Sunforce 11240 1000-Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter with Remote Control Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Bought this off Amazon a month or two ago. I was looking for an inexpensive pure sine wave inverter to replace my Duracell (Xantrex) modified sine wave inverter. I was expecting to have issues from the get go (due to the cheap price!) but this inverter is working out quite nicely. I have it hooked up to 4 Trojan T-105 batteries which is charged up with an 85 watt Kyocera solar panel and Xantrex C35 charge controller.
Being pure sine wave, I can run anything now that my old modified sine couldn't. No more annoying buzzing sounds from CFL's or TV's. certain appliances that wouldn't power up on the old inverter now work flawlessly. Some things I run on the Sunforce: Samsung 22" LCD TV, CFL's of all sizes, Playstation 2, battery chargers, laptops, electric cooler.
I haven't tripped the over current protection yet at all, not even when using items that typically surge, such as a large power drill.
No fan issues like the other review mentioned.. in fact I haven't heard it come on at all yet; then again it's winter time here in Missouri so I assume it truly is thermal controlled.
The remote keychain that was provided with the unit works great. Since I'm doing the electrical work on our new cabin, I can turn off and on when working on the electrical. Then turn it off when we leave for the week.
The only issue I've had so far is once I came back on the weekend and the inverter turned itself back on sometime during the week. This normally wouldn't be a big issue except we're limited on battery capacity and can be a nuisance if kept happening. This has only happened the one time so no biggie.
The LCD readout on the front of the inverter is a nice feature, more expensive inverters don't have this by default, though I rarely look at it.
I would like to determine how much power the inverter uses when it's powered on and in idle mode. The documentation doesn't mention this anywhere and would expect that would be a major selling point. (or, disadvantage if it's too much of a power draw). I don't have an amp meter to test what it is, if you find out please post a review.
The only other downsides is:
1) this inverter has no permanent mounting brackets. only rubber feet on the bottom. luckily the thick DC cabling keeps it well secured within the battery box.
2) the DC hookups are HAND TIGHTEN only. This can be an issue if you, like me, use the proper gauge wiring. in my case I'm using 6 gauge, which is actually borderline of being too small but the batteries are close by. I ended up using pliers to tighten the hand lugs. With thicker wiring, I imagine this would be a huge pain.
PROS:
inexpensive! I noticed the price just went up though :(
LCD readout on front panel
Keychain remote, I haven't seen any other inverters include this with the inverter itself
CONS:
no mounting brackets? I'm sure you could finagle some aluminum straps around it, instead.
hand tightened DC connections
no mention of idle power usage.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sunforce 11240 1000-Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter with Remote Control

The Sunforce 11240 1000-Watt Pro Series Pure Sine Wave Inverter converts DC power into clean, stable AC power that is ideal for running home appliances, pumps, and motors. It provides 2000 Watts of peak surge power to get your gear started, and 1000 Watts of continuous power to keep it running. Pure Sine Wave inversion guarantees optimum compatibility with sensitive equipment, computers, motors, televisions and more. Compact and portable, this inverter is perfect for use at worksites, on boats, or for permanent use in a solar power setup. Sunforce Power Inverters can provide clean, free poweras part of a solar power setup.

Get 45% OFF

Click here for more information about Sunforce 11240 1000-Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter with Remote Control

