The charger part of my Pro Sign 2.5 has failed (trips the #8 breaker for the converter). I think I would like to replace the pro sign with a stand alone inverter and stand alone charger. Has anyone done this? Searched it and did not really see anything current about doing that.
Thinking I will use the #8 circuit (converter) to power a new charger as I think a stand alone inverter will not need 120 vac converter input power. This might not be a true statement though.
Just started looking at devices.
Would appreciate thoughts/ideas and pros/cons.......
Just replaced my Prosine 2.5 with a Victron 3000. Curious why you want to go with a separate charger and inverter? I guess it would be cheaper to replace only one, if it breaks, but most modern inverter/chargers seem pretty reliable.
+1 on Victron 3000
Amazon shows high percentage of 1 star. To me this is not a resounding approval. Just my observation.
Amazon.com: Victron MultiPlus Compact 12/2000/80-50 120V VE.Bus Inverter... (https://www.amazon.com/Victron-12-2000-80-50-120V/dp/B0053XY8NY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1538493772&sr=8-4&keywords=victron+3000+inverter)
You can get a good deal from Alan at Bay Marine and Supply.
It does have a full 5 year warranty.
The Victron is a less expensive 2400 watt output non ul approved 40 pound inverter charter. Jb inverter service in chino hills,ca and bio benefit inverter service in Costa Mesa ca. have no experience working on these and know of no parts available. My understanding is they are made in India. Company is in Europe.
Magnum is 3000 watts continious ul approved and made in the USA. 52 pound unit. Parts available. Ran across this with recycling pro sines. No parts available.
I do think Alan has any parts or a service place available when I talked to him.
Neither unit is made to be spark free. No reference in the Victron manual about this but is stated in the magnum literature.
If the approvals have changed or the power output was changed please post this.
RVIA requires ul approval for manufacturers.
Read a yacht report where they had mounted the Victron in a gas fueled boats engine compartment. I assume they were unaware that normal inverters are not designed to be spark proof.
Magnum is rated for ambulances. Yes it's 20% or so more money. About the same money more as the rated output power difference.
Pays your money. Takes your chance.
Victron has a color panel available.
If parts were available your pro sine would be fixable
I think the magnum has two cooling fans in its case. 60 amp pass through ac versus 50 amp also
2+ Mine has been running for a year flawlessly ... great product and Allan is a great help!! All my solar is Victron also so when you plan to expand it will come in handy
All Victron here. Solar and Invertor, color control and display.
I wanted a serviceable USA made 3000 watt inverter.
With their me-arc remote I can program the charger to not run the batteries down to 80% SOC before it starts charging.
Can be set for any amount up to 99%. Less battery cycling and wear. Plus if I would happen to be at the bottom end of the 80% SOC then iI am down 135 amp hours before I start.
Both the Victron and the std me-rc remote are not adjustable and both let the batteries drop 20% before starting the bulk charge charge.
I do not think the Victron has a lifeline profile in it and can equalize lifelines. Magnum has both std AGM and lifeline programs and can auto equalize them.
Nice thing about many Victron products, they have remote bluetooth display and control abilities. I can look at current inputs and outputs, read history on my charge controller, and set values from my phone or tablet. No need to run wires from unit into coach. Am waiting for the bluetooth dongle for my Victron inverter/charger. Will be able to do everything from my phone also.
Pretty sure the parameters can be fully programmed in the Victron plus with a dongle.. as goes the Charge controllers also
Maybe I bought a dud?
According to Alan at Bay Marine, [where I buy my Victron stuff] he said dongle for inverter/chargers will be out shortly, have already paid for mine. I do use bluetooth for my charge controller now.
Where did you get the dongle for the inverter/charger?
Normal controller is 80% not adjustable.
Will replace ours (if it fails) with a Magnum 2800. Awesome unit. Our 5th has this Inverter/Charger and a Victron Solar Charge Controller, both are marine duty, I'd feel comfortable with either manufacturer.
Since a inverter has most of the parts of a charger, it is cost effective to just go with a inverter/charger. I looked into it once on a boat install, to do seperates and the cost to benifet ratio was just not there.
My coach is all Victron, put in by PO. My last boat was all Victron put in by me. Good stuff. Well thought out. I usually buy from Peter Kennedy yacht services PKYS (https://shop.pkys.com/Inverter-Chargers_c_30.html) Never felt like I was overcharged. Good people there.
I'm all in with Victron bought from Alan, he is the best!!
Allan (Bay Marine).. 2 months ago.
I can think of only one good reason for a smart charger separate from the inverter:
If operating in Mexico or other places with really bad voltage. Most chargers will work well over a very wide range of input voltages. Use that to charge the battery bank and then your inverter to power appliances that are less tolerant to out of spec voltages.
Do you have the ability to program and monitor your inverter/charger on an app on your smartphone via bluetooth?
Victron VE.BUS Bluetooth Smart dongle (COMING SOON) (https://shop.pkys.com/Victron-VEBUS-Bluetooth-Smart-dongle-COMING-SOON_p_7794.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxbKCyK3q3QIV1LjACh0_SAfrEAQYBCABEgJKofD_BwEf)
If so you must have got one of these early.
