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Recommended replacement for Heart Freedom 25 Inverter / charger

September 22, 2016, 07:45:32 pm

It would appear that after only 23 years my Heart Freedom 25 has reached the end of the trail .  I would have to think that many of you have already gone thru the evaluation and replacement process and I would like to take advantage of your experiences.  I've never experienced any issues with the modified sine wave causing any problems with the electrical equipment in my coach ( 1995 U300).  Would appreciate hearing from owners who have gone thru this process already. What did you select and why. Installation issues. Cost and overall satisfaction with your new unit.

Thanks again, in advance, for sharing the benefits of your experience.

Jon 

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Re: Recommended replacement for Heart Freedom 25 Inverter / charger

Reply #1 – September 22, 2016, 08:03:43 pm

Little more money, but Outback makes the best. Great support  and easy to use remotes.Outback Power Inc. - Mobile Inverter/Chargers Vented VFX3232M

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Re: Recommended replacement for Heart Freedom 25 Inverter / charger

Reply #2 – September 22, 2016, 08:17:08 pm

And yet there are still other answers needed.

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Re: Recommended replacement for Heart Freedom 25 Inverter / charger

Reply #3 – September 22, 2016, 08:20:57 pm

My Freedom 458 ate 2 Cuisinart coffee makers before I found out about modified sine wave and electronics. It never bothered old Mr. Coffee. bought a Xantrex 3012 and couldn't be happier. Downside to installation is it takes Cat 5 cable instead of the old phone line. Cut the ends off phone line and pulled the Cat cable with it, and then put ends on Cat cable.

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Re: Recommended replacement for Heart Freedom 25 Inverter / charger

Reply #4 – September 22, 2016, 08:54:12 pm

I just purchased a Victronics Multi 3000 pure sign wave and color controller.  Haven't finished installation.  Good specs but pricey.

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Re: Recommended replacement for Heart Freedom 25 Inverter / charger

Reply #5 – September 22, 2016, 09:17:03 pm

I put in a Magnum 2812 and new controller, pure sine.  Remember it was about $1800, plus I bought 2 new 5' power supply cables for about another $100.  Install was just sort of a pain, as the unit is about 65#, and sits in a hidden center recess forward of my big bay and cargo slides.  Help desk at Magnum explained I was fortunate to have a Foretravel, as it was a simple upgrade to an already well thought out and planned electrical system.

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Re: Recommended replacement for Heart Freedom 25 Inverter / charger

Reply #6 – September 22, 2016, 09:34:36 pm

X2 on Magnum MS2812.  I'm not claiming it's better than other pure sine inverters...just that it works great for us.  I leave the inverter and the battery charger turned on all the time - the transition from one to the other is seemingly instantaneous.  It also plays nice with our solar controllers, and vice versa.

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Re: Recommended replacement for Heart Freedom 25 Inverter / charger

Reply #7 – September 22, 2016, 10:34:47 pm

+ Magnum 2812.  Easy to install.  With ARC 50 remote.  😃

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Re: Recommended replacement for Heart Freedom 25 Inverter / charger

Reply #8 – September 22, 2016, 11:56:07 pm

I also chose the Magnum 2812.  The ARC remote, battery monitor kit & automatic generator start are all good upgrades that can be done up front or later.  I've been happy with this setup but I would strongly consider the new Hybrid version if I was doing it now.  That wasn't available when I bought the 2812.

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Re: Recommended replacement for Heart Freedom 25 Inverter / charger

Reply #9 – September 23, 2016, 11:14:02 am

The Magnum MS2812 with the ME-ARC (not the ME-RC) remote panel is a very good choice and often an almost direct fit to the Heart.  The original existing Heart remote cable is a plug n play for the Magnum, so no new remote cable needs to be run.

There are many postings about installing this model Magnum Energy inverter/charger on BeamAlarm.com and this forum.

I am not a believer that the Magnum Hybrid model has much of an application in our coaches, as it will only allow the inverter to supplement low amperage shore or generator, and it adds a bit of more complexity to the system.  Our generators have enough amperage for all our needs and when on low amperage shore, we just manage our loads.  Besides our house battery bank just does not have enough power to run high amperage inverter loads for very long without the need to be recharged.

Our generators need to be used and will do a better job for high demands then our inverter.  We never run any high amp stuff on inverter, and our generator is used for microwave, heaters, hair dryer, toaster, etc.  Our inverter is never turned off and does a great job for house-refrigerator, TV, DVR, computers, 120-volt lights etc.

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Re: Recommended replacement for Heart Freedom 25 Inverter / charger

Reply #10 – October 01, 2016, 10:15:15 am

Jon,

What did you end up going with??

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Re: Recommended replacement for Heart Freedom 25 Inverter / charger

Reply #11 – October 01, 2016, 10:41:04 am

Jon if you haven't purchased here is a review from a good source of the Victron Multi Boosted Electrons: The Victron MultiPlus Inverter | Technomadia

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Re: Recommended replacement for Heart Freedom 25 Inverter / charger

Reply #12 – October 01, 2016, 10:55:58 am

Thumbs up for Victron products.  (Sterling too).  Available from Alan (a forum member) at Bay Marine Supply.

Victron MultiPlus 12 Volt / 3000 VA / 120 Amp Pure Sine Wave Inverter/Charger

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Re: Recommended replacement for Heart Freedom 25 Inverter / charger

Reply #13 – October 01, 2016, 12:29:53 pm

I would sell the Freedom 25 inverter/battery charger from my 1996 Foretravel U320. It is a triple step wave inverter rated at 45% THD (I scoped it to see) which works perfectly. This is a decent, reliable inverter/converter, which was quite expensive in 1996 and would just plug in where your failed unit is. I replaced it with a Xantrex 1800 "pure sign" inverter with THD of 3% and an IOTA 55 amp solid state converter. Having an inverter which is seperate from the converter allows me to use both simultaneously. Then,  the appliances in my coach operate like the shore power is 30 amp when it is only 15 amp, or like 45 amp when it is only 30 amp.

If you choose to replace, I recommend a 2000 watt "pure sign" inverter (with Total Harmonic Distortion under 8%) because a 2000 watt inverter will run any AC appliance that can be plugged into a wall socket while never drawing more than 180 amps from your deep cycle coach batteries. This does mean that you must manage your power used or blow breakers. Be aware that drawing 3000 watts from an inverter will result in 270 amps in your battery cables feeding the inverter.   

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Re: Recommended replacement for Heart Freedom 25 Inverter / charger

Reply #14 – October 01, 2016, 12:44:08 pm

Another vote for the Magnum 2812. I also had a Outback and although it was a great inverter, it did not have the flexibility in the settings as the Magnum has with the ARC 50 remote.

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