AIMS PICOGLF15W12V120VR 1500 Watt 12 VDC Input to 120VAC Output Pure Sine Inverter Charger Backup Power

Last year, with no experience in this field, I purchased a Power Bright 3,500 watt modified sine inverter for my motorhome conversion from generator to battery bank with solar. The Power Bright was a good unit for the price but the output voltage varied with battery voltage all the way down to 88 volts. The Power Bright unit also didn't play well with my microwave. I came to the conclusion that I needed a pure sine inverter.I found that there are two types of pure sine inverters. The cheaper smaller ones are high frequency. The AIMS PICOGLF20W12V120VR is a low frequency inverter. Low frequency inverters have tremendous starting power. This unit is rated to hold 6,000 watts of starting power for 20 seconds. The high frequency inverters are usually only rated to hold twice their power for less than a second. This unit easily starts my rooftop air conditioner which takes about 4,500 watts to start but settles back to 1,200 watts in operation. The difference is that this unit is very heavy. It's heavy because it has a large copper wound transformer in it - you get what you pay for.Why was I willing to go from a 3,500 watt inverter to 2,000 watt? I learned that you can only draw so much current from a 12 volt system without generating tremendous heat. Under a constant 2,500 watt load, my heavy 2/0 welding cables and connectors would get very hot. I would say that it's impractical and perhaps dangerous to draw constant loads over 2,500 watts from a 12 volt battery system (Update: I used 2/0 welding cable throughout, marine quality bus bars and switches, and fused both sets of batteries (200 amp) as well as the inverter (300 amp). Also all of my 120 volt appliances are under 2,000 watts continuous. The microwave is 1,200 watts. Coffee maker and toaster about the same.My other issue was voltage. Whereas the modified sine inverter's output voltage declined with battery voltage, the Aims unit holds a nice 121 volts AC at 60 cps down to battery voltage cutout.Overall I believe this AIMS unit is an extremely well built, high quality unit. It has large connector posts for your 12 volt cables. The connectors for wiring 120 volt input and output are also high quality. The indicator lights on top of the unit are nice but for my application I purchased the REMOTELF remote display. There is also a little rheostat type dial on top which you can use to adjust how much of your 120 VAC input goes to charge and how much gets passed through (Update: This is a very important feature if you have a smaller generator My 2000 watt inverter generator (1,600) continuous will trip the breaker at the full 70amp charger draw. I can adjust this to load the generator at about 75% for a two hour charge). The transfer switch is very fast and doesn't drop loads when switching from house power to inverter or inverter to house power. The fan is quiet and only runs when there is a significant load or is charging at a high rate.The unit does draw substantial idle power. It does have a power saver mode but this works by cycling power into the system every second or so. Problem with this is that my refrigerator doesn't see the power when deciding to use electric or gas so goes to gas. My other problem with it is that my microwave seems to have some type of relay in it that clicks every time the power cycles. The power saver was impractical for me to use so I just turn the inverter on from the remote when I need 120 VAC.This unit has 1 more dip switch than shown in the manual. Also has a couple of green wires hanging out the back that look like they could be connected together or to external wires. I had no idea what they were for except some type of ground. I called AIMS and there customer service was very responsive. They told me that I should connect them for a motor home application but I still don't understand why. (Update: I've since learned a bit more about electrical and these two wires are connected to bond your 120 volt AC neutral to ground) It wouldn't hurt them to put out an addendum to the manual with the changes to the unit since the manual was printed and some explanations such as what the functions of these green wires are and when they should be connected or not and why. The manual could be much better.Just took my 4 dogs out overnight in my Class C with the new solar installation and AIMS inverter. Found a nice isolated meadow on the eastern slope of the Washington Cascades about 40 miles from home. Turned on the AIMS inverter and popped some microwave popcorn (not good for you). Woke up at 5AM, let the dog's out, turned on the AIMS and made some coffee. Happiness in my old age.

