Good Morning!
Any recommendations on an Inverter/Charger, with "pure sine/true sine" Inverter?
best, paul
We replaced our Prosine 2.0 a while back with a Magnum MS 2812 based on a recommendation from a fellow FoFum member. Seems to be working OK. Made in the USA. They now have a Hybrid version. Not sure how it works as it was not available when we replaced ours. Good luyck.
Home - Magnum Energy, Inc. (http://magnumenergy.com/)
MS Series Inverter/Charger - Magnum Energy, Inc. (http://magnumenergy.com/ms-series/)
Bought ours at imarine: http://www.imarineusa.com/magnumenergyms28122800watt12v100atruesinewaveinverterchargerREMAN.aspx
As nice as the Xantrex Prosine is, I would stay away from it. The company considers it non repairable....at ~ $1800.
We have the Magnum MS2812 and it seems to work well.
I put the new Xantrex SW3012 in mine about 5 months ago. Works fine. Mainly went that way because my coach uses a communications link to SilverLeaf from the Xantrex for all operating info and setup. It is a pure sine wave unit.
I also used the Magnum 2812 in our 320. Be aware though that the instructions call for 4 ot cable. In order to comply you need to replace the factory 3 ot positive and negative from the inverter to the coach batteries. The Magnum performed well but I was dissatisfied with the remote panel performance. It had a lot of functions but was not accurate. I added a Trimetric to that rig and that provided the necessary accuracy to properly monitor the coach batteries.
After installing that Magnum I got to thinking that I really never needed that much AC current. I would use the microwave for short (maybe 10 minute) sessions and the coffee maker every morning. Neither requires that kind of muscle. I think if our 2K original in the 300 every gives up the ghost I will replace it with a smaller Magnum.
The Magnum hybrid sounds really interesting.
jor
Many have installed Magnum Energy MS2812 with ME-ARC remote and optional ME-BMK battery monitor kit. If your gen auto start is not working, you can add ME-AGS-N auto generator start - network.
We also like Xantrex PROsine 2.0, which is a completely different animal than the old Prosines Foretravel used.
http://www.xantrex.com/power-products/inverter-chargers/prosine-2.aspx Xantrex has several products in their Freedom line.
I wonder how they make it so lightweight at 24lbs. The transformer alone in the old Heart Freedom 20 weighs more than that. The Magnum MSH3012 weighs in at 55lbs. It has an even larger and heavier transformer in it. My experience with quality electrical power components leads me to believe that there is no substitute for a hefty transformer in an a heavy duty AC power supply... Now maybe Tesla would have had a different perspective on it had he not been stymied in his lifetime :))
Don
+1 Don :D
The latest versions of the Xantrex Freedom: the Freedom SW 2012 weighs 60 lbs and the Freedom SW 3012 weighs 73 lbs.
If the Inverter is an Inverter/Charger and not just an inverter, going to a smaller version could significantly reduce the charging capacity. For instance, the Xantrex Freedom SW 2012 has a 100 amp charger. The Freedom SW 3012 has a 150 amp charger. I do not know about the Magnum models.
You maybe could use the increased charging capability even though you do not need the increased inverting capability.
For those considering Magnum, don't forget the forum has a commercial member, Alan from Bay Marine, who offers a discount to forum members
Chargers, inverters, and refrigerators (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=22402.0)
I was referencing the Xantrex PROsine 2.0 mentioned by Barry and Cindy.
Thank you. I was simply confirming that the better units are heavy.
How is the new Prosine different ?
We have had the Prosine 2.0 for five years and it works great. It is lighter because it is electronic, not transformer based. All the 'flat' units are electronic, and the 'square' ones have that shape because they have a large transformer inside.
Inverter is 2,000 watts, which works for us as we use our generator for all 'heating' appliances and microwave, when not on shore power. We think that inverters do not like to be run at max ratings and may last longer if not stressed even for minutes.
One nice feature that we use is the fully customizable temperature compensation co-efficient, something Magnum does not offer and most others do not offer. It allowed me to change the charge voltage decrease per battery temperature degree increase, so it closely matches the East Penn recommended chart. Most chargers offer several to many different preset profiles for different battery types but they may not match battery manufacture recommendations, and their custom setting is quite limited. Prosine 2.0 also has many customizable settings for voltage, time etc. to control bulk, absorption & float. Attached is a list of changeable settings.
We also like Magnum and think that if going that way, the higher inverter wattage does not cost that much more and with a greater reserve watts, may keep the inverter load much lower than max rating. But we don't think that transformer is necessarily better than electronic. Basically none of these units, when paying for labor, can be practically repaired.
Had a conversation with the mk batteries staff engineer, Jason, two days ago here in orange county,ca. and after being so well educated here I asked a lot of those kind of questions which he patiently and professionally answered. when I mentioned I did not have a temperature compensating battery charger he suggested that the max charge voltage could be set up to a max of 14.4 but for safety at different temperatures maybe better to leave mine at its 14.15 versus reprogram the link 2000 units settings as temps vary.
Then Jason mentioned that he had had many calls from foretravel owners with non temp compensating non high tech charging profile units that had nine or ten years on their deka 8G8D's from them.
he also mentioned that mk/east penn had changed the batteries internal structure about a year ago and while testing was still being done he stated the changes were intended to double the cycle life of their batteries. something about internal bracing?
probably not critical for our uses probably but he was researching the id numbers on the battery case so as to tell which was which.
my guru buddys 1991 angola prevost conversion with a 24 volt system had two of the four mk 8G8D's still test good after nine years in the bus.
I borrowered the two that tested ok and they worked pretty well.
be interesting to see how long a large capacity well maintained, well regulated, late model set of deka batteries will last.
he said the 4d's had had a similar design change for the longer recycle life.
MS2812. pc