Comments for Alternative Energy Products

Comment on Sunforce AC/DC Power Converter by beanhead54

beanhead54 — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Fits a need well...
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
With all the different devices out there that always need car chargers and home chargers too, it's nice to eliminate the need to purchase at least half of those often expensive additional gizmos.

Though this unit is rather large, it is very lightweight and can easily be tucked away anywhere, allowing you to use your car (cigar) adapter to silently charge all your devices while you're at home. Due to it's rather large size, I don't believe it to be the absolute best choice for travel unless space isn't a critical concern.

There are cheaper devices that claim to do the same thing, but you'll get what you pay for with them!

Comment on Cobra CPI 1575 1500 Watt 12 Volt DC by David E. Clark

David E. Clark — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Nice Inverter
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’m very satisfied with the Cobra Inverter. It’s very simple to use. No problems at all. I would highly recommend it to anyone shopping for one.

Comment on Sunforce AC/DC Power Converter by Michael J. Thompson

Michael J. Thompson — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Works Great
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I use it to listen to my DC Sirius radio through my home stereo. It works great. The only thing I wish it had is an on/off switch. I have to unplug it to turn it off.

Comment on Sunforce AC/DC Power Converter by J. Keith Wildes

J. Keith Wildes — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

converter review
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The first converter sent to me did not work. Amazon quickly sent a replacement converter that works great.

Comment on Cobra CPI 1575 1500 Watt 12 Volt DC by V S

V S — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Nice item, but list some real-world stats please
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
“Peak” power is NOT the amount of power you can get in spurts. Its only the top part of the sine wave. This is NEVER the amount of work you’re going to get out of it. That being said I have no idea how they get 3000W peak and 1500W RMS, as RMS is the usable power and RMS times 1.414 is peak power, just the highest part of the wave. I’m so sick and tired of people saying this. Wikipedia was even wrong until a few months ago when they finally corrected it and locked out the car stereo kids.

I’m still convinced this is a good unit based on the replies – and a great price too for under a hundred dollars – but they know people are dumb, especially the car audio crowd, and they will think that ‘peak’ actually means something. Nothing but a cheap marketing ploy to people that havent taken intermediate electronics classes.

The stats are confusing, if this is 1500W output including any losses and inefficiencies in converting to a PWM wave, then 1500 watts divided by 120 volts is 12.5 amps. I wouldnt use an instant-blow fuse. I’d set the rating at ‘continuous duty’ if this will be running something constantly for more than 3 hours at a time, so rate it at 125% of the load. 15.625 amps isnt a standard fuse size, so you’re allowed per NEC code to go ‘up’ a standard size. Fuse your secondary, or better yet, get a breaker.

The guy talking about getting a 150 amp fuse…your fuse is supposed to protect the wiring so you dont start a fire. 150 amps in copper THHN wire is 1 gauge for 150 amps! I doubt many users have this!

THHN ratings per NEC (without temperature adjustment INCLUDING lugs) from table 310.16

14ga 25a

12ga 30a

10ga 40a

8ga 55a

6ga 75a

4ga 95a

3ga 110a

2ga 130a

1ga 150a

1/0ga 170a

Depending on what you’re running, you’d want to get a 2008 NEC book ($75ish) or an UGLY’s 2008 guide ([...]) or get things on the web like at [...].

Hope this helps. I’m ordering mine today & will stress test it

Comment on Cobra CPI 1575 1500 Watt 12 Volt DC by Ken Hawkins

Ken Hawkins — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Great features , great price
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Been using this at the cabin on week ends and it works very well. Particularly like the voltage readout as you can tell when it is time to recharge the batteries.
Be aware that you should NOT connect Neutral and Ground together at the panel or you will blow this up.
I found that out the hard way by blowing two other inverters (not this brand) up before I figured it out.
Even though that worked fine off the generator it toasted (with smoke and everything) the first two inverters I put on.

Comment on Sunforce AC/DC Power Converter by M. Dube

M. Dube — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Disappointed!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I bought this product to inflate an airbed. The first converter received had a broken piece rattling around inside the case. Amazon sent a replacement that didn’t work. I won’t try again! Not a quality product. Thanks Amazon for great service!

Comment on Cobra CPI 1575 1500 Watt 12 Volt DC by Richard E. Carr

Richard E. Carr — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

medical use
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have family that likes to travel. They are older people and on oxygen machine. They used the 12 volt hookup in the power point but it has a tendency to over heat. I installed the inverter and it solved the problem. Thanks Rick

Comment on Sunforce AC/DC Power Converter by Ralph T. Mcmillen

Ralph T. Mcmillen — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Sunforce 55520 AC/DC Power Converter
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Perfect product for my application. Works great to run my auto type cd player/amfm radio in my garage.

Comment on Sunforce 52013 1.8Watt Solar Battery Maintainer Twin Pack by Michele Hobson

Michele Hobson — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

save your battery
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Gave my husband this because he was always complaining his battery was going dead. He has a van that he doesn’t drive all the time but the couple of times he really needed to have it start in a pinch and it was always dead! Since I got him this solar charger there’s a lot less cursing and frustration and it starts every time! It has made my life easier and he said it was one of the best gifts I got him ! I would definately recommend it!!