inverter or inverter/charger

I might add, though I choose to use my OEM Progressive Dynamics and hold the Prosine's charger module in "Reserve"

you can also leave the factory converter in place, just disable it by either turning off the breaker or removing the lead from the breaker (Use a wire nut to cap the wire and attach an ID tag in case you need to reconnect it)

Then if the INverter has a problem and needs to go home for repair/replacement,, You still have the OEM converter in place and can "restore" it easily. Way easier than cobbling up something as a temp replacement.

260 is a bit light running above 1500 watts.
Have not read anything negative on KISAE, my GoPower does well for me.

Thanks for that detailed response and the others too of course. Sounds like I'll be upgrading the on board WFCO charger so's to get a forced 14.4+ charge to help get me from 50 to 90 percent quicker with a generator. I have 2 260amp 6v's and have a somewhat unconventional setup where my shore cord either plugs into either shore power, an invertor (currently 300w pure or 1500w modified), or a generator. (I know the switch charger off and frig to gas only routine) I'm gonna keep it simple and just replace the 1500w modified with probably the KISAE 2000w pure sine inverter only....unless there's a better 2000w pure sine someone might suggest. Haven't won the lottery so can't justify a Magnum. Thanks

Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages.

First. I have a top of the heap Converter in this RV, Progressive Dynamics 9180 with optional wizard, better than that it does not get, Just as good, yes, better no.

I also have a Xantrex Prosine, inverter/charger.. I'd also rate the charger as top of the heap, none better, but for different reasons than the 9180+wizard.

As it happens I like the Wizard a tad better. So since it is factory programmed for the type of batteries I have (Flooded wet cells) That's what I use.. The Prosine can be programmed for other battery types. I hold it in reserve however.. Just in case. More on that later if I don't forget.

Advantage of the separate converter. and a warning:
The warning: My RV is properly wired with a sub panel the inverter can NOT feed power back to the 9180 converter.

Back when it was still under warranty and dinosaurs.. no it's not that old (10 years ago roughly) the Prosine lost its mind (Display said "Prosine Memory Error") and I had to ship it back to Washington for replacement, I was , for a period, without it.. Now I bypassed the 120 volt lines so I still had power everywhere in the RV so long as shore/generator held but no inverter.. The 9180 took care of my batteries and powered my Ham Radio (12 volt) so all was good.

The re-install (NOTE: only took me a few minutes on the phone with US based Customer support to get an RMA for the original Prosine, but the call lasted much longer read on) also involved some "Improvements" suggested by Customer support which, so far (a decade) have prevented another memory loss (knock wood). Sadly they moved to cuss-some-more support fromn over seas do not know if they moved back to US based support.

And in another case we were in an RV park with "iffy" power.. Iffy enough that the Microwave acted a bit strange when Wife went to nuke dinner.. So I tripped the 30 amp breaker (Well turned it off) forcing the Prosine to inverter mode, it took very good care of the microwave and the 9180.. Took care of the prosine.

They used to sell a product called a Power Line Conditioner, this device, which cost around 2 grand, is kind of the ultimate in UPS/Surge guards.. it consists of 3 modules.. a Converter like the 9180 (in fact that's what I'd use) a good size battery, likely 24 volt in this case but hey, and a True Sine Wave Inverter.

By turning off the 30 amp breaker, I "Created" the exact same setup in the RV.

Those are the advantages, (12 volt remains if the inverter goes in for warranty repair, and "power line conditioner" mode)


The disadvantage:
Weight.. You have a few pounds of Converter you can get rid of if you use the combined unit...

My choice.. Is clear from above.

now: Why do I like having the Prosine's converter "in reserve"?

Well, the 9180 comes in 2x2 modes. One is with or w/o Wizard (Mine is with) making it electronically a 9280 with dongle. that's not important to this post.

The other is "hard Wired" or "Plug in" mine is the latter, Plug in.. And sometimes in messing around near it I accidently pull the plug.

