Outback IC

2oldman wrote:


This amazing product should arrive this week. I'm tired of replacing inverters every 5 years. At 61 pounds I'll leave it on the basement floor.

Cotek inverter just up an died on me. It runs for about an hour, then just quits with no led indication. I took it apart and found nothing untoward.

Outback makes really quality stuff. I've had their 60a solar charger for years now without a hiccup.

Hey where did you get it from? I am looking for a VFXR 2612 for my work truck.

First complaint is no smartphone app. they want you to buy their $450 separate panel. Ugh.

Just got it installed. Was a bit of a head-scratcher to get the inverter on, but I finally figured out the jumper thing.

Got the a/c running now. After a couple minutes the inverter is quiet, cool, and the fan hasn't even come on.

There are basically two ways to build an inverter

Method 1
Convert the input voltage to a high (40-100 KHz) square wave (cheap and easy) and run that through multiple small transformers in parallel (cheaper than one big one). Convert this square wave back to DC, use that to power a (typically Class D) amplifier that is feed with a sine wave.

Method 2
Use the input voltage to power a (typically Class D) amplifier that is feed with a sine wave. This amplifier must be very powerful because the output is feed into a LARGE transformer which kicks it up to the desired AC output voltage.

I don't understand why, but Method 2 seems to result in a much more "robust" piece of equipment.

Additional comments. A microprocessor is required to monitor "what's going on", run display panels, turn fans on and off, etc, etc. Fuses are a joke on inverters ! Fuse are SLOW compared with say one transistor dying. There is no way they can shutdown power before that one transistor takes out a dozen more and several other chips. Fuse are there to make you "feel good".

KD4UPL wrote:
I've been using and installing Outback inverters for 14 years. Most have never needed repair.

That's good to know, thank you.

Administration and engineering that takes fierce pride in their work is the envy of the world. No one except perhaps the British and the Krauts, have such and attitude. Caterpillar decades ago became disgusted with fasteners and batteries so they branded their own.

Japan, India, and Korea all make their own heavy construction equipment. Come to Mexico and ask companies why they insist on Caterpillar and you will hear an earfull.

We can manufacture the best stuff on earth, bar none. Little old me, takes a power supply apart and upgrades some parts and ends up with something damned near blowup proof. The upgraded 55 amp Megawatt laughs at overloading to the point of absurdity. My real thoughts about a good power supply would give it status worthy of intelligence. There is NO WAY I would think about building a hands off SMART CONVERTER because

IT

CAN'T

BE

DONE

without extensive sensors and a central processor, for an off-grid or boondocking battery system. A lazy person is one of the most illogical things on the face of the earth.

I've been using and installing Outback inverters for 14 years. Most have never needed repair. The nice thing about the FX series is that you can repair them. They basically consist of 3 circuit boards and the big heavy transformer.
I've got 8 used ones in my shop right now that I traded in on a new Outback Radian. I went thru the old FX models, replaced the bad parts, and have them listed for sale now. Hopefully I'll make some money on the endeavor.
My entire house (except the heat pump, dryer, water heater) is backed-up by 2 VFX3648 inverters. They are 13 years old and never given a single problem.

..

GordonThree wrote:
If they're using an old school "analog" or hybrid design, the transformer is the main inductor for stepping up low voltage to high (inverting) and stepping down high voltage to low (for charging)

Inverting is actually converting from DC to AC current. The transformer does not "invert," it steps up or down voltage.

When shopping for this, I came across a Samlex for 2 grand new on Amazon. "Used" units were going for $500, which was, of course, tempting.

At his request, I emailed the 'used' seller prior to ordering. He said these were new in the box. Of course I had to ask, if they were new in the box, why were you selling them for 1/4 of the new price, and why were you advertising them as used?

No response. I guess even Amazon isn't immune from scam advertising.