Connecting and Testing My Cheap Chinese inverter from AliExpress

Recently, I purchased what I thought was a 1600-Watt pure sine wave inverter from AliExpress to see how it would look and run. I found in the unboxing that it was not a 1600-Watt inverter but was reported to be an 800-watt inverter. It is a pure sine wave, but it did not pass our testing.
I used two vacuum cleaners, one is a 240 Watt and the other a 600 Watt. This invertor did run the 240-watt vacuum cleaner, but totally failed with the 600-watt vacuum. I cannot recommend this cheap Chinese inverter from Ali Express.
Link to my unboxing of the Cheap Chinese inverter from AliExpress:
• Unboxing Cheap Chinese...
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[@nihongobenkyoshimasu3190]

6:34 Using a vaccum cleaner is an interesting testing, but when dealing with motors you should use an Amp Meter with a Clamp recording the "InRush" starting current of the motor. The Inverter should also indicate the Max InRush current. You could also said that this inverter Pass the overload protection and didn't get damaged.

[@shoestringprep]

I like to test with real world items that other people have and we'll use in their house. I appreciate your tips for future videos. Thanks for your comment.

[@lonniemcclure4538]

​@@shoestringprep Apparently an inductive load like a motor can hit from 3 times or more the rated power very briefly at startup. I expect its rated output was tested with a pure resistive load.

[@Arnout1990]

@@shoestringprep It has a rated "peak" of 1600W right on the box though. That of course means that it can handle a 1600W inrush power. Vacuum motors can easily require 300% their nominal current as inrush current, which puts that 606W vacuum at 3*606 = 1824 W, which is well over the inverters' rating. In other words, the inverter probably only 'failed' an application that was out of its designed specifications. Shorter; you overloaded it. Also I'd be curious to see the voltage rating on that little battery once you turn the big guy on, you showed it for the little vacuum but not for this one. If the 200W already gave a 1.3v drop, I wonder what the 600W did..

[@shoestringprep]

@@Arnout1990 It was not clear when I brought the unit. Thanks for your comment.

[@rm6857]

Looks like this inverter is actually good. Can run within specs, and protection works.

[@mr.makeit4037]

Make better connections with thicker COPPER wire on the input side then retest. Then try lithium batteries. Results should be better with this unit. Also I would suggest getting a small oscilloscope to test your waveform.

[@shoestringprep]

Good tips. Thanks for the comment.

[@Chi3ftain]

There is no reason to test the waveform as soon as he tested the inverter with vacuums (motors) that works also with modified inverters.

[@solarcharging9743]

No, the results won't be better.

[@mr.makeit4037]

​@GreekOrc so you wouldn't want to determine whether your pure wave form inverter from China is truly a pure waveform inverter as described? If not why? Don't you kick the tires before buying the used car?

[@mr.makeit4037]

​@@solarcharging9743why not?

[@jimlaning3560]

Hey shoestring, I was wondering if the voltage of the battery is dropping too low to start the big vacuum. You should try it on a lifepo4. Thanks for the testing.

[@shoestringprep]

I thought that, too. Off camera, I did try several different batteries. It was still a "Fail" Thanks for your comment.

[@solarcharging9743]

This inverter uses the same high frequency, transformerless inverter technology that is found in all expensive, Chinese made solar generators on today's market. These inverter/solar generators simply don't last. They are of a high frequency design and without an iron core, copper wound transformer to absorb the back EMF and high surge demands of high inductance loads, the MOSFETs cannot take repeated exposures to high surge loads such as full sized refrigerators, large power tools or large microwave ovens. You might be able to start and run some high surge loads when this inverter is new, but every time you fire up that inductive load, you're shortening the life of the MOSFETs in your solar generator/inverter. They also run much hotter than low frequency, transformer based inverters which makes the low cost, off spec, Chinese made components such as capacitors, diodes, resistors and ICs that are used in these cheap inverters, far more prone to early failure. Another consideration is that the vast majority of these solar generators are non-repairable. After the warranty runs out, you're not going to be able to ship this unit back to the manufacturer in China and have them repair the unit. At a typical shop rate of $125 per hour in the US, with no schematic and limited parts availability, it makes no economic sense to even attempt to repair one of these units. Once the FETs have fried and have taken the inverter's PCB with it, (And trust me, sooner rather than later, they will fry.) they basically become a brick. A far better alternative is to invest a little more money and purchase a low frequency, transformer based inverter charger. They last far, far longer and can easily power high surge loads without being damaged. See my video for more information on high low cost frequency inverters. I know this to be true because I've spent the last 23 years repairing inverters. They simply don't last when powering inductive loads.Thanks for the honest, non-biased review!

