Powerjack inverters are not junk (MOD EDIT: only if you have low expectations)

[dickson]

Someone say  recent PJ   AMG  models are junk , true.       But he is  still using three of those 2015 models (one 15kw and two 8kws). Will try to make them last as long as possible cause I know I can't replace them.        I  am using  2 PJ  almost everyday  and  sometimes  24/7  .      I  change the rev 10.3 control board to the  rev 11.1  and  get the red light alarm  .   I  run my  PJ 15kw at less than  4 kw and no  problem with the rev 11.1 control board .     IT will not start my 4 ton heat pump .       A trick is to run the heat pump for 2 minutes on grid  and then connect to the 15kw PJ  and  run  a 3/4 hp  water pump  for  a minute turn and then  switch on the   4 ton heat pump running  both to start the heat pump  and then  shut off the water pump  and the heat pump will keep running  .      I  did that yesterday twice   and it work with the  rev 11.1 control board  but I do not know why  this work .     Someone in this forum also  connect a  resistive load first  and  then   start  an inductive load  like a refrigerator  with the AMG  PJ 8kw .    

[RobertM]

2 hours ago, dickson said:

Someone in this forum also  connect a  resistive load first  and  then   start  an inductive load  like a refrigerator  with the AMG  PJ 8kw .    

I need to be already running small loads on my inverter to make my "8000" AMG" start the refrigerator or a 1/2 hp motor.

[NotMario]

Depends on your definition of "Junk".

While undoubtedly some of them work quite well, the lack of any confidence in what you'll actually end up getting is the problem. Every new inverter is an unknown quantity. How much power will it put out? How well will it handle inductive loads? Will it work at all?

It's not so much that the product is junk, it's that the QC reputation is junk.

[dickson]

the 30k powerjack turned out to be scams, but I did get the money back,,,I think I ended up paying credit card interest on the money even though all they sent was a piece of paper....still no more replies from powerjack-jack and that eBay scammer rayjunglepower...is no longer on eBay. just new scammer names at higher prices with the same ads....I rarely even look...but my powerjack inverters are all still running....I'd would say don't risk buying from them to anyone at this time....

I am glad that you got your money  back  and at this time I am  not buying  any  PJ  stuff .     I  have to  see the  youtube on the GS 12kw  production model  and the  wires placement and crimp and how the primary choke fit in a  tiny case  .     

All  your inverters still running  and the price you pay  show  PJ inverter are not junk   and can run 24/7  .    

[dickson]

I need to be already running small loads on my inverter to make my "8000" AMG" start the refrigerator or a 1/2 hp motor.

My  15kw PJ  was running a small  220vac load  which is a 3/4 hp water pump in the swamp cooler for a  minute  and then  start a 4 ton  heat pump before  disconnecting   the  water pump  and  continue  to  run the 4 ton heat pump         I do not know why this work .      

[dickson]

The PJ 8000 AMG seems to be $399 now, but still a bargain          The comment from another post  .    

I   recieve an email  from  Helen  .     She  say she is still working for PJ in China  in another department  .    She  take care of the returns to  Walnut  not WALMART .      I do not  know if  399 dollars is a  bargain  .      Only  IF the inverter  has a ASL5.0  transformer  .     She now also run the auction  for  PJ  probably selling  remanufactured  inverter .     

[dickson]

[RobertM]

17 minutes ago, dickson said:

You can expect an ASL2 transformer and 2 capacitors on the main board.

[dochubert]

Besides the generally poor quality of literally anything powerjack is selling these days, the customer is faced with the problem that you just never know what you are going to get in any particular powerjack box.  At least back in 2015 you could feel fairly confident that if you ordered a 15kw powerjack, you already knew what you would get.  Then if you ordered another 15kw powerjack the next week, you could feel just as confident that you would receive another unit pretty much identical to the first one.

Today it is much different.  No two shipments are the same, most don't actually or acurately reflect what was depicted in the ad, and none seem to be reliable at anywhere near their predecessors levels.  The 15kw units I purchased in 2015 (I had three) would all do about 6kw reliably.  Today's 15kw units are probably lucky to do 3kw reliably, and if you have to 'trick' them into starting motor loads, well, just no thanks.  Time to move on to better things.

[dickson]

 

Today's 15kw units are probably lucky to do 3kw reliably, and if you have to 'trick' them into starting motor loads, well, just no thanks.  Time to move on to better things.

I  do not run my 4 ton heat pump  with  the inverter .      All  the wires  switching  to use the heat pump  is to see that it can be done .      Too  easy to backfeed  the inverter  and   one mistake will   blow up all  the FETs .     About  3kw at 110 degree F  before the transformer  overheat .         

[dickson]

You can expect an ASL2 transformer and 2 capacitors on the main board.

Posted June 4, 2021

Clark  say  I  have a version 7 24v 8000w AS2 split phase that I've been very happy with.      Bought it in January 2018.I live completely off grid. I had several off brand inverters before the power jack. This is the first one that actually worked.        His  8000w AS2.0  transformer of 2018   is not the same as your new  ASL2.0  AMG transformer .     

[Waterman]

You cannot even be sure of what label will be on a PJ product when you get it. I had ordered 3 identical UPower 3k units.  Blew up the first one ( my fault ) so ordered the third to have two working ones. First two had the UPower labels and were shipped direct from China. Third one was shipped from here in the US and had a PJ label.  Same UPower boxes and manuals. Same E-bay seller also.