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Best 3K Inverter/Charger

joegambler0

joegambler0

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Joined
Jan 5, 2020
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23
Hi,
Looking for the most dependable, longest lasting 3K Inverter/Charger out there. Outback doesn't make one, was considering a Spartan Power, but reviews not so good, Aims and Xantrax even worse, even the Victron which I thought was the best and is used the most has multiple negative reviews for failed units in RVs and boats. Seems like the best one in the Magnum, but there must be other choices. I am going to be for a year living full time in a 20' TT with my wife and 2 dogs in a foreign country with power hungry kitchen gadgets and power tools building a house. All above mentioned units will work good till of course they no longer work. I need the most reliable unit out there, please. Thanks.
 
Aims is pretty good IMHO... have not used the 3K one but have set up several 6K/48V systems over the years and not had any issue due to the inverter.
 
Have a look at Samlex, they started with making Inverters for Boats & RV's but that is not their only game and have been doing their thing for a long time. AIMS is a VAR (Value Added Reseller) using contracted gear from China, it's reasonable "Value Grade " product but I found their price is higher than it should be considering what the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) sells the product for. Look at Sigineer / Yiyen (the OEMs).

Samlex info thread link, in my signature.
 
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I have the AIMS 3Kw inverter/charger and have liked it a lot. Very reliable. since I'm migrating to a LFP battery bank however I've determined not to trust the charger portion of unit for properly charging LFP. (absorption charge period is way too long). it's really a slightly tweaked lead acid charge profile. so I am disabling the charger portion of the unit and buying a separate victron battery charger now. it still might be worth checking out the AiMS Inverter lineup. (just don't pay extra for the combined inverter/charger unit if you're going LFP).
 
Hi,
Thanks for all the replies. Originally I was a little doughtful of Victron about some things I read, but I spoke directly with them and drilled them on what I had heard, they were very knowledgeable, gave me good realistic answers and never a sales pitch. After looking further into their reputation, reviews, quality, time in biz, other major players recommending them, how they have one of the longest warranties and they will honor that warranty even with me buying the components here in US and taking abroad, some companies told me they wouldn't, I get good bundle prices with Battle Born and I feel they make the best CC, I decided to go with Victron also for the inv/charge. Thanks.
 
joegambler0 said:
Hi,
Thanks for all the replies. Originally I was a little doughtful of Victron about some things I read, but I spoke directly with them and drilled them on what I had heard, they were very knowledgeable, gave me good realistic answers and never a sales pitch. After looking further into their reputation, reviews, quality, time in biz, other major players recommending them, how they have one of the longest warranties and they will honor that warranty even with me buying the components here in US and taking abroad, some companies told me they wouldn't, I get good bundle prices with Battle Born and I feel they make the best CC, I decided to go with Victron also for the inv/charge. Thanks.
Click to expand...
With Victron, if you plan out your system correctly, it will allow you a lot of flexibility forward (things do change and you make realizations once your actually running a system which leads to "tweaks & enhancements"). The nicest part it can all be managed with a software interface which also gives you a real-time view of your usage. Victron also stays up to date & current quite quickly, especially when compared to other companies who lolligag about once they have their stuff done...

IF I was building a medium system today in 2020 I would likely go with Victron Family for SCC, Inverter/Charger etc to "Keep It Simple Silly". Using mixed brands is okay but it does add some complications that are, simply put, a PITA to deal with. Yes, Victron is a bit premium BUT you do get what you pay for. Some would argue that the "All-In-Ones" are the best solution but having been around a few decades, you couldn't give one for free, they are nothing more than a series of compromises and carry a certain amount of risk.
 
Just installed an outback 3kW inverter. FXR sealed. Client location for the inverter was in an occupied space, so he wanted quiet operation. We eliminated all fans, Outback FM80 Extreme charge control also has no fan.

An fxr with a Mate3s is inder 2k$.... when i look at an Evo (samlex) im just wondering where the other 1.5k$ worth of power electronics is....... im sure they are good, but look like playschool toys or mobile inverters.
 

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Aims and sigineer (same same) have been reliable ad have *some* of the right stuff, especially for 600-1000$ in the case of sigineer.

What a hum box though..... those and magnums.
 
Great post/reply Steve_S, I did look into the all in ones and didn't like them either. I was completely clueless a few months ago about solar. I feel I learned a lot from William's videos and others, the forum and my own research. After figuring all this out for my RV, I will be better prepared to do it all again for a off grid house I will build, that will have to be a 48v system. Probably 4k of poly solar panels, a Schneider 4k inv/char, Outback or Victron 80a CC and 12 BB Batts in ser/par for 48v, haven't figured that system all out yet. Thanks.
 
Dont know where i got 3k from as a price for the evo inverters. Still, no 48v, no ac coupling, not grid interactive aside from transfer/charger. No generator assist and a plethora of settings and other modes....are not included.
 
kernel said:
Dont know where i got 3k from as a price for the evo inverters. Still, no 48v, no ac coupling, not grid interactive aside from transfer/charger. No generator assist and a plethora of settings and other modes....are not included.
Click to expand...
I recently called Samlex with a question about the Evo and was talking with a tech within 2 minutes who answered my question and a couple others that came up,i also asked why no 48v model and was told their working on a 48v Evo soon to be released. These Evo's are a beast of an inverter run silent & cool with no hiccups or B S.= Reliability - Easily access tech support - Canadian company = i'm looking forward to see Evo 48v
 
Brain said:
I recently called Samlex with a question about the Evo and was talking with a tech within 2 minutes who answered my question and a couple others that came up,i also asked why no 48v model and was told their working on a 48v Evo soon to be released. These Evo's are a beast of an inverter run silent & cool with no hiccups or B S.= Reliability - Easily access tech support - Canadian company = i'm looking forward to see Evo 48v
Click to expand...
Actually the EVO's have staged fans and when they heat up & the fans kick into high, you know it ! I can hear them blowing away inside the powerhouse when the door is closed. I should point out, my powerhouse has 4" of solid foam in the walls and a 1" layer of XPS between the stud face & the sheathing as the thermal break. So I would completely disagree with them being quiet. Samlex is a Taiwan company with it's North American head office in British Columbia. Their tech sup[port is EXCELLENT and I do not say that lightly, otherwise I would not recommend or suggest them to anyone.
 
And they can be put on a heavy duty timer so they only pull from the grid during certain hours ;)

Just saying.....
 
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