[@shoestringprep]

Thanks for your comment.

[@ramfery23rafa25]

I do not know much about battery but the battery used is only a 440 watt hour, I am not sure if is possible to pull more than 440 watts from the battery.

[@kailumgg7736]

Cant go of the hoovers watts because that is the running power of it it could have a start up power pull of 800 to 1000w until the moter is at full speed then will use 600w

[@shoestringprep]

Thanks for your comment.

[@ctlprogrammer]

If you need a Chinese inverter for a 800W inductive load. You need at least 800 X 2 = 1600 + 20% = 1920W + softstartmodule. I bought myself a 5000W inverter + softstartmodule for a 750W waterpump and it runs fine. The fans don't even kick in....

[@shoestringprep]

Thanks for the comment.

[@Swenser]

Which inverter did you buy 5000 watt? Have you measured real values?

[@bledizh]

And in addition it need a bigger battery 800W/13V=61.54A, need a 70A battery.

[@ctlprogrammer]

@@Swenser I tried 2500w continuous and that is no problem.

[@nihongobenkyoshimasu3190]

It would be nice to show the quality of the Sin Wave signal, especially under load. There are very inexpensive scope on AliExpress or Amazon.

[@shoestringprep]

Thank you for your comment

[@Winnipeg2024]

It's not sine wave it's a lie lol I've got one

[@springer-qb4dv]

Thanks! After watching your video, I stayed well clear of those cheap red chinese inverters with fancy led readout. If you open up those cheap chinese inverteres they are quite empty inside (and that's why they are so light in weight). Instead I bought another cheap inverter for similar price without any LED readout, but quite heavy in weight and when I got it, I opened it up to verify that innards are quite beefy and indeed advertised weight is accurate.

[@shoestringprep]

Hope it works for you. Thanks for your comment.

[@cihanbozkir]

Which model did you choose? I'm also looking for a cheap but safe inverter doing what it's supposed to.

[@williamvaughan1218]

Try a bigger battery with larger cables

[@shoestringprep]

Thanks for the tip and comment.

[@bentechybkp]

U seem to have it wrong, you get get 600 watts out of a 455 watts battery. 35amps.x13v is 455 watts. Where do u want the extra energy to come from? U need bigger banks.

[@bentechybkp]

Cant* get

[@shoestringprep]

Thanks for your comment.

[@richardpayne9640]

Thank you for the alert I"ll be careful

[@shoestringprep]

Thanks for your comment

[@DinoPasic]

What i see from here that connection to the battery is not good. Clamps are just for lower consumption.

[@shoestringprep]

Thanks for the tip and comment.

[@lancealderman2755]

Very much agree. My 1500w inverter (different brand) will not start my circular saw even with what I thought was a decent bolted down connection to the block on my truck for negative. Two very clean, tight connections with bolts and it'll kick it off every time. I dismissed my inverter too in the beginning but I was wrong. Alligator clamps would never even have a chance for 1500w in my experience.

[@shoestringprep]

@@lancealderman2755 thanks for your comment.

[@JGoberdhan]

Just interested how much voltage drop was ? It could switch off due to low battery voltage.

[@shoestringprep]

That is a good idea but it was not the volt drop. Thanks for the comment.

[@davidpotter9462]

Those heavy duty 10 gauge wires should be a clue. I ran my 24 inch Visio TV, the laptop, and a small fan the other day, and the fan never shut off on mine...the wires don't get hot but I'm not going to run much off of it. I found another fault in it ; the cooling slits aren't big enough. So I'm going to do a Dremel remodel on the end plate. By the time I had watched the weather , it had gotten pretty warm. I fear for it's little life this summer. If I need more than 50 watts I will turn the Aims inverter on. Mine had the wrong instruction manual in the box. Maybe every so many , they throw the right one in there. It got me through a pinch and I'll see how long it lasts. P.S. Maybe you could get the Chinese one of those watt checkers...lol

[@shoestringprep]

Thanks for your comment

[@davidpotter9462]