Sunforce 11240 1000-Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter with Remote Control Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Bought this off Amazon a month or two ago. I was looking for an inexpensive pure sine wave inverter to replace my Duracell (Xantrex) modified sine wave inverter. I was expecting to have issues from the get go (due to the cheap price!) but this inverter is working out quite nicely. I have it hooked up to 4 Trojan T-105 batteries which is charged up with an 85 watt Kyocera solar panel and Xantrex C35 charge controller.
Being pure sine wave, I can run anything now that my old modified sine couldn't. No more annoying buzzing sounds from CFL's or TV's. certain appliances that wouldn't power up on the old inverter now work flawlessly. Some things I run on the Sunforce: Samsung 22" LCD TV, CFL's of all sizes, Playstation 2, battery chargers, laptops, electric cooler.
I haven't tripped the over current protection yet at all, not even when using items that typically surge, such as a large power drill.
No fan issues like the other review mentioned.. in fact I haven't heard it come on at all yet; then again it's winter time here in Missouri so I assume it truly is thermal controlled.
The remote keychain that was provided with the unit works great. Since I'm doing the electrical work on our new cabin, I can turn off and on when working on the electrical. Then turn it off when we leave for the week.
The only issue I've had so far is once I came back on the weekend and the inverter turned itself back on sometime during the week. This normally wouldn't be a big issue except we're limited on battery capacity and can be a nuisance if kept happening. This has only happened the one time so no biggie.
The LCD readout on the front of the inverter is a nice feature, more expensive inverters don't have this by default, though I rarely look at it.
I would like to determine how much power the inverter uses when it's powered on and in idle mode. The documentation doesn't mention this anywhere and would expect that would be a major selling point. (or, disadvantage if it's too much of a power draw). I don't have an amp meter to test what it is, if you find out please post a review.
The only other downsides is:
1) this inverter has no permanent mounting brackets. only rubber feet on the bottom. luckily the thick DC cabling keeps it well secured within the battery box.
2) the DC hookups are HAND TIGHTEN only. This can be an issue if you, like me, use the proper gauge wiring. in my case I'm using 6 gauge, which is actually borderline of being too small but the batteries are close by. I ended up using pliers to tighten the hand lugs. With thicker wiring, I imagine this would be a huge pain.
PROS:
inexpensive! I noticed the price just went up though :(
LCD readout on front panel
Keychain remote, I haven't seen any other inverters include this with the inverter itself
CONS:
no mounting brackets? I'm sure you could finagle some aluminum straps around it, instead.
hand tightened DC connections
no mention of idle power usage.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sunforce 11240 1000-Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter with Remote Control

The Sunforce 11240 1000-Watt Pro Series Pure Sine Wave Inverter converts DC power into clean, stable AC power that is ideal for running home appliances, pumps, and motors. It provides 2000 Watts of peak surge power to get your gear started, and 1000 Watts of continuous power to keep it running. Pure Sine Wave inversion guarantees optimum compatibility with sensitive equipment, computers, motors, televisions and more. Compact and portable, this inverter is perfect for use at worksites, on boats, or for permanent use in a solar power setup. Sunforce Power Inverters can provide clean, free poweras part of a solar power setup.

Get 45% OFF

Click here for more information about Sunforce 11240 1000-Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter with Remote Control

Coleman BlackCat PerfecTemp Catalytic Heater with InstaStart Technology Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I took this heater camping in Delaware on Columbus Day weekend (October). I used it in a well-ventilated 4-person (medium-sized) tent. The first 2 days were cold and rainy, and I was VERY glad to have brought it.
Now, this heater is not going to make your tent into a sauna on a very cold day, so don't expect to get in the tent and lounge in your skivies like you might do at home! But after burning for about 10-15 min, it should raise the temperature in your tent several precious degrees making it bareable; even comfortable. For instance, it did keep me from having to wear my heavy coat while inside the tent, which pleased me.
Since it would certainly heat a smaller, less-vented tent better than a larger, more-vented tent, your results may vary. As for me, the results were not dramatic, but certainly noticable, and well worth the money spent.
Note: This kind of catalytic heater requires those mini propane tanks. It works by a chemical reaction between a meshy platinum filter and the burning propane gas, so while there's no obvious propane smell and no open flame, there's still a very hot surface that could catch objects on fire if they are placed directly in front of it for too long. FYI, when you first light it, you may indeed see an igniting flame, but that is just upon start up. Once the starting flame vanishes, put your hand gently over the heater - if you feel it eminating warmth, you'll know you've started it successfully.
Warning: Just as the instructions warn you, I do NOT recommend leaving this heater on through the night when you and your family are asleep. It is both a breathing hazard, and an obvious fire hazard. But warning stated, I did just that and I didn't have a problem. I slept very comfortably on a couple cold nights and I didn't die in my sleep. Again, your results may vary.
However, I should note that my own tent is extreamly well ventilated, with the entire ceiling being mesh under the rain fly. In addition, the night was windy, and I could actually feel a breeze of air circulating in my tent. In truth, if I had brought a less-ventilated, cold-weather tent with me that weekend, the heater may not have been needed at night, but since I was stuck with a drafty tent, I took the calculated risk that this would also lessen the threat. In addition, I took every possible precaution to ensure that nothing was near the heater before going to sleep. Even so, it's a risk that I could not blame anyone for not wanting to take. Also, if you do this, expect the propane tank to be empty by morning.
All in all, other than the obvious handle-with-care factors, I could not find a downside to this product. In fact, I could not imagine cold-weather camping without it. P.S. They also sell a slightly cheaper version, which is the same in every way, except it does not have the self-starting switch, and you start it manually with a lit match.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Coleman BlackCat PerfecTemp Catalytic Heater with InstaStart Technology

