At full power this inverter draws 140.1 A from a 12 V bank and 280 A during a 3,000 W surge. That figure divides 1,500 W by 12.6 V under load and by 85 % efficiency, not the 90 % on the datasheet, because peak efficiency is not what you get at full load.
It is modified sine, so the checker warns against motor loads on it: Microwave, CPAP machine, Blender among the appliances in the catalog.
For scale, two 100 Ah lithium batteries (2,560 Wh usable) run it at half power, 750 W, for about 2.9 hours. Idle it consumes 9.0 W, which is 216 Wh a day if you leave it on around the clock. To a lithium bank, a battery cable of 0.5 m needs 2 with a 200 A fuse and 1.5 m needs 2 AWG with a 200 A Class T fuse; the fuse is the smallest rating above 1.25 × the draw that still protects the wire (ABYC E-11).
Smallest battery bank that carries it
| Battery | In parallel | Bank | Limited by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battle Born Batteries BBGC3 270Ah 12V GC3 LiFePO4 | 1 | 270 Ah | continuous |
| Battle Born Batteries BBGC3H 270Ah 12V GC3 LiFePO4 Heated | 1 | 270 Ah | continuous |
| LiTime 12V 200Ah Xtra Mini RV Smart LiFePO4 | 1 | 200 Ah | continuous |
| LiTime 12V 230Ah Plus LiFePO4 | 1 | 230 Ah | continuous |
| LiTime 12V 320Ah Mini Smart Self-Heating LiFePO4 | 1 | 320 Ah | continuous |
| LiTime 12V 460Ah LiFePO4 | 1 | 460 Ah | continuous |
| Renogy Core 12V 200Ah LiFePO4 w/ Bluetooth | 1 | 200 Ah | continuous |
| Renogy Core 12V 300Ah LiFePO4 w/ Self-Heating | 1 | 300 Ah | continuous |
Datasheet
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Continuous / surge | 1,500 W / 3,000 W |
| Input | 12 V (10.5–15.0 V) |
| Waveform | modified-sine |
| Efficiency (published) | 90 % |
| Idle draw | 9.0 W |
Source: manufacturer documentation
Where to buy
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Samlex America SAM-1500-12 258.56 USD
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How this page was computed
Published efficiency is a peak figure, so current is computed at 85 %. Cable and fuse follow the checker: ABYC E-11 ampacity, 3 % drop, fuse ≥ 1.25 × draw and ≤ the wire rating, Class T for lithium.
- Manufacturer documentation verified 2026-09-15
- Battery datasheets BMS continuous and peak
The formulas are the same open engine the checker runs; the methodology page lists every constant.
These results are for reference. Wiring must be installed by a qualified electrician. Mobile installations follow ABYC E-11; stationary ones NEC 690/706.