(From a previous write up on inverters)
Disclaimer:
I am not pitching for any brand name anything. The purpose of this thread is to share some info regarding the inverters I currently have within my off-grid system. -Duh
There are 5 inverters in the system. Each one can be engaged with some simple switching. In no particular order are the inverters (all are 12 volt input):
-1 PowerBright 1500 watt (pure sine wave)
-1 Magnum Energy MS2812 (pure sine wave)
-1 Trace SW2512MC (pure sine wave)
-2 Trace DR Series 2412 (modified sine wave)
The drill down:
-1 PowerBright 1500 watt pure sine wave:
--Inexpensive, lightweight, takes care of small jobs which is about 95% of electrical needs. It is the noisiest of the lot, mainly because the two cooling fans run alot even with small loads. Small power fluctuation (116-120v) and hold upwards of 62hz. Problems - none. Time in service - 3.4 years.
-1 Magnum Energy MS2812:
--Cost more than the PowerBright but not quite as much as the units below. Heavy, but managable weight for mounting. Will take care of any job I've given it. Cooling fan seldom comes on. Nice soft touch display. Quietest of all 5, nearly impossible to hear it running. Holds a very tight 120 volts at 60 - 60.5 hz. Problems: 2, Each time it was fully covered by the manufacturer including shipping both ways. Time in Service: 3.4 years.
-1 Trace SW2512MC:
--Cost the most of any in my system. It's an absolute pig - impressive to look at but incredibly heavy for size - dead weight. Will handle anything I can give it. Not as quiet as the Magnum - it buzzes like the DR Series. I've yet to hear the cooling fan run, or to feel any heat from it. Holds a very tight 120 volts at 61 hz. Too bad it doesn't have the display of the Magnum. Problems - none. Time in service: 1.4 years.
-2 Trace DR Series 2412
--2nd most expensive inverters in the system because they are as a pair. They are heavy and likely indestructible for the most part. These have survived two lightning strikes which actually raised cane with the flip-flops and kicked some lights (resetting inverters made everything normal in seconds.) They are noisy - they buzz and can be heard on the phone even with a Radioshack in-line noise supressor. Compact flourescents, motors, etc, all run hotter when using these. Although modified sinewave, they hold a tight 120 volts at 60hz. A couple of items will not accept their output, most notably is a back-up computerized heater (goes right into error). These make excellent backup inverters should all else fail. Problems - nothing a reset didn't cure. Time in service - 4.4 years.
There were three other inverters that I didn't include in the list simply because they were garbage and didn't survive. It gave me great pleasure to take to the dump these:
-1 Coleman portable 400 watt modified sinewave inverter.
-1 Samlex 1000 watt pure sinewave inverter.
-1 Revived 80 lb Rescue Squad 1500 watt inverter that put out a waveform that only an incandescent bulb would like.
-Duh
P.S. for reference, click on the links below for pictures (750k, can be enlarged for clarity):
http://diesel-bike.com/System/Inverters/Powerbright.JPGhttp://diesel-bike.com/System/Inverters/Magnum_MS2812.JPGhttp://diesel-bike.com/System/Inverters/Trace2512MC.JPGhttp://diesel-bike.com/System/Inverters/DR2412_panel.JPG