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rhianna's avatar
rhianna
Explorer
Oct 03, 2017

Inverter-converter/charger

We have a 2004 Monaco Diplomat. For the past year we seem to have had a problem with our Zantrex Freedom 458 MSW 2000W inverter charger. The builtin breakers would cut off at odd times. A few clicks and we could get them to come back on, so we knew they were failing. Today they went off and won't come back on. In the mean time our Norcold fridge bit the dust and we replaced it with a domestic Samsung, which I really love. We also have 4-100W solar panels on our roof which came with a 2000W PSW inverter which we were planning on using for the new fridge to protect the electronics in the new fridg, and 4 more 100W panels we recieved yesterday and plan on installing soon. Now with the Xantrex Frreedon 458 MSW 2000W biting the dust we are looking for a new inverter/converter/charger with PSW. We are looking at two different ones, the 815-2012 Xantrex Freedon SW 2012-12V, 2000W inverter-charger for around $1600 and the Aimes Power PSW 2000W 12V inverter-converter/charger for $600. We have never heard of Aimes but the reviews are generally good. The PSW inverter-converter/chargers do not have breakers built in so we will have to install seperate breakers and when we install the new panels we will need a bigger controler. Do any of you electonic experts have any experience with the Aimes inverter-converter/charger or any advice about installing?
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  • Artum_Snowbird's avatar
    Artum_Snowbird
    Explorer
    Oct 03, 2017
    Before you spend a load of money like that you have to justify it. If the built in breakers cut out at odd times, are you talking about heavy load breakers, or what ones.

    What would be the common elements in this setup that could cause breakers to trip? There are only a few, and you might have a loose connection in either the main positive feed to the unit, or the main negative feed out of the unit.

    A loose connection acts just like a load and adds resistance to the circuit. That also adds heat to the wiring.

    One easy check it to get one of those digital laser thermometers and point it around where wires make connections into terminal strips or onto batteries. Get lots of things going, the faulty breakers should be heavily loaded, and try to find a hot spot. You might just find the cause of your tripping.
  • pianotuna's avatar
    pianotuna
    Nomad III
    Oct 03, 2017
    Aims is a bottom of the barrel product.

    I suggest you look at a Magnum 3012 hybrid inverter charger. Imarine sells them at a great price.

    Why hybrid? Because it can do load assist for those times when there is only 15 amp shore power. I.E. I can plug into 15 amp 1800 watt shore power--but still use 3000 watts without tripping the shore power breaker. You do have to get a remote to access the load support feature.

    http://www.imarineusa.com/MagnumEnergyMSH3012M.aspx

    Victron and Outback make similar hybrid inverter/chargers.

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