I have had this .... doorstop ... for about two years, and I cannot in any way recommend it.We live off-grid, in a low-footprint model. This device was intended to serve our power needs, but also charge our batteries with a generator, if the sun vanished for a few days - which, living in the sticks of the East Coast of Canada, it does.I have developed the same issues as other AIMS models (I thought I had done my research, but alas): it overheats, and cannot generate any notable power without shutting down.The first issue came about a year ago, when the fan simply died. Fortunately, I had access to a spare computer, and was able to install a new fan. Then in August of this year, I tried out an induction element, which draws a max of 1,200 watts. At the time, the fan came on, and stayed on all the time - which, given that we live in 500 square feet makes for a bit of noise.Last week, the inverter overheated and shut down, while in the generator mode. The negative terminal now grows incredibly toasty at the slightest application of power, either charging or discharging.Today, it overheated and shut down twice: it now can't even handle a 250 watt crockpot.DO NOT BUY. I spent $800 CDN on a piece of junk that gives out about as much power now as an old 300w Morningstar. Should have gone with an Outback or Xantrex. My old Prosine could power the woodsplitter without issues, this thing shuts down instantly.As a guy with a fair bit of electrical savvy, I have replaced the fan myself (again). However, I expect it to last about a year or so, before it bakes again.Oh, and a further update:: the plastic bridge that allows hard-wiring has melted, and the customer service department has ignored any queries. Again.

I have waited a while before submitting a review of this product. I live in a remote area in the mountains of Colorado. At 8700 feet, and 10 miles from the nearest hard road, power dependability is absolutely essential. In 1996 I purchased a TRACE modified sine wave inverter, which has functioned flawlessly right up through its retirement, in November of 2015. It was quite noisy in operation, with its 60 cycle buzz. It's modified sine wave did not interface well with computerized equipment. My new " intelligent" washing machine refused to operate with it.I purchased the AIMS full sine inverter, expecting that its lower output rating would be a challenge. The TRACE was rated a full 20% higher. The AIMS installation process was straightforward. I had a question during installation, and called customer service. I was pleasantly surprised that my call was answered by a living, knowledgeable, and polite human being. My question was answered quickly, and professionally.Two months have now passed. I have found no problems with it's operation. Except for the internal cooling fan, that cycles whenever a significant load is applied, the units operation is totally silent. I have operated the refrigerator, a small microwave, several electric lights, heating circulator fans, and the washing machine... All simultaneously. Although the inverter struggles with that much load, it carried it flawlessly. I have been impressed with its ability to charge my battery banks from my external generator, and operate all of the required electrical loads. This AIMS full sine inverter has delivered way beyond my expectations. Although it is difficult to know what the future will bring, if it's last 2 months of operation is any indication, it is a solidly built dependable electrical workhorse , that I welcome into my off grid system. At this time, I highly recommend it!02-02-2018 UPDATE:It is now 2 years later. The AIMS inverter has operated flawlessly. My electronics seem to love the sine wave output. My power tools have plenty of power available to do whatever I have asked of them. My vintage all tube guitar amps don't seem to know the difference between AIMS power, at home, and grid power at the gigs. My single coil guitar pick-ups register less 60 cycle hum and interference than when I'm plugged into grid power.All in all, I am impressed...so far.As a side bar.... I notice that about half of the one star reviews are not verified purchasers....ALL of the five star reviews, I saw, were all verified.....JUST SAYING.I'll update again if my opinion changes.

It wouldn't turn on after only a few uses and the company wanted us to send it back by return courier (min. $400 shipping) with no guarantees it would be fixed even though it was still under warranty. In the AIMS return shipping guidelines there appeared to be a lot of conditions that could easily void the warranty. Wasn't worth the risk. I wouldn't recommend this product.

For a few $ more, I should have purchased the 2000W model (peak 4000W) as 1500 is sometimes a little close to the limit for microwave, toaster/oven...

Performs better than expected.

works great.hope it will be reliable.