BESTEK 150W Power Inverter DC 12V to 110V AC Converter 4.2A Dual USB Car Adapter, Thinner Design with ETL Listed, Grey/Black

Been working on some old audio devices from the US and the standard step down was t quite cutting it. This is very handy as it outputs the correct voltage and frequency to ensure you're getting the right sound out of a nonUK device

I purchased both this unit, the "BESTEK 150W Power Inverter DC 12V to 110V AC Converter 4.2A Dual USB Car Adapter, Thinner Design with ETL Listed, Grey/Black" (Model # MRI1511AU), and the "BESTEK 150W Power Inverter, DC 12V to 110V AC Car Inverter (Red Upgraded)" (Model # MRI1511L). I am posting this review on both product pages. Since the model names are identical apart from the letters at the end, I’ll refer to them that way. Short version: Although the specs are the same, and the prices nearly the same, this Dual USB "AU" version outperformed the “Red Upgraded” (“L”) version. (In addition, the “L” unit had something rattling loose inside on receipt.) More info: I plugged each unit, one at a time, into the 9v outlet in my car. I tested each unit by plugging in a small (20W) 2-speed motor, then switching it on low, high, off, high, low, etc. a few times each. Fan: - The fan was silent on this AU (box) unit; the fan apparently doesn’t kick in until cooling is needed. - The fan started immediately on the L (“red upgraded”) unit, gradually growing louder. It was, as other reviewers have noted, loud enough to be annoying in a quiet vehicle. Performance: - This “AU” box unit worked without difficulty: Running the motor was as seamless as when the same motor is plugged into an outlet. - The “L” unit worked … sort of. At first, the motor started up pretty much right away, switching from low speed to high without difficulty. But when I switched back to low speed, it stalled, recovering slowly. Same when I switched back to high speed. Then it worked fine again. Then it didn’t. I don’t know the cause, but it was as if the L unit was briefly overloaded when switching modes. Conclusion: - This “AU” unit gets five stars, at least for now: It works just fine, it’s simple, quiet, compact, and lightweight – just what I needed. - The “L” unit earns two stars: It works, sort of, but is inexplicably underpowered even though its specifications are the same as the “AU” unit.

My 13” laptop charges up fine, feels little slow but does the job. If not plugged in together with other devices. Works good with phone charging with fast charging but not along the laptop charger. Fan is pretty loud if put in a certain position. Find a angle or shake it to cur done the noise.

It took an unreasonable amount of force to plug it into my car’s 12V socket. I am guessing that is due to the fact that springs for the side metals are not working well and the diameter doesn’t shrink enough while going in. In terms of functionality, no issues so far.

Great poduct perfect for long car travel and emergency needs!

I purchased this inverter to allow me to operate my laptop in my vehicle. I have an electric vehicle, which ironically, doesn't include any 120VAC outlets or outlets with USB-C PD capability. A previous inverter that I've used would cause the car to throw errors on the 12V circuit due to the noise it put on the input power line. This inverter does not, so I assume its a little cleaner. This unit is very compact and includes USB power charging ports and a single 120VAC outlet. I didn't charge this at the top end of its power rating, rather about half of it. The fan for the unit does come on even when the unit is essentially idle. Its not loud, but it is noticeable. When under load the fan obviously runs as well. Feeling the unit during moderate load demonstrated it will still reasonable, slightly warm but not hot. I plan on eventually mounting this in my console out of view after getting some more hours on it to verify its longevity. I also have not looked at the waveform of the unit to see what it looks like. I expect it to be close to a square wave given the price point.