LiTime 3000W 12V Pure Sine Wave Inverter
SVT Score, Lower
A 3,000 W, 12 V pure sine inverter with 6,000 W surge, four AC outlets, a hardwire terminal block and a wired LCD remote.
$283
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Usability
4.5 out of 10At 3,000 W continuous it sits on the 3,000 to 3,999 W rung for a power inverter, so it scores 7 on capacity.
LiTime's spec table gives its efficiency as 85 to 95 percent, read at the stated 95 percent peak, while its manual says 90 percent or more and LiTime publishes no no-load draw, so read on efficiency alone and capped at 6 it scores 6 on efficiency.
Its 6,000 W surge is 2.0 times its continuous rating, the typical rung, so it scores 5 on operating range.
It has a wired LCD remote and a hardwire AC terminal block but no GFCI, transfer switch, search mode or parallel operation, so it scores 4 on features.
Better on featuresRenogy 3000W UPS InverterHas built-in Bluetooth. $461.99Scores 7.0No certifier directory lists this unit (Intertek, UL, CSA, LabTest, TÜV, SGS), and LiTime's page and manual name no safety listing, so it scores 2 on verification.
Better on verificationRenogy 3000W UPS InverterIntertek's directory lists the RIV1230PU-126 to UL 458. $461.99Scores 8.0LiTime's US and Canadian warranty policies and its product page give its 12 V 3000 W inverter a 2-year warranty, so it scores 3 on warranty and support.
LiTime sets warranty terms by product, for the original buyer only, with proof of purchase.
$282.99 at litime.com.
3,000 W with A hardwire block
The L12V3KW-Z is LiTime's 3,000 W, 12 V pure sine wave inverter for RVs, boats, cabins and home backup.
It suits a buyer who wants 3,000 W of household AC from a 12 V bank wired with heavy cable, and who will not need automatic switching to shore power or a GFCI-protected outlet.
Strengths
- 6,000 W surgetwice its rating
- Four AC outlets plus a hardwire AC terminal block
- Wired LCD remote shows wattsvolts and battery level
- USB-C port rated up to 12 V 1.5 A
- Runs from -4°F to 104°F
Drawbacks
- Efficiency is 85 to 95 percent on the page and 90 percent or more in the manual
- LiTime publishes no no-load draw
- Ships with 4 AWG cablesthe manual recommends 1/0 AWG
- No GFCItransfer switch, search mode or parallel operation
- Low-voltage cut-off is 9.5 V on the page and 10.5 V in the manual
Specs
- CapacityNot applicable
- AC Output3,000-3,999 W
- System Voltage12 V
- Panel PowerNot applicable
- Charge CurrentNot applicable
- Safety ListingNone verifiable
- Cell TypeNot applicable
- Low-Temp ChargingNot applicable
- Warranty2 Years
- MonitoringWired display or port only
- Weight11.4 lb
At a glance
- Terminal torque 7 to 9 N·m
- 3.28 ft ground cable in box
- Clip-on remote brackets
- In 320Ah Mini Off-Grid Kit
LiTime is the brand of Shenzhen Ampere Time Digital Energy Technology, founded in 2018 and renamed from Ampere Time in December 2022.
It sells direct from litime.com, which ships US orders from warehouses in Los Angeles and Dallas, and through its Amazon store and Walmart's marketplace.
The LiTime L12V3KW-Z is a 12 V pure sine wave inverter rated 3,000 W continuous and 6,000 W peak surge, with 120 V AC output (plus or minus 10 percent) at 60 Hz and efficiency given as 85 to 95 percent on the product page and as 90 percent or more in the manual. It runs from 10.5 V to 16.0 V DC; the product page sets low-voltage protection at 9.5 V and over-voltage at 16.5 V, the manual at 10.5 V and 16.0 V. The AC side has four AC outlets, a high-output hardwire terminal block, a ground terminal, a 5 V 2.4 A USB-A port and a USB-C port rated 5 V 3 A, 9 V 2 A and 12 V 1.5 A; two temperature-controlled fans cool it, and it operates from -4°F to 104°F. The product page gives 14.96 x 7.40 x 3.94 in and 11.37 lb; the manual gives 15.12 x 7.42 x 3.94 in without the mounting feet, 16.54 x 7.42 x 4.02 in with them, and 11.02 lb. The manual recommends 1/0 AWG battery wire and a terminal torque of 7 to 9 N·m. The box holds 1.64 ft 4 AWG battery cables (two in the manual, four in the product page FAQ), a 3.28 ft ground cable, the LCD remote with a 14.76 ft cable and two clip-on brackets, and screws and anchors. LiTime publishes no no-load draw and names no GFCI, and its warranty policy and product page give it a 2-year warranty. It is also sold inside LiTime's 12V 320Ah Mini Off-Grid Kit with a 60A DC-DC charger and a 60A MPPT controller, and in the Family Trip and Long-Haul Pro kits of LiTime's RV Power Solution.
Questions answered from our data
Is LiTime good?We list 25 LiTime products and score 25 of them. Their overall scores run from 4.2 to 6.3, with a median of 5.4, against a median of 5.4 for all 83 products we score.
How much does a pure sine wave inverter cost?The 12 pure sine wave inverters we list run from $140 to $825, with a median of $284.
Are pure sine wave inverters UL listed?Eight of the 12 pure sine wave inverters we list carry a UL 458-type listing we could look up by model.
Which pure sine wave inverters have Bluetooth?Four of the 12 pure sine wave inverters we list offer Bluetooth monitoring, built in or as the maker's add-on.
