Hi,Edit: Some one has suggested I'm trying to bash a particular make. Far from it--I'm trying to get valid information to help me make a decision. It will cost over $1000.00 for what I hope to own, and for me that is a lot of money.I'm starting to get serious about a replacement for my MSW inverter. I was asking about how long the surge value could be supported and whether they provide parts service, post warranty.Here is the reply to an inquiry about Go Power inverters:"Hello Don, Our inverters cannot be stacked together. Most surges will last only half a second when the desired appliance is started to run off the inverter. We do not have a licensed repair shop if our inverter was to have an issue past warranty. It would be up to the customer to source a reliable electrical repair shop to fix the inverter. We do not sell any spare parts for repairs. Any further questions please don't hesitate to let me know." This more or less removes Go Power from my considerations.

I don't know who makes their inverters, but they get their converters from PowerMax now instead of Iota like they used to. You would need to find a company that makes their own that would be able to repair them. Usually not economical--toss and replace with a new one is cheaper. They don't cost much these days anyway. Just wait for the next CanTire flyer to see which of their line-up is up for rotation to be on sale each week until the one you want is. (most are Xantrex built) I think the 3000w MSW is on sale now.http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/motomaster-3000w-power-outlet-and-inverter-0111846p.htmlWhat's wrong with the Cobra? My five year old Vector 2000w is still going strong. Easy to replace at today's prices if it ever breaks.

Standalone inverters all seem to suck wrt after warranty repair. It seems all the good stuff goes to the inverter/chargers. Mastervolt makes some standalone PSW inverters. Biggest 12V is 1800VA (2000VA for 30 sec) with a 4000VA surge. In order to get a larger capacity unit, you have to get the 24V version (2000VA, 5000VA surge). Might be worth looking into.EDIT: Why won't you consider an inverter/charger and just simply not use the transfer switch? You could even disable the charger and use it as a backup when you need it. If I were going that route I wouldn't use the built in TS anyways because none of them can pass 50A shore power (except the Victron 5kVA unit I think) and I would want it hooked up whole house anyways.

Sometimes it depends on the inverter size and cost.... Now MSW inverters up to around 1,000 watts, last time I priced them (NOTE these are stand alone not inverter/converters with power pass through) cost less than one hour of technician's time to fix them... SO.. Repair involves a trash can.TRUE SINE WAVE inverters of similar size are worth the repair but if you get a smaller one (Say 300-600 watts) it very quickly gets iffy.SO bear in mind that anything electronic less than 150 dollars is very likely not worth repairing.

Trip lite makes some pure sine wave invertersThey are big heavy and have transformers,. Just like the MSW versionsThe also have surge ratings in SECONDS not micro SECONDS IIRC my pv 1250 will carry 2500 watts for 10 seconds1875 watts for 60 minutes

I don't think it's cost-effective these days to repair one.

go power and samlex inverters | Good Sam Community

time2roll
Nomad
Dec 31, 2013
Instead of putting all your money in one basket... get a 1000w to run the carpet and small items and a 1800/2000w for the induction or microwave. Lower idle current also.

I am just thinking your inverter list will be very short given the criteria. Two separate inverters would keep you going during failure. And spread out the cost vs having the big one go.

The loads posted don't have any major surge at start up. I would not plan to run an inverter over rating. Just the air conditioner will have a surge and should be handled easily with 1800+ watts rated.
2oldman
Explorer II
Dec 31, 2013
pianotuna wrote:
Running the magic carpet heated flooring is going to be 750 watts. I was given an induction cooker for Christmas--1300 watts. Microwave 1591 watts. I tend to run my RV 100% electrically as much as I possibly can. Water heater is another 1200 watt load.
Water heater? Wow.

How many tons of batteries will you be hauling around?
greenrvgreen
Explorer
Dec 31, 2013
Might want to ask Peukert what he thinks of drawing 4000 watts from ANY battery bank. Not just more battery capacity (IIRC you have 900 now), but DOUBLE 4/0 wires to the inverters.

OP can safely forget "cheap". Above 2kw the inverter offerings seem to get a little hinky. Oldman's suggestion of two Prosines is a good one, if you can majke use of 240v, the only way you can stack them. Otherwise, you are in the land of Victron. Thank you for testing!
Shadow_Catcher
Explorer
Dec 31, 2013
Were I to be in the market I would consider a http://magnumenergy.com designed made and serviced in the US.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Dec 31, 2013
Hi BFL13,

I resemble that comment (it was warm in the jail). And I'll come and plug in on the island--if you think you can find 3 outlets for me.
BFL13
Explorer II
Dec 31, 2013
mena661 wrote:
"PT" is my secret test facility for my future all-electric rig (and by all-electric I mean ALL 120V electric). :B

Last I heard, they just let him out of jail after Xmas where he had been kept for unplugging the Xmas tree in front of City Hall and plugging in his RV instead.
mena661
Explorer
Dec 31, 2013
"PT" is my secret test facility for my future all-electric rig (and by all-electric I mean ALL 120V electric). :B
pianotuna
Nomad III
Dec 30, 2013
Hi,

Running the magic carpet heated flooring is going to be 750 watts. I was given an induction cooker for Christmas--1300 watts. Microwave 1591 watts. I tend to run my RV 100% electrically as much as I possibly can. Water heater is another 1200 watt load.

I have, in the past, run my air conditioner on the Cobra MSW--but I'm not comfortable doing so. The dash air really doesn't do much for the living quarters in summer time. I'd prefer to use the inverter rather than the generator, if possible.

I can see adding another alternator in my future.

2oldman wrote:
May I ask why you'd need such a whopping lot of power for?
BFL13
Explorer II
Dec 30, 2013
Always a good argument between cheap and nasty and expensive quality.

In the case of RVing we are not orbiting in Space depending on each little gizmo for life itself. With the cheap equipment we have that breaks, we have redundancy so we can keep camping and not have to go home early. Once home we just get a new replacement gizmo. No big deal.

We don't need super high quality never fail equipment for what we do, so why pay for it? Be crazy.

In fact, the cheap and nasty stuff seems to do quite well. Got some things that last years and years, while others only last weeks. It might be that if it will break it will fairly soon after being put in use, so the one year warranty is fine and you get that anyway.

It is a pretty good system in actual fact. (for us RVers--pretty tough business to be in for making a living though)
pianotuna
Nomad III
Dec 30, 2013
Hi,

Tripp Lite don't make a stackable product--and their largest unit is 3000 pwm sine wave. (I think that translates to msw?)

I think their largest psw is 2000 watts--they were kind enough to phone me.

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