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Inverter Review Page?


By srnoth, Section Controls
Posted on Sun Jan 02, 2005 at 11:27:25 PM MST
How about a page dedicated to inverter reviews?

Hey there,

Over the past 3 months, I bought three reconditioned Vector 400W inverters from thesportsmansguide.com . Today, only one of them is working, and that one makes ominous 'clicking' sounds when under load. I just got an email from thesportsmansguide saying that they are most happy to replace them or refund my money, I just have to send the inverters back to them. Big problem. I do not live in the US. Shipping alone will cost me more than the price of a new inverter. So, I have just wasted my money (luckily it was only $40US) on some dud inverters, and I had no way of knowing they would be bad. I have a friend that is returning to the states soon, so I will try to get them to take the dead inverters back with them, and send them to The Sportsmans's Guide and get them to replace them with a better one (probably an AIMS).

So that sad story brings me to my point. One of the biggest parts of a RE/off grid/power from scratch systems is the inverter. Yet, it seems to me, that buying an inverter is like shopping blind. None of the reviews on the websites are by full time RE users, so there is no way of knowing whether the inverter will stand the test of time. So I was wondering if it would be possible to create an inverter review page, or if anyone knows of a website offering good, unbiased advice on inverters, or where I can go to warn others not to buy Vector inverters!!! Hehe. Somewhere to release my rage.

Anyway, in the mean time, I am thinking of getting an AIMS 1250W inverter: http://www.invertersrus.com/inv1250w.html

AIMS seems to be pretty good from what Inverters R Us says, but what have your real life experiences been like with AIMS inverters? What inverter brands would you recommend, and which would you say to keep away from?

Cheers,
Stephen.
Inverter Review Page? | 14 comments (14 topical)

Re: Inverter Review Page? (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by TomW on Sun Jan 02, 2005 at 04:42:52 PM MST

Stephen;

Excellent idea!

My Wagan 2500 watt unit gave me a couple thousand hours of intermittent use before it died and my next one will be a more informed choice [I hope]. Seems like it cost about 17 cents an hour over it's lifespan which is dismal.

Cheers.

TomW

Ignarus can exsisto rememdium. Sardus est forever




Re: Inverter Review Page? (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by PaulM2 on Sun Jan 02, 2005 at 05:04:11 PM MST

YES. I agree the inverter is the most expensive most important part of the system that none of us can build from scratch. An inverter review page maybe put into an archieve would be nice.


Re: Building it ourselves (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by Big All on Sun Jan 02, 2005 at 05:39:05 PM MST

This thread talks about building inverters

[ Parent ]


Re: Inverter Review Page? (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by halfcrazy on Sun Jan 02, 2005 at 05:14:17 PM MST

I agree it would be nice to get some insight i have a xantrex sw inverter in my house and just love it so i bought a xantrex 1000 watt inverter for my truck got about a month out of it so with all these companys buying each other out you cant trust a name anymore i guess so we have to go on everyones experience i have a vector from walmart in the truck now that works like a champ for a year now. may blow up tommorow though who nows


Re: Inverter Review Page? (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by Zero on Sun Jan 02, 2005 at 05:38:58 PM MST

Excellent idea Stephen,
I'm in the same position, trying to find a reliable 12V inverter that wont let me down, my last purchase was dead on arrival :( That was a COTEK, I've been using an old APC 1250 Un-interuptable Power Supply for computer backup as an inverter for several years and that has been a rock but it's 24v.
Z.


Re: Inverter Review Page? (3.00 / 0) (#6)
by DaveW on Sun Jan 02, 2005 at 05:46:18 PM MST

I've used a Sola commercial 2500W pure sine wave inverter for the past 21 years. The only problem I've had is they no longer carry the air filters so I have to make my own. Now I have to change filters and blow out the unit twice a year. Other than being extremely heavy and loud (fans) under full load it has never failed... But they are not cheap.  
DaveW


Re: Inverter Review Page? (3.00 / 0) (#7)
by picmacmillan on Sun Jan 02, 2005 at 06:16:29 PM MST

if you need a hand getting your stuff to the states.......i could maybe help...i'm in windsor but i travel all over the place....london, toronto, ottawa....north to kirkland lake....if i could get it somehow, i could deliver it over there....anytime.....pickster  where does it have to go to?
http://www.frecklefarmloghomes.com
[ Parent ]


Re: Inverter Review Page? (3.00 / 0) (#8)
by srnoth on Sun Jan 02, 2005 at 06:26:43 PM MST

Hey Picster,

Thanks for the kind offer. I kinda doubt that you will be near where I live, but who am I to say ;-). Ever heard of Trinidad and Tobago? It's in the west indies. Trinidad, where I live, is the southernmost island in the chain of Caribbean islands. Anyway, I have a friend who is returning to the states soon, so I should be able to get her to take them with her. Anyway, we'll see.