I dont have an inverter . I would like to add one( or two) along with adding an additional alternator to run the fridge and maybe one AC unit, while in motion . My basic math shows I need about 20-25amps for the fridge. Is that abut right?
My 2 8D batteries should run the fridge about 10 hrs ?? Will the genset start with 50% charge?
Two smaller pure sine wave inverters make the most financial sense for me just looking at prices .
Still working on the details re the conversion losses and such. Like how many watts per AC and fridge unit. Start peaks etc.
The math is weak @ 12 V but gets a lot better @ 24V .
No mine is the direct connect.. no bluetooth.. Didnt know they had that coming. will need to order me one of those as I have to much stuff connected and cant use the bluetooth on some stuff
Mike, my Samsung residential refrig uses about 70 watts per hour, the JC refrigeration conversion used about 65 watts per hour. Either can run on a smaller high efficiency inverter. They will draw about 6.4 amps from the battery. In 24 hrs that is about 155 amp hrs. My experience tells me that is about 1/2 of your total. So with 2 8Ds you might get 17 hrs in a perfect world. It will be less.
JC-Refrigeration Conversion, Measured Power Consumption (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=35170.0)
Samsung says max load is 6 amps at 120 volts or about 720 watts. This is a very short term peak that you might see at a warm start with the icemaker on. When it is running it is close to 135 watts, idles at less than 10 watts.
You have to check specs on your AC units. They may be 1500 watts running and maybe 2500 watts to start. Running them from an inverter will use 130 amps from your batteries, a big inverter is needed as well as batteries to balance loads and probably a bigger alternator. Peter Flemming did a bunch of work on his coach toward this end. Send him a PM and get some feedback. http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?action=profile;u=2273
It is good stuff, I can go in my kitchen, [coach is in driveway about 30 ft away], open the app on my phone and see my charging status, voltage, SOC etc without going outside. Will be even better with inverter/charger control.
Thanks so much these values ,helps the math a lot!
My gut btu cost says to simply run the genset for any ac . Lp is cheap and fewer conversions to power them
Has anyone used the AIMS brand Inverter/Charger? 3000 Pure Sign Wave.
The specs look good, ETL certified, 2 yr. warranty....and half the price of the Victron..
Just asking....
I can't speak specifically about the 3000w but I've been using an Aims 1200 watt Pure Sign Wave as a dedicated refrigerator inverter for a little over 2 years now. It seems to be very good quality. I've had no issues with it.
Never heard of it before, but Grainger is selling it and if my Xantrex fails the 4,000 watt one would be on my list for a replacement.
Peter Fleming installed an Aims 4000W inverter in his coach with the idea of running one roof air off of it. He has since sold his coach and downsized, but he started several threads on it. I recall that he was pretty happy with it.
Don
"I can't speak specifically about the 3000w but I've been using an Aims 1200 watt Pure Sign Wave as a dedicated refrigerator inverter for a little over 2 years now. It seems to be very good quality. I've had no issues with it."
Bdale , How long does your refer run on batteries and how much battery do you have? TIA< MM
I have 3 Lifeline 8D's, installed in 2011. I usually run my generator for a couple of hours every day to get back up to 90-95% when dry camping. I try not to let the batteries get below about 75% state of charge, measured by my Magnum BMS. Running the generator isn't really a concern for me though, as it is with a lot of people. It's pretty quiet and needs the exercise.
Trying to recharge batteries to 90 % takes a lot of absorption run time.
Run from whatever to 85%. Bulk charge basically
I try to time my generator usage with running the AC in the middle of the day. When AC isn't required, I don't typically achieve 90% charge.
It is always details. The AIMS 3000 watt inverter charger uses 55 watts to be on in a normal mode. The Victron 3000VA Multiplus uses 20 watts. In power saving modes the AIMS uses about22 watss while the Victron uses just 8. The Victron charges at 120 amos max while the AIMS is 100 amps max. A five year warranty for the Victron is a bit more reassuring than the 2 year AIMS warranty. The AIMS is $909 and the Victron is $1427, both much less than the Magnum 2900 watt inverter charger at $1983.
The AIMS inverter charger looks OK. Another choice.
Amazon has the ETL certified one for $757.47. Basically half price of the Victron with respectable specifications. As a frugal Foretravel guy, the AIMS seems like it might be a good choice for us.
Thanks Roger for your NASA quality analysis.
Rick, I think that will be a good choice. Be sure to get the battery temperature connection and probably a remote control/display. You may need to do some wiring changes for the higher inverter output. Check the wiring requirements.
A 12 pound digital inverter versus a transformer 52 pound machine might be involved in the price difference?
What testing was done? I prefer made in USA serviceable electronic equipment myself but less expensive seems to be among the guiding points anymore about electrical components.
I do understand frugal.
The better equipment seems to last longer? Least expansive per cycle is east penn batteries but I see the less expensive at purchase seems to govern the posts mostly.
Too many constant hassles with batteries and chargers 30 years ago for me to go back there again. Rather sell the coach.
Broke I understand. Short term use great. For long term? No way.