The Coleman 5038-850 BlackCat Perfectemp Catalytic Propane Heater with InstaStart Technology provides you with comfortable warmth indoors or in a tent. This catalytic heater has an electronic ignition which is not only quicker and easier that using a match, but is much more reliable in cold, windy weather.
This Coleman BlackCat heater is incredibly portable for its heat output, with an easy-to-grip handle that makes it easy to carry, and compact legs that integrate into its collar for easy storage. The BlackCat's 3,000 BTU output will operate for up to seven hours on one 16.4 ounce cylinder of propane (not included).
Manufacturer Warranty Limited lifetime warranty

Get 22% OFF

Click here for more information about Coleman BlackCat PerfecTemp Catalytic Heater with InstaStart Technology

Coleman BlackCat PerfecTemp Catalytic Heater with InstaStart Technology Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I took this heater camping in Delaware on Columbus Day weekend (October). I used it in a well-ventilated 4-person (medium-sized) tent. The first 2 days were cold and rainy, and I was VERY glad to have brought it.
Now, this heater is not going to make your tent into a sauna on a very cold day, so don't expect to get in the tent and lounge in your skivies like you might do at home! But after burning for about 10-15 min, it should raise the temperature in your tent several precious degrees making it bareable; even comfortable. For instance, it did keep me from having to wear my heavy coat while inside the tent, which pleased me.
Since it would certainly heat a smaller, less-vented tent better than a larger, more-vented tent, your results may vary. As for me, the results were not dramatic, but certainly noticable, and well worth the money spent.
Note: This kind of catalytic heater requires those mini propane tanks. It works by a chemical reaction between a meshy platinum filter and the burning propane gas, so while there's no obvious propane smell and no open flame, there's still a very hot surface that could catch objects on fire if they are placed directly in front of it for too long. FYI, when you first light it, you may indeed see an igniting flame, but that is just upon start up. Once the starting flame vanishes, put your hand gently over the heater - if you feel it eminating warmth, you'll know you've started it successfully.
Warning: Just as the instructions warn you, I do NOT recommend leaving this heater on through the night when you and your family are asleep. It is both a breathing hazard, and an obvious fire hazard. But warning stated, I did just that and I didn't have a problem. I slept very comfortably on a couple cold nights and I didn't die in my sleep. Again, your results may vary.
However, I should note that my own tent is extreamly well ventilated, with the entire ceiling being mesh under the rain fly. In addition, the night was windy, and I could actually feel a breeze of air circulating in my tent. In truth, if I had brought a less-ventilated, cold-weather tent with me that weekend, the heater may not have been needed at night, but since I was stuck with a drafty tent, I took the calculated risk that this would also lessen the threat. In addition, I took every possible precaution to ensure that nothing was near the heater before going to sleep. Even so, it's a risk that I could not blame anyone for not wanting to take. Also, if you do this, expect the propane tank to be empty by morning.
All in all, other than the obvious handle-with-care factors, I could not find a downside to this product. In fact, I could not imagine cold-weather camping without it. P.S. They also sell a slightly cheaper version, which is the same in every way, except it does not have the self-starting switch, and you start it manually with a lit match.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Coleman BlackCat PerfecTemp Catalytic Heater with InstaStart Technology