Of courese with over 500 AMp hours of battery I do not notice right away that the plug is pulled.. No,, it's usually around 3 AM when I figure it out.. and if you think I'm going outside at 3AM to plug it back in.. THINK AGAIN.. I just walk out to the remote panel for the Prosine (in the kitchen area) and CLICK, batteries are charging just like magic.. Later in daylight I switch back to the 9180.

Also, the 9180 is the proper charger for the original pair of GC-2 (230 amp hours after replacement) but for the entire battery bank (over 2x that) it's a bit anemic.. NOT a problem when I have shore power but recently I went 48 hours without shore, and I did not feel like full timing the generator so I ran on Batteries at night and only ran the Genny mornings and evenings.. The added 100 amps from the Prosine meant much faster charging of my big battery bank.

Once shore pwoer returned, I restored to normal (Charger disabled) mode on the prosine.

PD intelli-power for 8955
Test wen away but my point was its the best thing I ever did for the 8955.

2oldman wrote:

Joel_T wrote:
How much better/quicker is that KISAE charger side of the inverter really gonna be?

Depends on the amperage rating.

100 amps 14.4 volts

http://www.donrowe.com/KISAE-Abso-2000-p/ic1220100.htm

Joel_T wrote:
How much better/quicker is that KISAE charger side of the inverter really gonna be?

Depends on the amperage rating.

big

Big

BIG

Alternator for a sloop ketch yawl schooner or multihull :)

Matt I have a lot of respect for techs who savvy cruiser electricals. As you will smile with - the perfect system matches the owner's needs and lifestyles.

I always lean heavy on the premise that a <55' cruiser will rely on an AC charger far more when tied up. For larger vessels like The Black Swan the owner darrel could not stand the charger integral to the large inverter. So I fashioned a 200-amp alternator and fitted it to an Ample Power true programmable regulator. The vessel has a Yanmar 17 Kw genset.

Would it be worth mentioning the auto transfer feature of the AC from gen or sgore to inverter? Some folks really like a seamless transfer and this would be a characteristic of many integral charger inverters.

But a reg lockout bypass to a 50-watt 30 ohm Ohmite rheostat really appeals to the marine side of me. I advertised my wares for marine as being appropriate for circumnavigation. David Snead owner of Ample Power always could be counted on for a good 2 hour chat :)

time2roll wrote:

When my Prosine burned up the transfer switch would not pass power and I was stuck. I decided to get a separate inverter and separate transfer switch.

Thanks to reports like yours I'm using a manual transfer switch to bypass the Prosine when on shore power. And I still carry the PD converter which I could swap in while on the road if necessary. With the Prosine 2.0 it seems "if" it will fail is not in question, only "when". I just wish there was a standalone charger with the same features and performance. I've not found one that comes even close.

".... the first is that the bulk and absorption charging voltages are the same. The 14.4 bulk is good, but I prefer a lower (13.8) absorption level to prevent heating the bank any more than is necessary."

That is the sort of advice that PowerMax took when designing their charging profile. (They sell a lot of them so it must be popular--but I don't like it for fast charging)

Unfortunately it is not very good for charging from a generator when you want to do a 50-90 in as short a time as possible. It is ok for when on shore power. (The OP is talking about generator time)

As T2R noted above, you can get the alternative PowerMax model called the "Adjustable" which lets you set your absorption voltage and it stays there, so you get your fast charge done.

Here is a link to the specs for the OP's proposed inverter charger with the charger's specs (scroll down and to the right for the 2000w model) (Ignore the price for "up here" and check a USA price)

http://www.wegosolar.com/products.php?product=KI%252dSW2012%252d55-2000W-12VDC-Pure-Sine-Wave-Inverter-with-55A-Battery-Charger-

These guys sell the remote on/off for another $30. I don't know if that comes with the inverter/charger when buying it elsewhere.