I'm looking at getting a 12v 2500 to 3000 watt inverter for my storage building. I want to put an outdoor outlet on the backside of my building so that it will be active when I turn the inverter on. I don't want to run an extension cord out the door every time I want to use it. I was planning on getting one with a hardwire output. I've looked at so many and read so many mixed reviews. Sunday, I decided to settle on one that got decent reviews and a decent price. Then today I realized it didn't have the hardwire output (I think the 4000 watt one fooled me being in the same Amazon listing).
My original idea before I even knew that was a thing was to use a heavy duty extension cord and cut the end off and wire it into the outlet. Or, as someone suggested, use my own cable and a DIY plug. So my question is, how important is it to have a hardwire on the inverter, or can I just use a cord that stays plugged into the inverter's outlet and is hardwired to the outside outlet?
My original idea before I even knew that was a thing was to use a heavy duty extension cord and cut the end off and wire it into the outlet. Or, as someone suggested, use my own cable and a DIY plug. So my question is, how important is it to have a hardwire on the inverter, or can I just use a cord that stays plugged into the inverter's outlet and is hardwired to the outside outlet?