List of “good” inverters please

[Sea Word]

I’ve a,ways used xantrex inverters because they are true sine wave, quality units with low parasitic draw. But, I’m sure they aren’t the only ones. What are some other trusted brands or models? I’m looking to pick up a used 2500 watt unit. dont care if it has charging ability because we won’t often see shore power and I’m installing a large solar setup.

[Larry M]

A good, used 2500 watt inverter maybe hard to find. If I had to recommend an inverter, it would be an OutBack. They're field serviceable, OutBack also has a MPTT controller that integrates well and they are a local company for you. We have one of their inverter/chargers for 12 years and it's still supported.

Inverter / Chargers - OutBack Power Inc

[DavidM]

Some other good brands: Victron, Mastervolt, Magnum.


David

[Ken E.]

Another Magnum vote.

[DDW]

If you are looking for low idle current draw, Mastervolt and Victron are about the only choices. I hate the Magnum I put in my RV: it has very high idle current draw, hums like a Las Vegas call girl, and the battery monitor does not monitor the battery.

[sunchaser]

The best inverter is one that is installed correctly. A search on the Internet will find really good new unit deals. The charger portion may prove important, and a quite cheap addition.

Ben Ellison, Panbo, has a good site to check out for the minutiae on brand differentiation. We use a Magnum 2800. Great PNW support, only needed it once.

[psneeld]

Promariner

[Seevee]

Did a lot of research before I bough a Magnum 2800, and am very happy with it. It works very well, no issues and Magnum support is excellent for setting up, tweaking etc.

While it wasn't impossible for me to install, I hired an ABYC guy to do it. I did some of the grunt work.

Victron was also high on the list. Xantrex was clearly on the bottom with way too many complaints and failures.

[Ken E.]

Originally Posted by DDW

....hums like a Las Vegas call girl....

Years ago I had a girlfriend from Las Vegas, and she was something of an inverter as I recall.

[diver dave]

Are radio emissions tolerable on these noted good? HF/SSB and VHF would be good to know.

[Ventana]

Xantrex, especially back when they used to be Statpower, used to have good equipment, but I have noticed more and more failures. Heart Interface and/or Freedom are all under that same Xantrex name now.
Mastervolt is high quality, with a price tag to match.
Magnum had some issues but did well on taking care of customers. Better pricing than Mastervolt.
Outback has good quality and is the only one I know that offers a sealed, semi-watertight unit.
Victron is good quality, decent pricing, and they are finally expanding their distribution so they are getting easier to find. We are replacing an old Heart/Freedom unit with a Victron.
If you just need an inverter with no charger, I would be tempted to buy something off Amazon with a recognizable name, I've seen Duracell and Tripplite to name a couple. You could probably get two and have a spare for the price of any of the names I mentioned.

[OldDan1943]

The new Xantrex2 charger has the ability to be 'stacked'. If you buy a 40amp and need more, just add another 40 amp charger. I do not know if stack them at different output, ie a 40 and an 80amp charger.
I have a Xantrex charger and a separate Xantrex 1800 watt inverter.
With the Xantrex inverter, you can shut off the parasitic drain. Dont ask me how. I did it and promptly forgot how. I turn the inverter on and off manually.

[Larry M]

Originally Posted by diver dave

Are radio emissions tolerable on these noted good? HF/SSB and VHF would be good to know.

VHF is no problem but we had to shut off the inverters (OutBack and Freedom) to listen/use the HF radio. We would also have to shut off the refrigeration. Lena and I have both been net controllers on HF radio nets. You could always tell when someone was broadcasting when the inverter or refer was on. When people complained they couldn’t hear us, reception always improved when they shut their inverter off. Halogen lights also caused interference.

[Drake]

Originally Posted by Seevee

Did a lot of research before I bough a Magnum 2800, and am very happy with it. It works very well, no issues and Magnum support is excellent for setting up, tweaking etc.

While it wasn't impossible for me to install, I hired an ABYC guy to do it. I did some of the grunt work.

Victron was also high on the list. Xantrex was clearly on the bottom with way too many complaints and failures.

X2. Exactly our experience on all counts.

[DavidM]

Originally Posted by Stripper

If you just need an inverter with no charger, I would be tempted to buy something off Amazon with a recognizable name, I've seen Duracell and Tripplite to name a couple. You could probably get two and have a spare for the price of any of the names I mentioned.

Tripplite used to be a good brand but I think that a Chinese company bought the name and now maybe just so so.

A good friend bought a Tripplite inverter/charger for 1/3 of what a Victron costs. It worked fine for a couple of years (except for high idle current) and then failed.

So you can't necessarily trust the old names.

David

[diver dave]

Originally Posted by Larry M

VHF is no problem but we had to shut off the inverters (OutBack and Freedom) to listen/use the HF radio. We would also have to shut off the refrigeration. Lena and I have both been net controllers on HF radio nets. You could always tell when someone was broadcasting when the inverter or refer was on. When people complained they couldn’t hear us, reception always improved when they shut their inverter off. Halogen lights also caused interference.

Good input, thanks. 12V halogens were trouble? Must have had dimmers?

[ranger42c]

Originally Posted by psneeld

Promariner

And presumably ProMariner's Sterling cousins; same products.

-Chris

[Wil]

I have a (PO) Xantrex FSW2012 (full sine wave, 2Kw AC output, 100A charge) that's sort of ok, has issues (that's another thread), considering an upgrade. Good thread.

[caltexflanc]

Originally Posted by DDW

If you are looking for low idle current draw, Mastervolt and Victron are about the only choices. I hate the Magnum I put in my RV: it has very high idle current draw, hums like a Las Vegas call girl, and the battery monitor does not monitor the battery.

This is completely counter to my own years of very intensive experience with a Magnum MS4024 inverter, BMK battery monitor kit and auto generator start. I wonder what specific models are being discussed? I would specify Magnum in a heartbeat next time around. Liked the made and supported in USA, plus field serviceable aspect too, like Outback which would be my second choice. Not that I'd float test a Victron or Mastervolt if a boat already had them.

[foggysail]

Been the Xantrex route, worked very well until it did not. I use a 3.5KW true sine wave purchased on Ebay for about$250 or so. I let it run 24/7 primarily to ensure my fridge will always be powered. One thing buyers of inexpensive inverters sold on Ebay should be aware of is they are listed for vehicle use........at least those I have seen. This subtlety means that the grounding conductor (green wire) and the grounded conductor cannot be connected together at the boat’s electrical load center while the boat is connected to shore power. The shore power load center bonds those connectors together by code.

OK, so I have isolated the normal grounded connector on the inverter which works just fine. Yeah I know, not recommended. This year I am going to see if I can find a 1:1 isolation transformer to isolate the inverter/electrical system from this condition. More on that later in a different thread.