The Coleman 5038-850 BlackCat Perfectemp Catalytic Propane Heater with InstaStart Technology provides you with comfortable warmth indoors or in a tent. This catalytic heater has an electronic ignition which is not only quicker and easier that using a match, but is much more reliable in cold, windy weather.
This Coleman BlackCat heater is incredibly portable for its heat output, with an easy-to-grip handle that makes it easy to carry, and compact legs that integrate into its collar for easy storage. The BlackCat's 3,000 BTU output will operate for up to seven hours on one 16.4 ounce cylinder of propane (not included).
Manufacturer Warranty Limited lifetime warranty

Get 22% OFF

Click here for more information about Coleman BlackCat PerfecTemp Catalytic Heater with InstaStart Technology

Roadpro 12V Hot Pot, 20 oz. Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this hot pot, along with a 4-pack of Melitta Ready, Set Joe kits, for a road trip during which stopping for coffee, tea and hot chocolate was not an option. My executive summary of the product is that it works well (and, for those wondering about product longevity, still works even after multiple uses) and that it can boil water. We're very happy with it.
Read on to find out why I give the product 4 stars instead of 5.
The product description could do a better job of managing customer expectations. While this hot pot will boil water, it does take 35 minutes or so to bring a full 20 ounces of it to a boil. This isn't due to any defect in the product's design. It has everything to do with the fact that a car's 12-volt, direct current electrical system isn't made for high-wattage appliances. My minivan can supply up to 120W per outlet, i.e., up to 10A at 12VDC, which is not very much, and I assume this is fairly standard. In contrast, conventional hot pots draw 3-5 times as much power from household current, which is why they boil water faster.
Other than that, my few gripes about this hot pot are:
1. It comes with a mounting bracket, but no instructions that might give an inkling on how one might use it to attach the hot pot to anything on the inside of your vehicle. We ended up discarding the bracket and placing the hot pot on our center console, which is flat, as well as several other flat surfaces we created. But this requires somebody to watch the hot pot while the vehicle is in motion.
2. The lid and removable drinking cup sit on top of the pot, but don't snap or screw on. So this hot pot is NOT spillproof. See #1 above, and understand that if it tips over while it's in use, somebody might get hurt.
3. The exterior of the pot gets quite hot to the touch during use (although the handle stays nice and cool), so trying to hold it to prevent it from spilling is a bad idea.
4. The inside of the pot quickly builds up scaling from the minerals left behind when water evaporates. There's no way to reach in there with any kind of a brush to clean that out, and the interior surfaces would probably be damaged by such a brush anyway. I recommend filling the pot with white vinegar and soaking it for an hour or so after every trip to keep the scaling under control.
5. Despite what the product description says, don't even think of making soup, hot chocolate or any other prepared food in this hot pot. You will never be able to get the interior clean again if you do. Stick with instant drink and soup mixes, use a mug or bowl and pour the boiling water from the pot into your mug or bowl in order to make these foods.
6. There's no spout, and it's difficult to pour without spilling, so do be careful.
To help put the 20-ounce capacity into perspective:
- 1 standard mug holds about 10 ounces of liquid.
- A typical travel mug holds 12-14 ounces.
- A normal size disposable bowl holds 12 ounces.
- A large size disposable bowl holds 20 ounces.
- A normal size packet of hot chocolate requires 6 ounces of water and gives you about 8 ounces of hot chocolate.
As annoying as these shortcomings may sound, they're minor compared with the comfort and convenience of being able to have real, high-quality coffee (that's what the Ready, Set, Joe kits were for!), tea, cocoa and soup while traveling in places where service stations are few and far between or just nonexistent.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Roadpro 12V Hot Pot, 20 oz.

