Rosewill RCP-511F 400W DC To AC Power Inverter

Xringer · 03-02-10, 09:01 AM

Maximum Continuous Power: 400W Surge Capability (Peak Power): 800W

I just ordered one of these Rosewill.com - Accessories, Car Electronics, Power Inverter, RCP-511F

From NewEgg for $19.99 (free shipping) using coupon # EMCYPYN55

Seems like a pretty good deal, since we have no 12V adapter for charging
the laptop or cell phone while out on road-trips..

The reviews say the fan makes a little noise and the 12V terminal lugs may
need a star washer added to keep the solid.
Comes with car-plug and big car battery clip cable..

Xringer · 03-03-10, 02:07 PM

Seems to work ok with a light load.. (two CFLs).. I had the charger cord from the battery
pack plugged into it to see if I could get perpetual current flow, But the DC kept slowly dropping..

UPS is sure fast these days.. Didn't I just order this.?.

IMHO, this thing is worth more than $19.99

Daox · 03-03-10, 02:22 PM

So, you're gonna throw this in your car?

Xringer · 03-03-10, 03:56 PM

We plan to take it on road trips to charge the laptop, cell phone and anything else we need.

But the main use will be for those little power shortages we get now and then.
No NStar juice for a couple of hours and we want to run a little TV or some CFLs..

I've been working on a solar tracker project for a while and at the same time looking
at the falling prices of PV panels. I'm thinking the prices might get even lower by
this time next year.
So, I'm thinking of just running a simple 100 to 200 watt PV array on the tracker
and use it for a back-up 12V supply and maybe find a nice place to dump the over-flow.
Maybe like this:
http://ecorenovator.org/forum/solar-...-inverter.html

And if the tracker works well and provides good output,
maybe look at a 1 to 2 kw ground mounted PV array in the back yard.

Xringer · 03-11-10, 03:25 PM

Ops, I meant Modified Sine Wave..
I guess these things are ok for some uses.. But I will not be plugging in my new LCD HDTV to this thing!

Maybe if I run the out-put through a big 1:1 transformer?

Daox · 03-11-10, 03:29 PM

Yikes, that looks a lot more like a PWM signal than a sine wave haha.

NiHaoMike · 03-11-10, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xringer

Ops, I meant Modified Sine Wave..
I guess these things are ok for some uses.. But I will not be plugging in my new LCD HDTV to this thing!

Maybe if I run the out-put through a big 1:1 transformer?

Most modern electronics will work fine. They mostly care about the peak voltage. In fact, a 170v peak square wave is better than a 170v peak sine wave since it takes less filtering to make DC. About the only thing that may have problems are direct to line induction motors.

03-02-10, 09:01 AM	#1
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Rosewill RCP-511F 400W DC To AC Power Inverter Maximum Continuous Power: 400W Surge Capability (Peak Power): 800W I just ordered one of these Rosewill.com - Accessories, Car Electronics, Power Inverter, RCP-511F From NewEgg for $19.99 (free shipping) using coupon # EMCYPYN55 Seems like a pretty good deal, since we have no 12V adapter for charging the laptop or cell phone while out on road-trips.. The reviews say the fan makes a little noise and the 12V terminal lugs may need a star washer added to keep the solid. Comes with car-plug and big car battery clip cable..

03-03-10, 02:22 PM	#3
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	So, you're gonna throw this in your car? __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

03-11-10, 03:25 PM	#5
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Mortified sine wave!! Ops, I meant Modified Sine Wave.. I guess these things are ok for some uses.. But I will not be plugging in my new LCD HDTV to this thing! Maybe if I run the out-put through a big 1:1 transformer?

03-11-10, 03:29 PM	#6
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Yikes, that looks a lot more like a PWM signal than a sine wave haha. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

03-03-10, 02:07 PM	#2
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Seems to work ok with a light load.. (two CFLs).. I had the charger cord from the battery pack plugged into it to see if I could get perpetual current flow, But the DC kept slowly dropping.. UPS is sure fast these days.. Didn't I just order this.?. IMHO, this thing is worth more than $19.99

03-03-10, 03:56 PM	#4
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	We plan to take it on road trips to charge the laptop, cell phone and anything else we need. But the main use will be for those little power shortages we get now and then. No NStar juice for a couple of hours and we want to run a little TV or some CFLs.. I've been working on a solar tracker project for a while and at the same time looking at the falling prices of PV panels. I'm thinking the prices might get even lower by this time next year. So, I'm thinking of just running a simple 100 to 200 watt PV array on the tracker and use it for a back-up 12V supply and maybe find a nice place to dump the over-flow. Maybe like this: http://ecorenovator.org/forum/solar-...-inverter.html And if the tracker works well and provides good output, maybe look at a 1 to 2 kw ground mounted PV array in the back yard.