Home > Consumer Reviews > Cobra CPI 1575 1500 Watt 12 Volt DC to 120 Volt AC Power Inverter

This is ok for running low wattage devices but not sure how it would perform running a microwave for example. I tested the AC outlet and have got between 89 and 94 volts out of it. I may have lost current through the 6 foot length cable and the 200 amp fuse as well. It works for my purposes at the moment. Gordo, Hailey Idaho

Been using this at the cabin on week ends and it works very well. Particularly like the voltage readout as you can tell when it is time to recharge the batteries.
Be aware that you should NOT connect Neutral and Ground together at the panel or you will blow this up.
I found that out the hard way by blowing two other inverters (not this brand) up before I figured it out.
Even though that worked fine off the generator it toasted (with smoke and everything) the first two inverters I put on.

"Peak" power is NOT the amount of power you can get in spurts. Its only the top part of the sine wave. This is NEVER the amount of work you're going to get out of it. That being said I have no idea how they get 3000W peak and 1500W RMS, as RMS is the usable power and RMS times 1.414 is peak power, just the highest part of the wave. I'm so sick and tired of people saying this. Wikipedia was even wrong until a few months ago when they finally corrected it and locked out the car stereo kids.

I'm still convinced this is a good unit based on the replies - and a great price too for under a hundred dollars - but they know people are dumb, especially the car audio crowd, and they will think that 'peak' actually means something. Nothing but a cheap marketing ploy to people that havent taken intermediate electronics classes.

The stats are confusing, if this is 1500W output including any losses and inefficiencies in converting to a PWM wave, then 1500 watts divided by 120 volts is 12.5 amps. I wouldnt use an instant-blow fuse. I'd set the rating at 'continuous duty' if this will be running something constantly for more than 3 hours at a time, so rate it at 125% of the load. 15.625 amps isnt a standard fuse size, so you're allowed per NEC code to go 'up' a standard size. Fuse your secondary, or better yet, get a breaker.

The guy talking about getting a 150 amp fuse...your fuse is supposed to protect the wiring so you dont start a fire. 150 amps in copper THHN wire is 1 gauge for 150 amps! I doubt many users have this!

THHN ratings per NEC (without temperature adjustment INCLUDING lugs) from table 310.16
14ga 25a
12ga 30a
10ga 40a
8ga 55a
6ga 75a
4ga 95a
3ga 110a
2ga 130a
1ga 150a
1/0ga 170a

Depending on what you're running, you'd want to get a 2008 NEC book ($75ish) or an UGLY's 2008 guide ([...]) or get things on the web like at [...].

Hope this helps. I'm ordering mine today & will stress test it :)

I'm currently in the process of returning this item because the one I got only put out 100 VAC, not the 110-120 VAC listed in it's specs. It powered some items, but not what I actually bought the inverter for. Also, when I placed a high load on it, it immediately flipped out and screamed about an over-temperature alarm, even though it was cold and the load was within it's advertised capabilities of 1500W continuous, 3000W peak. It was the over-temp alarm, not over-current or anything else, so combine that with the fact that it's only putting out 100VAC and it's not hard to see that something is messed up. I thought Cobra was decent stuff, but I'll be buying a different brand to replace it...

I had bought this item to go camping with. I love the item, it does what it says on the box. I wouldn't use the inverter for long periods of time. You might fry out the altenator and, or battery. Unless you are installing it in a large vehicle.