Inverter-converter/charger

[rhianna]

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?

[time2roll]

Not sure I would spend money on the AIMS but you have it so you may as well give it a go.
If it quits I recommend a GoPower inverter.

[pianotuna]

fhianna,

At least two folks iirc bought aims. Both initially liked the product, and both of their inverters failed within a short period of time.

If you must have an inexpensive (read throw away), look at bestconverter and the Xantrex prowatt 2000 watt for under $400.00

[rhianna]

I realize that the Aims (spelling corrected) is inexpensive and some may feel you get what you pay for, but is there anyone out there who actually has purchased an Aims inverter had liked or disliked it?

[rhianna]

wa8yxm, The zantrex 458 does not have replaceable breakers. They are built in, and we are talking about a 13 year old inverter. I would hate to pay to get it repaired and have something else go wrong. The new residential fridge has sensitive electronics that I would hate to damage with a modified sine. The pure sine does not have breakers built in and would have to have external breakers added

[wa8yxm]

If it is just the circuit breakers.. Why not replace them.. Perhaps 30 bucks or 130 with labor.. I mean no need to repalce the whole thing.

[time2roll]

I would use the AIMS and get a separate converter such as PD9280.
Separate transfer switch too.

I like separate components. If something gives up you only replace that item. Easier to patch on the road if needed too.

[JR45]

4 years age we installed the Samsung 197 and also installed the Magnum 2812 with a new controller. The Xantrex Freedom 458 uses a 6 wire phone line and the Magnum uses 4 wires, so they just dropped 2 wires and saved some $$$$. My inverter has been on for 4 years now.
http://www.imarineusa.com/magnumenergymerc50advancedremotecontrol-1.aspx
http://www.imarineusa.com/magnumenergyms28122800watt12v100atruesinewaveinvertercharger-1-2.aspx
Add to cart to see the price.
JR

[accsys]

We installed a Whirlpool refrigerator in 2013 and replaced our Xantrex Freedom 458 with a PSW Magnum 2012 and love it. It only took our installer about 30 minutes to do the replacement as the wiring is almost exactly the same. We were going to put the Magnum 3012 in but our unit, unlike newer ones, didn't have a sub-panel controlling inverter output so it would have been a much more difficult installation.

[pianotuna]

2oldman,

Good point. A decent converter may be more useful and a whole bunch cheaper than an inverter/charger.

[2oldman]

rhianna wrote:
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...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.

I'm not sure why you need another inverter if you already have that first 2kw you mentioned. I guess that's not a charger?

And if you wire an inverter to your electrical panel you don't need any additional breakers. You use the breakers that are already in your coach's panel.

It's Aims, not Aimes, and they are not the best quality.

[Artum_Snowbird]

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]

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.