Budget 24v solar inverter

[Dutchboatlife]

I have recently bought a boat to live on. I am currently coming up with a solar system to be almost off grid. I have most of it complete except the inverter. I cant seem to find an inverter that fits everything and I would like to keep it low budget. Low budget meaning, the cheapest but reliable solution. I have found some inverters on AliExpress but I doubt they will last.

I currently have a 24v system and it will be pretty costly to switch to 48v since halve of my devices run on 24v.
I have bought 5 Jinko 440Wp solar panels
I am building an 8s 280ah lfp battery pack
I have a generator, my main engine and the grid as power supply.

Does anybody know of an off grid capable inverter that checks all of these boxes?

 

[Rednecktek]

I just ordered a PowMr 3.2kw 24vAIO for $410. Anything cheaper than that and you're having to make serious comprimizes in ability and quality.

 

[Q-Dog]

How much off grid AC power do you need? and how long do you need it? I wouldn't play around with cheap junk on a boat, especially one I lived on full time.

 

[DIYrich]

Watch this thread. 24v occasionally come up for sale.

Inverters and All-in-One Units For Sale

diysolarforum.com

Victron phoenix is pretty cheap. But you may need a separate charge controller.

 

[Chispas]

As Q dog said, size is the key here, so what are you looking to power?

PowMr 3.2kw 24vAIO for $410.

This is pretty hard to beat for the money, has an 18-month guarantee & you could wire in your genset & shore power for battery charging. Having shore power means that any component failure won't leave you completely up the creek, so you could roll the dice a little on quality.

 

[Dutchboatlife]

How much off grid AC power do you need? and how long do you need it? I wouldn't play around with cheap junk on a boat, especially one I lived on full time.

Probably around 4kW. If I ever need more I can use my generator directly. Thats 11kVA I believe

 

[Dutchboatlife]

Probably around 4kW. If I ever need more I can use my generator directly. Thats 11kVA I believe

4.6kW would be ideal, thats one times 240 volt, 20amps.

 

[Dutchboatlife]

As Q dog said, size is the key here, so what are you looking to power?

This is pretty hard to beat for the money, has an 18-month guarantee & you could wire in your genset & shore power for battery charging. Having shore power means that any component failure won't leave you completely up the creek, so you could roll the dice a little on quality.

I agree that thats very budget. Tempting indeed

 

[HarryN]

Maybe you can break up your loads and run some from a couple of inverters.

 

[Rednecktek]

Are you in the EU area needing 230v? If so their 4200w 24v 230v unit is only $320.

 

[Chispas]

I have recently bought a boat to live on

Are you actually going to be moving around or just moored up permanently? Im asking to find out if your project is for need, because you will be away from shore power or you just want the independence of solar.
Another factor is where you are moored, to calculate your possible solar production this online calculator will give you a pretty good idea based on your location. Even if you are stationary, it can be a challenge to put extra panels on some kinds of boat because of space & shading.

 

[littleharbor2]

I just ordered a PowMr 3.2kw 24vAIO for $410. Anything cheaper than that and you're having to make serious comprimizes in ability and quality.

I strongly recommend this model for a few dollars more. The max. Voc. is much higher , making setup easier, . 108 max. Voc. compared to 500 max. Voc. 1600 PV watts vs. 4200 PV watts ,plus, you get 400 more watts output.

3600W DC 24V AC 110V All In One Solar Inverter

3600Watt hybrid inverter of 110V AC putput with a 24v MPPT solar charge contrller and AC battery charger integrated.

powmr.com

 

[Rednecktek]

Yeah, I wanted the lower version for 2 reasons.

1: Getting enough panels to start charging was more difficult and I'm making a portable unit

And

2: The 3.6kw came out a week after I ordered the 3.2kw.

 

[littleharbor2]

Yeah, I wanted the lower version for 2 reasons.

1: Getting enough panels to start charging was more difficult and I'm making a portable unit

And

2: The 3.6kw came out a week after I ordered it.

I bought the 3000 watt 450 Voc. version to run a mini split and love it. It is likely the predecessor to this 3600 watt model. I ran 4 550-watt, 51 volt panels into it. Gotta say, these AIO's sure easy to install.

 

[yabert]

Are you in the EU area needing 230v?

Sure that an important data to know.
230V inverter are highly available everywhere at really affordable cost.
I owned a POW-HVM3.2H-24V-N (235$) a bit more than a year and it worked fine.

 

[Dutchboatlife]

Are you in the EU area needing 230v? If so their 4200w 24v 230v unit is only $32

Nice! Do you have any experience with the brand?

 

[50ShadesOfDirt]

I notice this model (3.6kw) has only a 12-month warranty? It may be that we'll need to consider it replaceable, not repairable (not worth the effort of warranty service to send the unit in for repair, unless they'll send parts out to the field).

To me, short(er) warranties seem to indicate more inexpensive componentry ...

Given OP's boat situation, if ever out in the middle of nowhere, maybe keep two on hand (one in production, one on the shelf)? Or, perhaps he'll never be too far off the beaten path, or can get by on gen until back at port ...

 

[Dutchboatlife]

Are you actually going to be moving around or just moored up permanently? Im asking to find out if your project is for need, because you will be away from shore power or you just want the independence of solar.
Another factor is where you are moored, to calculate your possible solar production this online calculator will give you a pretty good idea based on your location. Even if you are stationary, it can be a challenge to put extra panels on some kinds of boat because of space & shading.

Ill mostly be moored at the same place. The kWh price of the wall grid is pretty expensive and doesnt have a lot of amps available. Solar isnt really a need, more a saving of costs. I have space for 5 440Wp panels. The additional energy will come from a diesel generator.
Thanks for the calculator, Ill check it out

 

[Dutchboatlife]

I notice this brand has only an 18-month warranty? It may be that we'll need to consider it replaceable, not repairable (not worth the effort of warranty service to send the unit in for repair, unless they'll send parts out to the field).

To me, short(er) warranties seem to indicate more inexpensive componentry ...

Given OP's boat situation, if ever out in the middle of nowhere, maybe keep two on hand (one in production, one on the shelf)? Or, perhaps he'll never be too far off the beaten path, or can get by on gen until back at port ...

Thats not a bad idea. Ill really have to think about the worth of quality to me. A Chinese brand will never have the quality and aftercare of a Victron system. Victron is so expensive tho. I wish there was something in the middle that would meet my demands

 

[Dutchboatlife]

Sure that an important data to know.
230V inverter are highly available everywhere at really affordable cost.
I owned a POW-HVM3.2H-24V-N (235$) a bit more than a year and it worked fine.

230v ac indeed

 

[Chispas]

Solar isnt really a need, more a saving of costs.

You really have to look closely at the numbers but making your own battery will help.

 

[AslanVanBuild]

As Q dog said, size is the key here, so what are you looking to power?

This is pretty hard to beat for the money, has an 18-month guarantee & you could wire in your genset & shore power for battery charging. Having shore power means that any component failure won't leave you completely up the creek, so you could roll the dice a little on quality.

I was looking for a similar unit. How many amps does it charge at? Also I will only use the inverter a few times a day, does it have a eco standby mode/ is the inverter able to be shit off without loosing the SCC and charging capabilities?

 

[Chispas]

I was looking for a similar unit. How many amps does it charge at? Also I will only use the inverter a few times a day, does it have a eco standby mode/ is the inverter able to be shit off without loosing the SCC and charging capabilities?

Dunno mate, click the link & read the specs?