General purpose inverters 12v to 240v (Watts? etc.)

[BongoBongo123]

Hi all I have a little Ring 300W inverter.. just used to run a Sharp stereo "boom box" it does the job around the van
when the internal charged battery in the boom box dies off. I suspect really it can do 60-70W continuous which is fine for a
probably 20Watt sound output device.

I am considering something more substancial. However it seems like a complete minefield of unbranded low quality
and highly ambiguous power ratings. Seeing items with 500W, and then incapable of running 150W of attached devices.
You can find 4,000 Watt ratings (333 Amp 12v battery drain !!!!) on units the same size as a 200W one ! Lots of nonsense.

Some of the reviews online shocking with no single unit seemingly to be a stand out reliable product.

1) Anyone use a 500W and above one with success for some years can vouch for a specific unit ?

2) Any high quality ones known of ?

3) Failing the above any suggestions.. the power ratings seem off the scale.. some saying 4,000 Watts capacity and look
small and like unbranded junk. Any way to navigate this unreliable nonsense ?

They seem like a minefield. Even some of branded items seem to get very bad write ups. It seems like a rather unregulated, grossly over specced market flooded with poor quality equipment (maybe ultimately unsafe).

Any suggestions on how to navigate these ambiguous products. The only thing I can think of to build in a bit of operational over head is look at the continuous rating and assume that what it can actually run is 1/2 the continuous rating.

Apparently this one "Convents DC houswhold AC" whatever that means... 3KW 240V output seems trustable for sure.

https://ibb.co/mtGsDNv

[g8dhe]

Which devices really NEED 240 VAC to power them, the vast majority of devices these days will have external power packs that deliver 5v (USB style) or 12 Volt voltages usually DC but a few still AC, all of these are easily catered for with inverters to the required voltage direct from the vehicle battery, rather than going 12v to 240VAC back down to the required voltage. Each inversion step is normally only around 80% efficient so with two in series going 12v > 240v > 5v say is only 64% useable energy the other 35% disappears as heat.

A typical device to suit any less common voltages are devices like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/AOICRIE-Adjust ... ref=sr_1_3
This will take you in one step from anything between 5v to 40v DC (so covers both 12v and 24 v vehicles) to any voltage you set between 1.2v to 36 volts at 20 Amps output - ideal for say charging ebike batteries, or any laptops although Laptop supplies are also easily available from 12v anyway!

[BongoBongo123]

All understood thanks. I would like to power an entire domestic room of electronics with 240v input mains plugs off a battery. So I need an inverter recommendation if someone has actually used one in real life that has been dependable.

[g8dhe]

If your devices use AC motors then its better going for pure sinewave rather than modified sinewave, it will be a lot more efficient and also avoids mechanical noise problems / vibration from induction motors etc. Modified sinewave may also generate more radio interference if your planning on running radios/audio/tv equipment nearby then again pure sinewave is a sensible choice to lower the risk of radio interference!
For quality devices your talking about £1000+ depending on power level needed.
It might be worth considering a generator as well in some cases if your not talking about camping setups (rarely allowed or time restrictions).

[BongoBongo123]

Thanks again. Most of this stuff you find on Ebay and Amazon sure looks like junk category gear. Endless reviews of broken inverters
over and over again.