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10000 watt power inverter

Wagan EL3748 12V 10,000 Watt Power Inverter Review

The Wagan EL3748 is a high-output heavy-duty DC to AC power inverter.

It’s a great choice for off-grid cabins or home backup applications where you need to power multiple high-wattage appliances at the same time.

It’s also powerful enough for commercial applications in work vans or job sites. It can easily power multiple work tools.

The Wagan EL3748 can produce up to 10,000 watts of AC power and handle a surging demand of up to 20,000 watts, which is far more than its little brother, the Wagan EL2546.

The inverter is easy to set up and comes with four 120V AC outlets, each providing up to 1500W of power.

Read on for our full review of the Wagan EL3748 10,000W power inverter.

If you are just getting started on power inverters and don't know which one to get, here is a quick primer that explains how to choose the best one for your needs.


Pros

  • High power output.
  • Includes four AC outlets + high output terminals.
  • SMT circuit boards - more reliable and efficient.
  • Multiple safety features.
  • Lightweight & compact.
  • Comes with a remote power switch. 

Cons

  • Pricey.
  • Modified, not pure, sine wave inverter. 

Unique Features

power inverter 10000 watts

1. High Output

The Wagan EL3748 is one of the most powerful power inverters you’ll come across.

With an output of up to 10,000 watts, it’s perfect for running multiple high-wattage appliances and power tools.

It’s great for van livers, RV owners, off-grid cabins and camping. You can also use it at home to set up your solar backup system. 

The Wagan EL3748 can handle a surge of up to 20,000 watts, making it safe for use with things like power tools.

The Wagan EL3748 power inverter is available in three voltage options: 12V, 24V and 48V. Choose the one that matches the voltage of your battery or battery bank.

2. Four AC Outlets + High-output Terminals

The easiest way to get AC power from the Wagan EL3748 inverter is through one of the four outlets.

Each outlet produces up to 1500W and can support up to 12.5 amps of current.

That’s adequate for most appliances, including blenders, space heaters, mini-fridges and CPAP machines.

While the outlets allow quick access to AC power, they do not let you take full advantage of the full 10,000W limit. They are each limited to 1500W (6000W total) for safety reasons.

If you want the full 10,000W, use the high-output AC terminals provided.

However, we don't recommend drawing the full 10,000W as it can stress the inverter and cause a lot of heat buildup.

The standard recommendation is to draw up to 80% of an inverter’s capability, which in this case is 8,000W.

Note: Make sure you use a fuse when connecting the Wagan EL3748 to the battery bank.

The size of the fuse will depend on how much power you plan to draw. If it’s close to the full 10,000W, get a 1,000A fuse.

For safety, the manufacturer recommends a sealed, no-spark fuse.

3. Multiple Safety Features

This much power requires lots of caution. That’s why the Wagan EL3748 comes with multiple safety features to protect your appliances, the battery bank, and the inverter itself.

These include overload protection (automatically shuts down), overheating protection (large fan for automatic cooling), low-battery auto-shutoff, and reverse polarity and short-circuit protection.

4. Basic Display

The Wagan EL3748 doesn't have a fancy screen display. Instead, it uses LED indicators for overload and over-temperature warnings.

It also has two rudimentary displays for current and voltage.

5. Remote Control Switch

10000 watt inverter

For convenience, the Wagan EL3748 comes with a 16ft long wired remote control switch.

Plug it into the remote-control port on the inverter. Now you can turn the inverter on and off from a distance (you need to keep the inverter’s main switch on at all times).

The remote control is particularly handy if you plan to install the inverter somewhere it’ll be difficult to access quickly.

6. Lightweight, Compact & Durable

Despite its high output, the Wagan EL3748 is small and light. This is important for folks who’ll be using it outdoors when camping.

It’s also helpful for pros that want a lightweight inverter they can easily carry to job sites.

In addition to being easily portable, the Wagan EL3748 is also durable. It has a lightweight but strong aluminium shell that protects the internal components.

And because this is a commercial-grade inverter, each component is made to last.

This includes the new SMT circuit boards that perform better and are more reliable than older circuit board technologies. The mounting terminals are also heavy-duty.


Issues & Concerns

Modified Sine Wave Output

The Wagan EL3748 is a modified sine wave inverter, not the preferred pure sine wave inverters that are suitable for all electronics.

So it will work fine with most appliances, but electronics won’t be charged as quickly than with a pure sine wave inverter.

In addition, for certain sensitive appliances and devices like CPAP, some lights, and bread makers and ovens, you’ll need to buy a pure sine wave inverter.

We recommend one of Wagan’s PureLine inverters. The largest one available is the 3000W Wagan EL3810.

Pricey

The Wagan EL3748 is designed for home use as well as commercial use. That’s why it has a high 10,000W output.

The price is also pretty high.

If you don’t need that much power, Wagan sells cheaper inverters, including the 5,000W Wagan EL3744.


Warranty

The Wagan EL3748 power inverter comes with a 2-year warranty.


Specifications

Output:

10,000W continuous, 20,000W surge

Outlets:

4 AC outlets, 1500W each

Voltage:

12V/24V/48V

Weight:

25.1lbs

Size:

24 x 12 x 9 inches

Warranty:

24 months


Where to Buy the Wagan EL3748 Power Inverter


About the Author David Roberts

I'm a Mechanical Engineer who's obsessed with solar energy and sustainable living.

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