If you used all incandescent bulbs for the load it would probably do the 300+. Inverters tend to be rated at unity power factor loads. The mix of loads used here (fans etc.) won't have perfect power factor. With these loads you should monitor the VA on the killaWatt instead of watts. VA reflects the true current being drawn - the same current the inverter itself will be monitoring ( and shutting itself down based on )
As for the _perceprion_ that is cutting off a bit early... i was trained in electricity for my military electrical rating, and uh... better safe than sorry. Note that your metering device might also be flawed (eg inaccurate). Personally, I'd favor a fully-certified fluke for testing like that.
You need to monitor the voltage as the load is increasing. It’s not realistic that the Ryobi fan added only about 10-15 watts to the total consumption, so something is squirrelly with the measurement. Possibly the voltage is dropping, and causing some of the other loads to consume less.
Per the Ryobi website its Rated for 300 watts continous ! imo --- its a fail ! 300 is 300 not 275 not 280. is your killawatt accurate ??? thats another question ? imo --- if im making a product & selling it as a 300 watt device it shiuld do 300 + watts ! 300 should be its nominal wattage under poor conditions 100 degree ambient etc. imo --- i Would think it should do 325-350 then cut out. its rated for continous 300 ! id return it & Get another one ! Do a Take 2 video ! try another killawatt too ! for accuracy. Put your amp clamp on the cord & Do amps x volts = watts to check killawatt accurracy.
I returned 2 of them because neither would hold past 270W .. Im on the 3rd one and it also trips at 270W .. Emailed Ryobi and told them the story, they sent me a free one and it also trips at 270W .. Emailed them back and they wont return by emails ... So now i have 2 here and both trip around 270W and don't do the 300W as claimed
Not sure since they pull a lot higher amps at start up unless they have a soft start. I did notice that my Yellow Jacket pump was running at 100-200 watts once it got going though.
i have 2 of these 1 trips at 260W ON THE DOT The 2nd one trips at 271W ON THE DOT I also have the 2 of the smaller 18V 150W and those 2 actually DO handle 150W and trip around 155W ...
