Cheap pure sine wave inverter but...

[papaof2]

As a believer in backups for backups, I took a chance on a pure sine wave inverter from banggood.com. I automatically assumed that the advertised 4000 watt rating was their version of "peak" power (incredibly optimistic number) and that a more realistic continuous rating was 1500 watts, but maybe as high as 2000 watts. I was correct: in a 61F environment with a 1600 watt load, the inverter shut down in less than a minute. The ouput waveform is decent below 1600 watts, so not bad for $116 delivered (currently about $15 more). If you mentally rate it for 1200 watts continuous with very short periods at 1500 watts (or put a sticker over the "4000 watts" and write in "1200"), you won't be disappointed. If you're interested, search banggood.com for 1291037

I'm still testing this inverter, so I'll have a more detailed review with numbers (efficiency, etc) when I get that testing done (probably some weeks after this Friday's hand surgery - at the moment I need to finish tiling the foyer - maybe tomorrow?). If the Changi inverter survives testing, spending $250 for an active plus a spare isn't bad IF your power needs are within the inverter's limits. Part of the future testing will be whether it can start the fridge, freezer, etc. I would recommend replacing the cheap (garbage?) "universal" outlet (just one) - maybe wiring in a duplex outlet in a metal box and bolting it to the side of the inverter. Yet another project that needs both hands.

eastwood.com has sold some decent pure sine wave inverters (made in China, of coures) and their (now discontinued) 300 watt inverter works very well. I haven't tried any of the bigger ones.

[9idrr]

Back ups are wonderful things.
Hope the surgery is quick and successful.

[papaof2]

Well, the promise is outpatient surgery and I'm to be there at 6:30AM so maybe I'm near the head of the line ;-)

The Youtube video is ~12 minutes so I think it's reasonable to say at least 10-20 times that long (2-4 hours) with prep time and them then waiting for me to be conscious enough to be allowed to leave. My better half checked today on whether I'd be able to drive myself to the first followup visit, which is about 12 days after surgery (she has an appointment for the second Covid shot that morning) and the surgeon's office said I'm OK to drive when I feel like doing it - I think that translates to about 3 days after surgery or however long it is before I'm off whatever pain killer they send me home with.

I need to get back to my cover-up tiling - the 1970's house has a Spanish motif in the foyer's tile floor and it's one of the few things the better half does NOT like about the house - think "Tamale Hacienda" level of Mexican restaurant. I did a little research and found that you can fill the grout lines to level the floor and put vinyl tile over the ceramic tile. As the front door is only used by sales and delivery people (family come in through the garage) the amount of traffic is minimal and the shadetree mechanic approach to tiling should hold up just fine. The grouting has been done, the haze cleaned off (with microfiber cloths, which work well), it's been wiped down with a damp microfiber cloth to collect the dust from removing the haze and the tile should now be dry from that wipedown. Time to go snap a couple of chalk lines to have good vertical and horizontal alignment for the peel-and-stick tiles.

[rvm45]

EE…

WHAT SURGERY? I musta missed that reference.

Think twice! Sex-Reassignment is a Drastic Step—and there is no going back…

EE…

I get frustrated with people who post videos saying that they're "Off-Grid."

No dude! You ain't "Off-Grid." You have merely disconnected from the Huge National Grid and hooked yourself up to your own Tiny Single-Person Grid!!!!!!!!

To me, "Off-Grid" means that you pretty much do without Electricity—like the Amish or the folks in the 1880's.

I am not pedantic. If you want to put up a solar panel or two to run a computer, Chess Playing Machine or a FEW LEDs—I won't rescind your "Off-Grid" status—but Damned Nation! If electricity and electrical appliances are a big part of your survival planning then you ain't "Off-Grid."

Having said that, IF I wanted to use home-made electricity and I wanted an Inverter, I can't imagine buying one.

I'd simply buy the right sized Diodes (And Beaucoup spares) and create my own Bridge Rectifier.

Fact is, there is a way to create a Bridge Rectifier with Vacuum Tubes and any time that you can use Tubes instead of Trance Sisters, it is happy-making…

And Yes, you can make your own Vacuum Tubes, even in a Post Apocalypse, if you study diligently now, while the info how to do it is available…


……RVM45

BIG PS:

My bad! You want an INVERTER—NOT A RECTIFIER. Principle still holds...

[papaof2]

The Amish do some creative mechanical engineering with the push-pull devices powered by a stream and that motion carried to the washing machine by cables/rods. At this point, I think my "creative" with washing clothes would be a dasher powered by a rocking chair ;-)

There are some good examples of "your own grid" powered by waterwheels on Youtube. The key there is that you have a small amount of continuous power. A steady 20 amps at 12-14 volts provides a decent amount of power over 24 hours. With an adequate battery bank to handle the start surge of a fridge or freezer, that seemingly small amount of power could keep the fridge cold, some LED lights on at night and charge your cell phone. If there's running water on your property, you have the first piece of "your own grid".

[papaof2]

Still waiting on nearly full use of the surgery hand - probably another 2-3 months - but I do have a metal outlet box and cover with a duplex outlet to replace the "universal" outlet on the inverter that US plugs simply fall out of.

Further testing will wait until I have a reliable connection for the power from the inverter.

That puts testing the inverter being able to run fridge, freezer and central heat out until October or so. By then, this model of the inverter may no longer be available :-( Oh, well. At least I'll have the numbers for my own use...