Xantrex vs Magnum

[rickhise]

Seriously considering switching to Magnum
after 10 plus years with xantrex 2000
Modified sine

To a Magnum 2812. I have a bank of 6 inter state wet cell 6 volt golf cart
Batts. Your thought s

[Groover]

GordonThree wrote:
I have the 2812, and while it works well, I would not buy it again. Mine is six years old at this point.

Mainly my gripe is 12v. I should have studied more and went with a higher voltage on the battery bank. The biggest issue is the difference between full and "empty". On a 12v system that's only 0.8 volts, not much margin. On a 48v system you have 3.2 volt difference to work with.

Victron has more bells and whistles, not sure what improvements they offer.

I have been looking at putting a 48V Victron in my motorhome with storage provided by used Tesla battery packs. My main hangups getting 48V power on the road for recharging and supplying enough 12V power while stopped to run the those appliances. Do you have some suggests there?

Both the main motor and the generator start off of 12V so I want to keep some redundancy there to be sure that I don't get stranded someday.

[Planning]

pianotuna wrote:
Yes both companies do. But there may be a significant price jump.

I was budgeting somewhere between $800-$1200 (US) for the item, when and if it is needed.

I selected the current one based upon online research, but I always hope for those with expertise over my own lack thereof.

[pianotuna]

Yes both companies do. But there may be a significant price jump.

[Planning]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi Planning,

2000 watts is "over kill" for running a residential fridge. I doubt the Magnum will fail.

Yes, I knew when I specified the size it was larger than needed. The one thing I like about overkill is that it always kills :C

I am thankful for your confidence in the robustness of it.

I would prefer to stay at the 2000w capability, with the same features as the existing (remote monitor panel, integral transfer switching, A/C pass through, etc).

Do those companies make comparable models with that feature package?

[pianotuna]

Hi Planning,

2000 watts is "over kill" for running a residential fridge. I doubt the Magnum will fail.

1000 watts should be just fine. Samlex is a good name. https://www.amazon.com/Samlex-SSW-1000-12A-1000-watt-Pure-Inverter/dp/B004OU8UK4/ref=sr_1_8?crid=1W2...

Victron makes a nice 1200 watt PSW unit: https://www.amazon.com/Victron-Energy-Inverter-Phoenix-1200W/dp/B07P7RNRJ5/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=victr...

[Planning]

KD4UPL wrote:
Magnum is a solid unit but probably on the lower end as far as features.

Sir,

We do not boondock whatsoever; we travel from pedestal-to-pedestal, (and remove batteries place on a Deltran battery tender during the winter.)

The RV uses a Progressive 9280 with integral "Charge wizard" for battery charging.

We currently operate using a Magnum CSW2012-X Pure Sine Wave Inverter
(2000W) with remote monitor. Thus far it has worked flawlessly; it is used for the residential reefer while driving. It is not a battery charger type inverter.

My question is, in the event of inverter failure/replacement needed, do you have any recommendations for a similarly sized/featured pure sine inverter (inverter only, no battery charging needed)?

(I prefer to perform my research before a need arises.)

[pianotuna]

Hi,

Hybrid does not refer to charging from solar panels. Nor does it mean it is an inverter/charger--but all hybrids would be inverter chargers.

allen8106 wrote:
I have one of the smaller hybrid Magnums and love it. Hybrid means it's a Charger/Inverter. they are designed to charge the batteries from solar panels or from the electrical grid.

[Itinerant1]

allen8106 wrote:
I have one of the smaller hybrid Magnums and love it. Hybrid means it's a Charger/Inverter. they are designed to charge the batteries from solar panels or from the electrical grid.

From the Magnum manual:

Why is the MSH-M Series a “Hybrid”? Most inverters only use one source of energy to power the inverter loads—either from the incoming AC power (i.e., shorepower or generator) or from the batteries. The MSH-M Series combines the energy from both the AC input and the batteries to power the inverter loads. This feature gives the inverter the ability to recharge the battery when there is surplus power, or to deliver more power to the loads if they require more than the AC input can supply by itself.

[allen8106]

I have one of the smaller hybrid Magnums and love it. Hybrid means it's a Charger/Inverter. they are designed to charge the batteries from solar panels or from the electrical grid.

[pianotuna]

GordonThree,

KD4UPL said low end on features--not on quality. He fixes inverters and the like so has a better idea than most of us about what parts are inside.

The fact he has not seen a Victron and loves Outback is to be listened to.

I think Victron is far older than Magnum. Nice big fat transformers, etc.

[GordonThree]

KD4UPL wrote:
Magnum is a solid unit but probably on the lower end as far as features. Outback is nearly indestructible and has some fancier programming options. I have no experience with Victron.

Magnum is low end, using what scale?

It's old technology, does that make it low end, or make it "stick with what works?"

[pianotuna]

Hi KD4UPL,

I thought Magnum was great but after mine caught on fire.....

I do admit to pushing it HARD. But I never over loaded it if you believe the specifications.

KD4UPL wrote:
Magnum is a solid unit but probably on the lower end as far as features. Outback is nearly indestructible and has some fancier programming options. I have no experience with Victron.

[Itinerant1]

My Magnum 3012 hybrid has been trouble free for the past 39 months using it everyday, never been turned off. No noisy bearings and no magic smoke. No complaints.

[KD4UPL]

Magnum is a solid unit but probably on the lower end as far as features. Outback is nearly indestructible and has some fancier programming options. I have no experience with Victron.

Hybird mode:
If you're running a small generator and it won't power your load the inverter will "help" the generator by providing additional power to the load. It pulls this power from the batteries which are not being recharged while doing this. So, it only works for so long. Eventually, theoretically, your load drops to where the generator can handle it alone and the inverter recharges the batteries.