MotoMaster 400W Mobile Power Outlet and Inverter
3.4
5
22
23
Forget It - Can't even charge my iPad!
Like all the Motomaster inverters, this one is not usable for real-life applications. The only time any of them worked for me was when my batteries were FULL (even with a new set of RV batteries). As soon as the battery level drops slightly the voltage falls below the minimum required to power the inverter. I have used this one and 2 other motomaster inverters (2-400W: different models and one 175W) and all are the same. If I want to charge something as basic as my iPad or Macbook, I have to be running my generator in the trailer which brings the voltage up above 12V which allows the inverter to work fine.
In my truck I have to have the truck running to provide enough voltage to run the inverter just to charge my itty bitty iPad. Ridiculous!
When the voltage is below about 11.75V (I forget exactly), the inverter starts buzzing (alarm) and it cuts in and out making it unusable.
On the plus side, if you have a good reliable source of constant 12V (nothing much less) then these units work fine.
This year I'll be shopping for a pure sinwave inverter. They are good down to at least 10.5-11V which gives you lots of headroom when your batteries aren't at least 99.99% full.
February 22, 2013
what a piece of garbage!!!
I bought this thing to run an electric blanket that uses 180 watts of power in the back seat of my car. I previously had purchased the 750 watt inverter. it failed and I returned it. I hoped that it was just a defective individual and that another one might function as described. I was wrong! This one failed after running for about 5 minutes. The plug that inserts into the cigarette lighter of the car became extremely hot and now that recepticle doesn't work either. I am really annoyed about this because I deliver tropical fish in my car for a living and now I have no means of adequately heating the back seat.
January 16, 2013
JUNK
When it works, it works awsome. unfortunatly, 99% of the time it DOES not work..
Plug in a device and it runs, move the inverter and it shuts off. some devices with work one time and the next not, turn the unit on and off a dozen or so times suddenly it comes on. the software in is a joke, draw jumps between o and 20 watts. no matter how much is plugged in. I have returned 2 and this is my third. All preform this poorly. SO disaponted...
July 6, 2012
Inconsistent, unreliable; some devices don't work
This has issues with some loads.
My daughter's laptop (Intel Classmate; 40W on the rating plate) will not charge, as I found out the hard way on a long car trip. I tried this both with a car cigarette lighter and with a 65W 12V power supply. My own laptops (Lenovo T400 and Macbook Pro 5,1, both maybe up to 70W) WILL charge from that 65W supply. A 40W incandescent desk lamp works fine, and so does the "wall wart" for my bathroom scale.
When a non-working load is plugged in, the output voltage, as measured with a multimeter, drops to zero. The inverter, at the same moment, claims it's delivering 120 volts, and shows no error code... so apparently the displayed numbers aren't to be trusted.
It also says it's delivering 20 watts when nothing (or a non-working load) is plugged in. Oh, and it runs the fan full blast under no load.
Weird waveform? Some odd issue with how some power supplies hook up the ground pin (all devices that have failed are 3-prong)? Brain-dead firmware responding badly to transient over/undervoltages (my personal guess)? Sunspots??
I dunno. But I DO know that I can't rely on this thing to do what it's supposed to do, or, perhaps more importantly, to properly report why it can't. And it doesn't look like it's broken... more like it's just badly designed.
August 2, 2011
Digital Power 400W Inverter
I purchased one today and it started to squeal and give me an E03 error before I left the parking lot. Apparently E03 means input voltage too high. So I checked my 2005 Montana and found it runs at 15.1 volts. I did some checking online and found out that 12volt system normally operate at 13.5 to 15.2 volts. So if you want to buy one of these make sure your operating voltage is below 15.1 volts. Needless to say I returned mine the same day.
February 4, 2011
Fails where the old model worked great
Bought the 400W inverter to replace my previous model but it wouldn't power my laptop.
I'm seeing:
Inverter shows no errors.
Voltage In: 13-13.5
Voltage Out: 120 (even with no load)
Power Out: 0
Tried the laptop turned on (100W) then off (60W) with no luck. Even with no laptop attached, the power indicator on the adaptor won't light up. A different <20W load worked fine.
Even tried both sets of included cables, plus another thicker set.
Exchanged for a 2nd and 3rd unit... same trouble.
All ratings on the old and new Eliminator digital 400W inverters are identical and my laptop still works fine on the old one. What's changed?! Anyone having similar issues?
May 11, 2010
awsome
the price is good the display is awsome i power my jigsaw off it to fix stuff runs good
even on a small battery it will last atleast 3 hours
on one charge it's
April 6, 2009
Choose another inverter!!!
This inverter stopped working not long after I got it! DON'T BUY IT!
January 3, 2009
very good buy
bought mine on sale at 40$. I was so happy with this unit that I went to the store the day after and bought a second one as a spare. Hooked up on a deep cycle battery this is the only inverter you need as long as you stay within its limit. Very good buy. The only inconvenience I found is that the cables are a bit stiff but this is a very small complaint and I strongly recommend this unit specially at this price on sale.
December 4, 2008
pretty good product
the clips are a little disturbing; wonder if you can short your car with it?
all and all works well
September 23, 2008
- More MotoMaster 400W Mobile Power Outlet and Inverter Reviews
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