Countinuous or a sine inverter

[landonshaw]

I want to run a dirt devil vacuum cleaner(small 110V) occasional and a dremel tool. Generally I use the inverter to keep my iPad charged on long trips, 3 - 4 days. I have a 600 watt inverter and it will not run the vacuum cleaner.
I am looking at a 1500 watt inverter. I understand that the pure sine in some instances is needed, would I need that for this or would a continuous 1500W inverter work?
Thanks
Dave s/v Aloisius

[senormechanico]

iPad will charge much more efficiently by plugging it into a USB jack.
It only needs 5 volts.
Get one of these instead:

Griffin Dual Twin Port USB 12v (5v out) Car Cigarette Lighter Charger Adapter | eBay

A sine wave inverter doesn't have to cost a lot.
I have one of these and it's been great for several years:

Tiger Claw 1500w/3000w Pure Sine WavePower Inverter DC-AC Power Converter | eBay

[valhalla360]

What are you defining as a "continuous" inverter?


The options are typically
- Square Wave (do they even make these anymore?)
- Modified Sine Wave
- Pure Sine Wave


For a cheap vacuum, I would risk the modified sign wave. It's large expensive items, were I would want the cleaner power supply.


Also, I would lean towards using DC for charging rather than converting it to AC then back to DC for the phones/tablets/laptops.

[roverhi]

Have a problem running tools with electronic speed controls on a cheap inverter, probably a modified sine wave. Newish Bosch saber saw won't work but cheap POS Home Depot saw works fine. Older drills also work with the inverter.

[sailpower]

Seems like a pure sine wave model would give you more options down the road?

[sapient sue]

Landonshaw

I would recommend a pure sign wave inverter. They are more expensive but as already suggested it will provide more versatile use.

We wrecked several electronic toothbrushes before we realised the manufacturers had changed the design and needed a pure sign wave inverter to operate them.

All our computers, speakers phones etc seem to charge OK with a modified sign wave inverter.

Cheers Sue

[topmast]

Those very handy induction hotplates usually need full sine and cheaper inverters can put a nasty buzz on the VHF .

[landonshaw]

Thanks. I believe the extra for a pure sign inverter will make more sense for future needs.

[senormechanico]

Arg. Spell check.. sign/sine/lose/loose/site/sight... etc.
Now back to your regularly scheduled programs...

[TheThunderbird]

You need both
Modified cheaper
Pure sine for fridge compressors, and new electronics with induction engines.

About a TV, I wouldn't know... but the risk is too high to try&toast :-)