Thanks anyway,
Cheers,
Stephen.

P.S. If you're interested in solar, and you want some serious sun to test panels out in, Trinidad is the place. Man that sun is hot. That's the tropics for you though. And atleast 8 hours a day the sun is shining bright. Pitty solar is so expensive, otherwise I would have enough energy to power a factory :) . Hehe. Well, atleast I can dream of the future.

[ Parent ]



Re: Inverter Review Page? (3.00 / 0) (#9)
by jacquesm on Mon Jan 03, 2005 at 11:45:21 AM MST

I have a fairly simple rule-of-thumb for inverter evaluation:


If you buy it new and your inverter costs less than about $US .50 / watt you are probably looking at a very 'basic' unit not meant for continuous hardwired use.


FOr RV or occasional use these units are not built to the standards required for 24x7 operation in regular service. Heatsinks are undersized for continuous loads and filter coils are usually absolute minimum jobs.


If you get a year or more of service out of these you should consider yourself a lucky guy.


Above that figure you have a chance of buying decent stuff if you look around a bit. The more expensive inverters will be heavier (transformers are heavy! so more $$ to transport!).


As far as I know there is no sub $1000 inverter that is worth having at this time (with a > 2000 watts output power, which is the minimum I would consider for permanent use).


Modified sinewave inverters are ok to feed a lot of loads, but CAN NOT FEED INDUCTION MOTORS. If you need to run induction motors from your inverter powered system get a simulated sine-wave inverter.



www.greenbits.com



Re: Inverter Review Page? (3.00 / 0) (#10)
by richhagen on Tue Jan 04, 2005 at 01:44:43 AM MST

I had a Vector go out after very few hours of intermitent use.  I recently aquired a used Exeltech from Mech (1100 watt 48 volt) $300 US with shipping, so far, so good, it has a good sine wave output and it appears that it was made for the telecommunications industry.  The unit has a knockout on the back for hard wiring.  I know they make a 12 volt version as well.  I have it temporarily rigged up to provide some lighting at a building that doesn't have a common electrical service.  Rich Hagen
'A Joule saved is a Joule made'


Re: Inverter Review Page? (3.00 / 0) (#11)
by ghurd on Tue Jan 04, 2005 at 08:53:09 AM MST

We had a 250 or 300w Exeltech pure sine wave burn up after about 2 hours powering an 10w wall wart.  It's been running on a 175w vector, older model with no fan, for a little over a year now.

It is starting to sound like anything small and affordable is a hit and miss situation.

I think I warned someone about the S.G. Vectors with a handle a while ago.

G-

[ Parent ]



Re: Inverter Review Page? (3.00 / 0) (#12)
by richhagen on Fri Jan 07, 2005 at 04:25:46 PM MST

-Gulp-  I hope mine goes a bit longer. :-(  Rich
'A Joule saved is a Joule made'
[ Parent ]


Re: Inverter Review Page? (3.00 / 0) (#13)
by Spdlmt150 on Thu Nov 01, 2007 at 08:42:45 PM MST

I have a 375W Tripp-Lite which powers 300W of flourescent tubes through my house. The smaller TL inverters are auto-resetting designs, which makes sure that my lights come back on in the event of the 1800W causing some kind of fault (undervoltage)

The 375W inverter has been powered up continuously for about 4 years now. My only complaint with it is that it is designed with a constant on fan. A $6 thermal switch inside the case solved that problem, and it now stays silent unless I draw over 200W from it. It has been flawless.

The 1800W TL has also been flawless. It is thermal controlled cooling, which has only kicked in occasionally. I've run power tools, vacuums, the fridge, entertainment center, computers, battery chargers, microwave, etc.... It has not failed me at all. It has been in use for about 3 years and has been heavily abused.

I also have a 600W TL mounted in my truck which has been abused more than the prior two combined. Same deal. Flawless. Always works.

For the money spent, I can't imagine anything doing any better. They're not the cheapest, but as always, you get what you pay for.



Re: Inverter Review Page? (3.00 / 0) (#14)
by rcmron on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 09:16:27 PM MST

I can not comment on the Aims inverter and like you say, it's hard to find true inverter reviews on sights that sell them becasue negative reviews will not be published. I boought a 6000 watt powerbright thinking that they were reliable and that they took care of thier customers. After my inverter failed after 9 months of very light load duty, I contact them for warranty and it was humuliating at what length they went not to provide warranty. I now have a cobra 2500 watt inverter which seem to work fine.

Does anyone have experience with them working in cold climate?



Inverter Review Page? | 14 comments (14 topical)
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