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(More customer reviews)I own three 1000w inverters and chose not to purchase this model after researching it. I'll explain why and give altnernate choices with similar features and better compatibility. I hope this helps you to make the right decision using my experiences.
The models I own and use daily are my oldest in the fleet from xantrex (prosine 1000) Xantrex Technologies Prosine 1000 Prosine 1,000 to 1,500-Watt Power Inverter, their newer, true sine lower cost model the prowatt SW1000 Prowatt SW1000 1000W True Sinewave Inverter and the most recent low cost true sine 1000W that can't do 1000W from sunforce Sunforce 11240 1000-Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter with Remote Control. I've used these extensively in remote power operation of tools and equipment where no AC was available in service vehicles.
This model from Xantrex is atypical in that it produces "modified sine wave" power instead of "true sine wave power" like most of thier inverters. The end result to you is that some devices don't mind modified sine wave power, while others can be destroyed by it. Typically modified sine wave power is alot cheaper to produce than true sine wave power, but items with coils like florescent ballasts, transformers, even the big heavy wall transformers will overheat quickly - between an hour and 3 hours. Motors run hot and prolonged use will burn them out, but in an RV say a coffee grinder is only run for a few seconds and doesn't suffer any damage from the modified sine wave. Other sensitive devices are clocks which see the sudden voltage change instead of the smooth voltage change of a sine wave as being a zero crossing, so they count the extra 2 steps in making the waveform as seconds and run 2, 3, or even 6 times faster than normal depending on the clock and inverter. Audio devices powered by 110V like clock radios, ipod adapters with speakers, stereos, all lack filtering for the odd harmonics of 60hz such as 180 hz, 300 hz, 420 hz, and on up. When run from modified sine waves these sound like alot of low frequency hum is comming out.
You can research "modified sine wave" on google to further pursue it's good points and bad points, but for this review just know it's NOT the same as what comes from your house outlet or a generator.
Also understand that any inverter of this size requires 1/2 - 1.5 Amps just idle. In the Xantrex pro-sine series they installed a powersave function that when not being used (i.e. all 117VAC stuff is off) the inverter checks every 2 seconds to see if anything was switched on, and if so it stays running until the load is switched off. This helps to maximize your runtime on battery and the prosine units can be ordered with the automatic cutover feature offered in this inverter. The sunforce unit has another cute trick - a keyfob transmitter that turns the inverter on/off manually.
The good news about these inverters is that its an optimal switching point for an RV. It can take input power from an RV park or generator and when that is lost because the cord is pulled or the genset runs out of fuel, the inverter kicks in automatically and takes the load. This is a major plus for RV use where power may come from many sources or none at all sometimes.
When producing power from battery I recommend investing in the optima D31M blue top deep cycle battery or 2 in parallel so as to maximize runtime Optima Batteries 8052-161 D31M BlueTop Dual Purpose Battery. These can be drained without damage to the battery while a normal battery may only tolerate total discharge a dozen times in its life before fallout from plate damage collects at the bottom and shorts out 1 cell ruining the battery. I recommend 2 batteries in parallel to share the load because if you approach 1000 watts out, you will see currents in the 105-115 A continuous range from the battery. By putting 2 in parallel connected with heavy (#4) wire you can cut this to 50-60A per battery making them run longer, in fact more than twice as long due to the lower discharge rate. You can also tie into the engine's alternator to source power if it is running but use a battery isolator Warn Industries 28022 120-Amp Dual Battery Isolator to ensure your inverter doesn't leave you without the ability to start the engine by draining power from the engine battery.
In summary I chose all of my inverters to output true sinewave power - just like you get at work or home. "Modified sine wave" power can be used for simple loads but read up on it with google prior to choosing it to wire into your RV. You don't want to smell your ipod adapter melting after an hour's use on the inverter or find that setting the microwave for 10 minutes gets done in just 3 because the clock runs fast on modified sine wave power. Also keep in mind 100+ amp current needs #4 wire or better depending on the distance. Preferably keep the 2 batteries and inverter all next to each other so the runs are < 3 feet of wire. If you feel that you want genuine sinewave power in your RV check out the options to the prosine series. They make this exact design in TRUE sinewave power like you get from the utility company including a power save function and with a cutover feature just like this unit has. The only difference is your power will be as good or better than what comes from your outlet at home.
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Pro Series inverters are the perfect complement to generators when shore power is unavailable. They are designed for RV and marine electrical systems that already have a battery charger or generator installed. They deliver modified sine wave power for small appliances, TVs and other electronics from a battery bank. Transfer switch detects when line, shore or generator power changes to ensure power is always available. Power Supply: 12V, Continuous Watts: 1,000, Modified Sine Wave: Yes
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