AIMS Power PWRIX120012S 1200 Watt Pure Sine Inverter, Built In Transfer Switch, 10 Amp Transfer, Fans Constant, Pure Sine Output

UPDATE 11/07/2017HURRICANE MARIA IN PRWell, it's been a little over a month and a half since Hurricane Maria swept through the island and knocked out our entire utilities/communications infrastructure. While the luckier areas like San Juan got their electricity turned back on pretty quickly considering, those of us out in the more remote parts of the island are still waiting, 48 days and counting.When I bought this inverter last year, we were experiencing another islandwide blackout, locally known as the 'apagón'. That only lasted three days, but as I mentioned below in the original review, this inverter worked well with just an extension cord wired into it so I could at least power some higher wattage necessities in subsequent outages.Then Maria hit. It was time to get this thing wired up properly and put it to use. After recently upgrading my solar backup system to a complete off-grid solar system (also courtesy of Maria), this inverter is the star workhorse, and is now currently powering my entire house (with understood limitations - I knew ahead of time it wasn't going to power my water heater or vacuum cleaner since they're both well beyond the 10 Amp limit of this model - no points lost there). It has no trouble at all providing enough power for every light, appliances, refrigerator, tools, and electronics - even my old 70s Yamaha stereo (an energy hog in an otherwise highly energy efficient home).It's not silent. The fans do make noise, but they're virtually impossible to hear anyway over the drone of various generators currently running in my neighborhood! LOL Besides, that fan hum is the rewarding sound of being environmentally friendly by running off of canned sunshine.It's now been in consistent use for a couple weeks, and I intend to just let it continue running off the solar, even once the power is restored in my area. I see no reason why I wouldn't be able to depend on it to continue providing as it has already.Very nice product.--------------------Original Review:I only just received this today, so it has yet to be put to permanent use, but it has tested well, and seems to put out a very clean, strong AC current.I have just wired in an output plug for now (similar to the same model offered with 10 foot plug) for use as backup when the power goes out, but it will eventually be hardwired into a small scale off-grid solar application.The quality of the device itself looks to be good - sturdy, and reasonably heavy. The fans run while on DC power, but they're pretty quiet, especially for the amount of airflow they're providing through the unit.I'll update again once I've had a chance to use it, but my initial impression is that it's going to be a dependable unit.

EDIT: Problem solved, not the fault of AIMS but rather operator error, see below.I'm using this inverter, which arrived a few days ago, to provide back-up power to some of my electronic test equipment that has to stay on all the time (I'm a retired engineer). The AIMS inverter works well and produces an excellent sine wave with about 5% measured distortion, most of which a good line filter can remove. The frequency is 60.190 Hz, well within the requirements of my equipment. The transfer switch is almost instantaneous—I don't see any effect on the output of my test gear. The fan runs ONLY when the inverter is operating on battery power and I don't find the fan objectionably loud. In any case, the inverter has a switch that turns it OFF so the fan doesn't run, on battery or not, if you're not using the inverter.The only problem I've run into is that the output wires [hot/black and neutral/white] were reversed in my unit. This caused my tester to declare a "fault." The fault exists whether the inverter is operating on AC or battery. The connections have been checked numerous times and tested with different pieces of test equipment. I reversed the black and white leads and the problem went away. Clearly this is a potential hazard to life and property since in many types of electrical equipment neutral and ground are tied together. I would prefer not to find out what happens if a "hot" neutral were connected to ground! I'm concerned that there might be something else wrong with the inverter.I have contacted AIMS; they were very nice and offered to fix the unit if I would send it to them. Instead, being still new, I'll return it to Amazon and exchange it for another. I give the AIMS inverter a "4" and will give it a "5" if the reversed-lead problem is solved.EDIT: I took my test set-up apart and opened up the inverter to see if I could find any mis-wiring problems. Well, there were none, everything looked really well done inside. So, I put the test set-up back together and discovered that the inverter was now working correctly. What had changed? I was sure I had not made a wiring error but checked anyway and discovered that the line cord used for the first test was wired backwards—it was using the white wire for "hot" and black for "neutral!" For the second test I chose another line cord that was wired correctly. So all is well and I give the AIMS inverter 5 stars.

I've had a couple of these - one of them replaced\"fixed" by the manufacturer; and, no matter what, these seem to stop functioning after about 2 years. The last "repair" was claimed to be a "blown fuse"; but, apparently, it was not the fuses actually accessible on the outside of the case [because that makes sense]. I have not heard back from the manufacturer on my latest repair\replacement request for the one I have now, that is not working.

Received in good order and promptly. Takes. An odd size fuse which can be ordered else where on Amazon. You will need a spare sooner or later as it is easily overloaded. Works as advertised. Will run a fridge and a small light or two in an emergency for as long as your 12 v supply lasts. Switches back to line voltage automatically when power comes back on.

I installed this today in my RV. It is a replacement for the much more expensive Pro Mariner 400 watt I had in my now written off former RV. This one cost $200 Can as opposed to $400 US. Both had an auto crossover feature which I need. The old one had sockets already installed, so this one means a bit more hard wiring. it is a bit noisier, but I have it mounted behind my converter panel under my bench seat. I cut a vent in the side of that area to provide more ventilation and it is relative quiet under there. 1200 watt is overkill for me,. I only want to run a TV, my CPAP and plug in my PC, so that meant I could get away with #6 wire and I put a 40 amp breaker in the battery line to make sure I dont draw too much current for that guage. I managed to separate all the A/C runs I do not want on it, like my fridge which I want to auto switch to propane when I don't have power, not run off the inverter. I can't get easily at the controls due to where i installed it, so I will order the remote panel.

Did everything and a bit more than I expected. The instructions are a little vague. Otherwise just fine. Have only used it for a few days.

By far the best inverter I have ever purchased, actual English instructions, really well thought out product. If your looking for your boat, rv or camper trailer, I'd say this is the only way to go, it says right in the manual it is moisture resistant and suitable for boats or rv use, and I would back up those claims. I've installed multiple dc to ac systems commercially for over 10 years, and this inverter is the best I've seen under a grand. Auto transfer switch built in, so I'd say amazing for off grid use as well. Highly recommend this product

Ordered this product on April 10 but didn’t install right away as solar system wasn’t set up. Once I did set it up it worked for a weekend and then wouldn’t even turn on the next time I tried. Had to ship back for warranty replacement, which they replaced however I ended up paying $130.00 for shipping cost there and back. That’s almost what I paid for the entire unit. If you are ordering from Canada be aware. If you have any warranty issues shipping costs are insane.