap pure sine wave inverter on ebay these days.

Any idea which one of these "might" be the best? I have been thinking about going to an inverter and any info would really be appreciated.

Xantrex/Heart/Trace (I think they are all merged as one company) or Iota are brands that are known as high quality. there may be others, but you want to be sure the company will be around to support you later.

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Originally posted by Moonbeam-Express:
Xantrex/Heart/Trace (I think they are all merged as one company) or Iota are brands that are known as high quality. there may be others, but you want to be sure the company will be around to support you later.

Last time I checked, Trace/Xantrec's stuff was made in China and the tech and parts support was poor or non-existent. Some dealers have dropped the line for that reason. I did like the USA products I had (and still have). Iota, same thing.

But do your own research, because I don't want to defame anyone in case they have returned production to the US. That does happen now and then.

My USA made Iota DLS 75 is putting out half the current it should, and their support is useless.

And here I thought Iota was Japanese

Bill, name some real US Makers, I don't know of any.

I replaced the original inverter in our coach with a Prosine 2.0 (Xantrax). The customer service when/if you get through (and I have talked with a couple of their "techs") is a joke. The control panel on this unit went bad and there is no longer any panels available, the unit is discontinued. I have seen these units for sale on ebay recently (as new in the box) and would caution anyone looking to invest in this particular one without asking about replacement panels, parts etc. If anyone happens to find a panel please let me know, without it my unit is a boat anchor and I've given up looking for one.

I replaced it with a Magnum (made in the USA) model MS-2812. I am very happy with it's performance and it has worked flawlessly for us. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this manufacturer to anyone. I purchased mine from Don Rowe, maybe they have a smaller/portable model that you could use for your application.

http://www.donrowe.com/inverters/ms_series.html

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Originally posted by Moonbeam-Express:
And here I thought Iota was Japanese

Used to be made in Tucson.

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Bill, name some real US Makers, I don't know of any.

Outback. Magnum. Exeltech.

I have a Xantrex ProWatt 600 pure sinewave inverter. It has just been relegated to "spare" status, and the B&D 750 reinstalled to the front console. The B&D will run the TV/Sat/Speaker amplifier and laptop all night. The Xantrex apparently is a power hog, and, worse, shuts down not at the advertised 10.5V but around 11.1V.