Roadpro 12-Volt Car Pot is manufactured to store tea, soup, hot chocolate and many more. This car pot is constructed with durable material that ensures durability. It's inner lid closes tightly to prevent spilling and the outer lid can be used as cup. This car pot features safety circuit protection and is powered from the vehicle’s cigarette lighter socket.

Click here for more information about Roadpro 12V Hot Pot, 20 oz.

Roadpro 12V Hot Pot, 20 oz. Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this hot pot, along with a 4-pack of Melitta Ready, Set Joe kits, for a road trip during which stopping for coffee, tea and hot chocolate was not an option. My executive summary of the product is that it works well (and, for those wondering about product longevity, still works even after multiple uses) and that it can boil water. We're very happy with it.
Read on to find out why I give the product 4 stars instead of 5.
The product description could do a better job of managing customer expectations. While this hot pot will boil water, it does take 35 minutes or so to bring a full 20 ounces of it to a boil. This isn't due to any defect in the product's design. It has everything to do with the fact that a car's 12-volt, direct current electrical system isn't made for high-wattage appliances. My minivan can supply up to 120W per outlet, i.e., up to 10A at 12VDC, which is not very much, and I assume this is fairly standard. In contrast, conventional hot pots draw 3-5 times as much power from household current, which is why they boil water faster.
Other than that, my few gripes about this hot pot are:
1. It comes with a mounting bracket, but no instructions that might give an inkling on how one might use it to attach the hot pot to anything on the inside of your vehicle. We ended up discarding the bracket and placing the hot pot on our center console, which is flat, as well as several other flat surfaces we created. But this requires somebody to watch the hot pot while the vehicle is in motion.
2. The lid and removable drinking cup sit on top of the pot, but don't snap or screw on. So this hot pot is NOT spillproof. See #1 above, and understand that if it tips over while it's in use, somebody might get hurt.
3. The exterior of the pot gets quite hot to the touch during use (although the handle stays nice and cool), so trying to hold it to prevent it from spilling is a bad idea.
4. The inside of the pot quickly builds up scaling from the minerals left behind when water evaporates. There's no way to reach in there with any kind of a brush to clean that out, and the interior surfaces would probably be damaged by such a brush anyway. I recommend filling the pot with white vinegar and soaking it for an hour or so after every trip to keep the scaling under control.
5. Despite what the product description says, don't even think of making soup, hot chocolate or any other prepared food in this hot pot. You will never be able to get the interior clean again if you do. Stick with instant drink and soup mixes, use a mug or bowl and pour the boiling water from the pot into your mug or bowl in order to make these foods.
6. There's no spout, and it's difficult to pour without spilling, so do be careful.
To help put the 20-ounce capacity into perspective:
- 1 standard mug holds about 10 ounces of liquid.
- A typical travel mug holds 12-14 ounces.
- A normal size disposable bowl holds 12 ounces.
- A large size disposable bowl holds 20 ounces.
- A normal size packet of hot chocolate requires 6 ounces of water and gives you about 8 ounces of hot chocolate.
As annoying as these shortcomings may sound, they're minor compared with the comfort and convenience of being able to have real, high-quality coffee (that's what the Ready, Set, Joe kits were for!), tea, cocoa and soup while traveling in places where service stations are few and far between or just nonexistent.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Roadpro 12V Hot Pot, 20 oz.

Roadpro 12-Volt Car Pot is manufactured to store tea, soup, hot chocolate and many more. This car pot is constructed with durable material that ensures durability. It's inner lid closes tightly to prevent spilling and the outer lid can be used as cup. This car pot features safety circuit protection and is powered from the vehicle’s cigarette lighter socket.

Click here for more information about Roadpro 12V Hot Pot, 20 oz.