@@shoestringprep Hey, guess what...I found an improvement for this thing... I decided to mount it , so I decided to flip the fan around so that it blows into the unit, and that let me mount it with display showing up. Now, it acts completely different...it runs cool, the fan hardly ever comes on now. I had to put a tiny piece of duct tape to hold the little wires up off the mosfets until I could get the top back on. But under a small load, it actually works acceptably now. From the condition mine was in when I got it, I figured maybe someone was drinking that day , and put the fan in backwards. I could hardly believe how much difference this simple thing did to this inverter. Keep in mind that this one will never see 80 watts load on it, unless I have a fan on it. And mine is 24 volts, so I don't know, maybe a few less amps draw. I think the limiting factor is the cables...I should be able to push 750 watts through mine...that's all the wire they sent with it. But that is what the Aims is for so the little one is just for a 5 watt light, a laptop , and an 20 watt kitchen exhaust fan that I have behind the inverter. If I add the TV, the fan starts up on the inverter. But it doesn't get warm like it did...it runs much cooler. I think the fan was in backwards, in mine...I just thought you may want to check yours...I think I may have saved it's little life for awhile. P.S. It was approved by inspector 12 though, even though it had a wire off inside and the end bent in a half inch. LOL

[@WelcomeTV]

Thanks for the video, I want to know if this will work for me. I have a submersible pump. , single-phase ** **Pump Specifications:** ** - Power: 500W 0.67HP - Current: 3.8A Steady running current - Voltage: 220V - Frequency: 50 Hz - Max Flow: 35 L/min - Speed: 2860 rpm/min - Peak running current - I don't know how much exactly I think it will be 11A The operating time of the pump is 15 minutes per day. 1500/3000W inverter is good ? or inverter 1100/2200w

[@PeteVanDemark]

Curious what the power factor was with the smaller vacuum?

[@carlosbarraza2904]

Wondering if it will run an average size refrigerator/ freezer 🤔

[@shoestringprep]

I suspect not - unless the freezer is under 500 watts. Thanks for your comment.

[@lonniemcclure4538]

My old (at least 29 years - was used when I got it) Whirlpool 17.7 cubic foot refrigerator runs at ~200 watts, unless the defrost cycle kicks in, which bumps it up to ~600. A modern refrigerators (especially one Energy Star rated) should do better.

[@Nachoford88]

Can you do a video on what it would take to run a refrigerator off the grid??

[@shoestringprep]

I can. What type of refrigerator would you like. Small or large?

[@Nachoford88]

@@shoestringprep a large one please, at least I know that if i can power a large fridge i can definitely power a mid sized one. Thank you!

[@shoestringprep]

@@Nachoford88 it is on the video list.

[@Nachoford88]

I can’t find it for some reason, I’ll check again in a bit.

[@shoestringprep]

@@Nachoford88 I will let you know when the video gets posted. Thank you for your interest.

[@Swenser]

Close to setting up a home off-grid system to run at most small ac fridge fans tv which would require about a real value 5kw inverter at about 600$au dollars for the cheap powmr. But I'm starting to think I'm better off buying several smaller inverters. Will work out cheaper and if one dies I still can use others. The only issue is the ac that will require a true 1-1.5kw . Can anyone select a decent inverter 2000watt real value from AliExpress. The 10 million watt(sarcasm) versions they sell end up being about 600watt.

[@shoestringprep]

I don't know any devices meet your criteria maybe someone else out there does. Thanks for your comment.

[@whydontyouaskme]

NO WAY look at the post LITERALLY millimeters away from a potential hazard

[@shoestringprep]

Thanks for your comment.

[@SHA3BOL1]

You should've tested something else to see the actual rated power percentage definitely not 90%

[@shoestringprep]

What would you suggest?

[@NuwanThisara]

the inverter is on and he is almost fingering the socket

[@shoestringprep]

Thanks for the comment.

[@FishFish1995]

So yeah... I am one of these 3 dislikes. You know why? Because anything with a motor will draw so much more power when starting operation... This 650W vacuum cleaner may very well have drawn more than 1600W for some milliseconds. You think I'm paranoid? A power tool I own (it's a table saw) states that it has a consumption of 1500W. Well, guess what 12A breakers fall before it. (at 220V O_O). 2600W aren't enough to deal with it... 3000W breakers are barely enough. So yeah, is for one second the vacuum cleaner needs 1700W to start, then yeah, it won't work... The real reason why I disliked your video is because you cleverly hid the startup wattage of you vacuum when powering it from the wall. I find it quite suspicious...

[@shoestringprep]

Thanks for your comment

[@rorymax8233]

I am becoming dizzy with all of the shaky\ fast movements on camera, 👎👎👎👎👎, I now give up watching.

[@shoestringprep]

Thanks for your comment.

[@chris_mk5supra]

that's not how to test an inverter :p

[@shoestringprep]

That is how I test one. Thanks for your comment.