Five setups, five sizing problems
Where are you installing it?
Before you pick a size
Most returns here are sizing mistakes, not defects
Four rules decide almost every one of them.
Continuous, not surge
Listings quote surge. Your appliances need continuous. Every product page states both.
Motors ask 2-3x their running watts
A 1,000W microwave asks for about 2,400W to start. Rate the inverter at twice the microwave.
Inverter-prepped RV? 1,800W is the ceiling
That branch circuit is 14 AWG on 15 amps. It tops out near 1,800W whatever you bolt to it.
Your battery bank decides 12V or 24V, not you
A 24V inverter will not run on a 12V bank, and no adapter fixes it.
Five units. Pick by battery bank, not by watts
12 V or 24 V decides more than the wattage does. Every page states continuous and surge separately.
The whole catalogue, one screen
What we publish, and what we refuse to invent
Manufacturer figures. Where a maker publishes nothing, the cell says so.
| Model | Continuous | Surge | Battery bank | Weight | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000W Pure Sine, 12V | 1,000 W | 2,000 W | 12 V | 6.8 lb | $169 |
| Sump Pump Backup, 12V | 2,000 / 2,500 W | 4,000 / 5,000 W | 12 V | 13.8 lb | $359 |
| 3000W Hybrid, 24V | 3,000 W | 6,000 VA | 24 V | 18.7 lb | $609 |
| 4000W Inverter Charger, 24V | 4,000 W | Not published | 24 V | 19.8 lb | $649 |
| 12V Range, 1600-10000W | Not published | Not published | 12 V | Not published | $109 |
The maker of the 12V range publishes no continuous and no surge figure per size, so neither do we. Its page gives the DC current instead — about 148 A at 1600 W, 926 A at 10000 W — the number your cable and your fuse have to survive.
MPPT charge controllers
What goes wrong in this category
Our own reading of 1,672 public US reviews of other makers' units in this category. Not feedback on this store.
The warranty that goes nowhere
31.6% of the 339 critical reviews we read are about support that went quiet after the sale. We sell direct: support@prestonsupply.com reaches a person, answered within one business day.
The unit that cannot carry its rating
30.1% say it died early, 9.4% that the watts were fiction. We publish continuous and surge separately, from the manufacturer sheet, and say so when a figure is missing.
The PWM with MPPT printed on the case
25.1% are about cable and controller claims. A real MPPT accepts a panel string far above battery voltage, and it has weight: ours are 2 kg and 2.7 kg. Both numbers are on every controller page.
Asked before every order
The six questions we get most
Will this run my refrigerator?
A household fridge runs on 100–800W but spikes at startup. A 2000W pure sine wave inverter covers a standard fridge comfortably. Check the label on your unit and compare it to the continuous rating on the product page.
Will it run my microwave?
A 1,000W microwave draws about 1,500W running and can ask for 2,400W to start. Plan on an inverter rated roughly twice the microwave's cooking wattage.
What is the difference between continuous and surge power?
Continuous is what the inverter delivers indefinitely. Surge is a short overload it tolerates for a second or two while a motor spins up. Size your system on continuous.
Will a 24V inverter work on my 12V batteries?
No. There is no adapter for this. Match the inverter's input voltage to your battery bank. Every product page states it.
Is this a real MPPT controller or a PWM in disguise?
A genuine MPPT controller has a wide PV input window well above battery voltage, and it has real weight because it contains an inductor and a heatsink. We publish both the PV voltage range and the shipping weight on every controller page so you can check before you buy.
How do I reach a human?
support@prestonsupply.com, Monday to Friday, 9am–6pm ET. We answer within one business day.