Customer Reviews

Whistler PI-800W 800 Watt Power Inverter

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I bought this inverter after researching several different models. My house is fairly rural, and I lose power a half-dozen times a year. About 2 of these outages last more than a day, so clearly this won't help with that, as I don't have a dozen deep cycle batteries lying around.

This model has incredible starting capacity, and I purchased this model because I wanted one that could start and run my fridge from a battery so I don't lose a few hundred dollars in food every time the power goes out. The manual states that this model can provide 2x rated power (1600 w in this case) for a FULL 10 SECONDS. That is incredible and unheard of in an inverter this price. If you download the manuals for most, they state they can provide 2x rated power, but for only 0.1 second. 0.1 second? That's hardly helpful, and won't start any motor. I can confirm that this unit will easily start and run both of my refrigerators without any difficulty. Obviously the surge capacity is reduced with the batteries reduced power capacity, and it won't surge 2x when the battery is low. Additionally, I was impressed with the manual recommending "just try it", if you didn't know if the inverter could handle your load. That indicates they trust their design, and gives me confidence as well.

Just today I used this inverter with a trolling motor battery from my boat. I was able to watch TV and operate a lamp with a CFL bulb for about 5 hours until power came back on. This includes my 57" CRT projection TV, 700w amp and DirecTiVo. My Kill-A-Watt EZ indicates that it pulls about 350w idle. It ran from this inverter for 5 hours without any difficulty, and only became warm to the touch. The power output is cleaner than my borrowed generator; the TV picture was rock solid, no audio artifacts through the amp.

Caveats:
1) When the battery runs down, the surge capacity is reduced. It still had an hour of TV left, but it would no longer start the fridge.
2) The power is not clean enough to satisfy the APC UPS on my TiVo. It ran the battery down on the UPS since it was convinced my power was dirty. Moving the power to the inverter directly solved this problem.
3) This unit pulls a LOT of current when running. Tonight one of the nuts on the battery post was loose, and the inverter kept shutting down. Once I realized the problem, I tightened the nut and all was well. The loose nut could not provide the current needed to run the Inverter. Mess with the battery clamps, and it will give you a big spark, pretty bright if your power is out. ;-)

I used to run a freezer in the back of my pickup when I went elk hunting. It ran for 4 days - all the way from Colorodo to Virginia.

beat expectations. powered a small fridge cross-country in our 4runner. continue to use it when laptops or other need to be plugged in in the car.

I bought the inverter for one main reason, to start my snowblower. It has a pull starter that isn't always the easiest thing in the world to use however. The snowblower also has a starter that works if it is connected to a plug-in, but sometimes I run the thing where there aren't any electrical plug-ins. This thing is "the berries" for not only starting the snowblower but running my compressor and even re-charging my handicap scooter as I drive in my van. It seems as though I'm finding new uses all the time. I love it!

I bought this thinking it had, or could run off of, a cigarette outlet. It cannot. I used it for the first time while camping this weekend in a popup. Well, I didn't "use" it since I only had one battery, and when I hooked the alligator clips up to the single battery in an attempt to run a vacuum, the unit would not function. It just kept tripping and beeping at me. I referred to the instructions to find that the only setup shown was for running the inverter off of TWO batteries. So, I had the option of removing my truck battery or firing up the 3500W generator. I tossed this in a box and fired up the generator. I also bought this unit for running a heater while truck camping, for which it is likely going to be useless unless I want to sleep in the bed of a pickup with two batteries right next to me, or come up with some kakamamie scheme of running cord from the front of the truck to the back.

Anyway, moral of the story is BE AWARE that this runs off of TWO batteries and DOES NOT have a cigarette adapter, even for running at a lower wattage.

The Whisler PI-800 Watt Power Inverter is as described. I have a long drive, and cannot run a power cord that far for my hedge trimmer. I decided this inverter would provide enough power, and I was amazed how easy it was to hook up to my car battery. The trimmers worked like a charm. I am well satisfied with this product, and do recommend it. I am sure I will find other uses for it. The 800 Watt Converter doesn't cost that much more over the 400 Watt unit. I think it is better to have more power than you might need, rather than not enough.

It's hard to say if this is a great product or not because it only hooks up to battery with alligator clamps not the cigarette lighter like the other one I had. So, this is not going to be easy but it will have to be hardwired to the battery. UGH this is not a quick easy to go with so that my family can travel with a place to charge all the electronics or a TV...so it's kind of a waste for me because it's going to have to be mounted in one vehicle and with alot more effort.

ANT_ON_LINE will not work with me to get a refund as the item is not what they have in their advertisement and I can't use it as it arrived!
The Whistler product may be great, but they should not use ANT ON LINE as a dealer if they are not responsible for their ads or to their clients.