Forum Discussion
- MEXICOWANDERERExplorerMost of the most talented TRACE engineers went to OUTBACK. A couple jr grades went to Magnum. Back in the day TRACE utterly dominated the inverter market. Hart Fartinyourface did not stand a chance.
I correctly wired a customer's FIYF inverter, twisted the switch and smoke rolled out. After that I refused to go near the. Simoke answer the unit was like Chinese krap today -- loaded onto a pallet without factory proofing. - pianotunaNomad IIIMex,
Under the current administration they no longer export. They dump the waste into streams and rivers.
My reason for picking Victron is simple. The Magnum has 120 volt cooling fans. If you turn it off after it has been running a heavy load, there is no cooling. Then the insides catch on fire. I have the scorch marks on the wall to prove this.
I do not know if Victron uses 120 volt cooling fans, but I sure won't recommend Magnum. To be fair they did replace the unit. Leaving me to be CAREFUL how I use the thing. - MEXICOWANDERERExplorerThe reason I am so sensitive about chew & spit is that for 30 years I remanufactured alternators and when I was finished with one, it performed like brand new and had superior bearings, brushes, and electronic components. Not in the league of velcro and wingnut junk that had stickers "Warranty Void If Battery Not Fully Recharged Before Use"
I am damned near ready to start pushing for a constitutional amendment that would forbid the importation or domestic manufacture of electrical and electronic components that prohibited the repair or remanufacture.
It does not mean settling for thrift store grade products. Housings, mechanicals, circuit boards can be modulized. Refurbished to look and work like new.
This would create an enormous amount of jobs well above "Burger Flipper" levels. Transformers, circuit boards, all domestically produced and it would salvage the 99% still-good waste of components. - MEXICOWANDERERExplorerA neatly laid out and soldered circuit board is not a hallmark of quality. It is the origin of FETs and rectifiers, adequate choke capacity and heatsink area.
Transformer inverters stress their solid state components about a tenth as much as much as high frequency inverters. It is the nature of the animal. Old fashioned regulated wall warts seemingly last forever because they use a transformer not chopping to change voltage. There are unregulated all warts so be careful as you comment on this...
I have a 400 amp 30 volt ferroresonant charger that has endured 25 years of grueling usage. It would be absurd to think or assume a high frequency charger could vie for competition.
Chew & Spit. About as green as the basement of an outhouse. An inverter, a good inverter can be transferred from rig to rig. It has no "tread wearout" and never needs it's oil changed.
If you knew the truth about what happens to electronic components that are "recycled" your hair would stand up on end. They are exported then BURIED. And world resources continue to be plundered.
My ash tray is full -- crush the car... - MrWizardModeratorYes I do
When it comes to batteries, chargers, inverters
There is no substitutes for copper and iron, for some jobs - pianotunaNomad IIIHi,
I wouldn't do Magnum. I would pick Victron.allen8106 wrote:
If you are going to upgrade I sure wouldn't use Xantrex, I would go with Magnum. - When my Prosine 1800 was done it was well done. All the main components looked heat stressed with discoloration.
- liborkoExplorerMy Prosine 2.0 I installed in 2006 works flawlessly. In all fairness I repaired(resoldered) remote twice since then but did not have to replace anything. In my view Xantrex products are well made(I have seen inside of all of the ones I own). I have few of them.
- MEXICOWANDERERExplorerI took a few Xantrex inverters apart. I was not impressed. Their high frequency inverters are garbage just like the worst of the worst Great Wall chew and spit inverters on eBay or Harbor Freight. Larger junk does not mean better junk.
When Xantrex purchased Trace, all the senior management ran like hell. Senior management meant foreman as well. Maybe the custodians stayed on? Chinese use 100 volt rated devices. USA made stuff may have 200 volt rated or higher.
Xantrex is excellent
For hurling at howling dogs. - allen8106ExplorerIf you are going to upgrade I sure wouldn't use Xantrex, I would go with Magnum.
About Technical Issues
Having RV issues? Connect with others who have been in your shoes.24,208 PostsLatest Activity: Feb 25, 2025