• Have you tried out dark mode?! Scroll to the bottom of any page to find a sun or moon icon to turn dark mode on or off!

diy solar

diy solar

Furrion RV inverter deal at Camping World

outsider

Solar Enthusiast
Joined
Jun 25, 2024
Messages
259
Location
Colorado USA
Camping World is having a sale on Furrion 1 kW 12 V inverters. The MSRP is $528 https://furrion.com/collections/inverters/products/1000w-deck-mount-inverter although CW was listing them for $199, before the markdown, but now are $40 https://www.campingworld.com/furrio...000w-12v-dc-to-110v-ac-#fivbdp10a-145133.html .

These are deck-mounted, and are to be hard-wired into the RV system - using wire nuts, ugh. They also have a built-in transfer switch of stated < 20 ms switchover time, which makes me think of using them in a DIY UPS, in addition to using them as fully off-grid (low-power) inverters.

Stated battery input is 10.5 - 15 V, so they would also work the Li batteries as well as lead acid, although they do advise 500 CCA capacity from the battery to support the surge power level of 2500 W, which is rather sporty for small Li batteries.

I have no relationship with either Camping World or Furrion, other than as a sporadic customer of the former.

I have searched threads here and haven't found either conspicuous love nor hate for Furrion. Any thoughts? I'm thinking of picking up a small number "just in case" - $40 seems like a good price for a brand new 1 kW 12 V inverter.
 
Camping World is having a sale on Furrion 1 kW 12 V inverters. The MSRP is $528 https://furrion.com/collections/inverters/products/1000w-deck-mount-inverter although CW was listing them for $199, before the markdown, but now are $40 https://www.campingworld.com/furrion-pure-sine-wave-rv-power-inverter---1000w-12v-dc-to-110v-ac-#fivbdp10a-145133.html .

These are deck-mounted, and are to be hard-wired into the RV system - using wire nuts, ugh. They also have a built-in transfer switch of stated < 20 ms switchover time, which makes me think of using them in a DIY UPS, in addition to using them as fully off-grid (low-power) inverters.

Stated battery input is 10.5 - 15 V, so they would also work the Li batteries as well as lead acid, although they do advise 500 CCA capacity from the battery to support the surge power level of 2500 W, which is rather sporty for small Li batteries.

I have no relationship with either Camping World or Furrion, other than as a sporadic customer of the former.

I have searched threads here and haven't found either conspicuous love nor hate for Furrion. Any thoughts? I'm thinking of picking up a small number "just in case" - $40 seems like a good price for a brand new 1 kW 12 V inverter.
Anything that sells for $40.00 and claiming 2.5kW... I would keep a fire extinguisher nearby as a precaution. even the well known "lower cost" alternative like samlex would run you 7 or 8 hundred i would bet for a 2.5 kw unit. if not more. anything below samlex does not go into anything that I sleep in.
so as a backup quick wire in and use while awake OK but if I had to sleep in the same space it would be a no go simply as I find it hard to trust something that costs 199 in that range, let alone 40.00. just me. flip side buy one and play with it in the garage to test it. you never know.
 
Anything that sells for $40.00 and claiming 2.5kW... I would keep a fire extinguisher nearby as a precaution. even the well known "lower cost" alternative like samlex would run you 7 or 8 hundred i would bet for a 2.5 kw unit. if not more. anything below samlex does not go into anything that I sleep in.
so as a backup quick wire in and use while awake OK but if I had to sleep in the same space it would be a no go simply as I find it hard to trust something that costs 199 in that range, let alone 40.00. just me. flip side buy one and play with it in the garage to test it. you never know.
Well, if you think about it, the 1800 watt inverter in a Anker solar generator can't be much more than $150 or so, considering the whole thing sells for $500 and includes a solar charger and 1000 watt-hr of LiFePO4 as well. This particular inverter for $40 though, it is sold on Amazon right now for $99 and has mediocre reviews of about 3 stars.
 
2.5 kW is the surge power level, these are 1 kW units.

Even the pricey Victron is just $334 for 1.2 kW, whether 12 V input or 48 V input.
 
Well, if you think about it, the 1800 watt inverter in a Anker solar generator can't be much more than $150 or so, considering the whole thing sells for $500 and includes a solar charger and 1000 watt-hr of LiFePO4 as well. This particular inverter for $40 though, it is sold on Amazon right now for $99 and has mediocre reviews of about 3 stars.
I hadn't thought of looking at Amazon reviews. Thanks! Seems like the unit is quite hit-or-miss.
 
I have two of these, paid $69 CAD before tax and am using one as a portable inverter with booster clamps, and the other as a UPS.
The only downside is the size and weight, 11 pounds and 14.7" x 5.7" x 4.5" compared to others that are 5 pounds (thinking about Vevor branded true sine inverters).

The reason for the weight and extra dimension I suspect is the hardware for the 16A transfer switch, the extra structural integrity for it to be suitable for RVs (withstand vibrations on the road) and maybe extra capacitors, larger transformer for the 2.5x surge rating where most would only be 2x.

So far build quality is solid. Wish it were a little smaller but it's better than the Samlex 600W I upgraded from. As an aside for that 600W Samlex unit, they decided to split hot and neutral as two 60V AC hot lines. I hated that fact because it was pure sine wave, but most intelligent eletronics trigger their fault detection.

The Furrion also has an internal fuse, I would guess it is soldered to the PCB, allegedly to protect against reverse voltage catastrophic failure. But despite the fuse, they still recommend that you add your own fuse on the positive leg of the 12V battery.

source: user manual https://cdn.accentuate.io/1906129403993/5237057552473/IM-FIVBDP10A-v1570065399798.pdf
spec sheet https://cdn.accentuate.io/1906129403993/5237057388633/MS-FIVBDP10A-V1.7.pdf

If anyone wants me to do anything like open the unit for pictures or test the unit for some quality (waveform, time before overload) let me know and I can spare some time for it.
 
Last edited:
Camping World is apparently discontinuing them, so they're on sale again. (They went back up to normal price after I originally posted this, but are now back to $50. Not quite $40 as before, but still much below MSRP. They are on clearance.)

 
Camping World is apparently discontinuing them, so they're on sale again. (They went back up to normal price after I originally posted this, but are now back to $50. Not quite $40 as before, but still much below MSRP. They are on clearance.)



They are now listed at $199.00 but I grabbed 2 on EBay for $50.00 each. With shipping and tax they came out to be about $140.00 for both

1737261832857.png



1737261917177.png
 
On the other hand, Exeltech makes inverters for embassies, military... engineered to be repairable in most cases. Built in Fort Worth TX. In other words, the antithesis of a throw-away inverter. Used ones show up on Ebay.. First in class electronics for pennies on the dollar! After my cheap Costco throw-away inverter fried... I bought the best on sale... Exeltech! https://www.ebay.com/itm/2671079143...044&customid=5797a82e89cd1f69c0b8cfa312193d84
 
On the other hand, Exeltech makes inverters for embassies, military... engineered to be repairable in most cases. Built in Fort Worth TX. In other words, the antithesis of a throw-away inverter. Used ones show up on Ebay.. First in class electronics for pennies on the dollar! After my cheap Costco throw-away inverter fried... I bought the best on sale... Exeltech! https://www.ebay.com/itm/2671079143...044&customid=5797a82e89cd1f69c0b8cfa312193d84
Is this low frequency or high frequency? Sorry on phone cannot get much info
 
All I have to add to this thread is that Furrion is owned by Lippert. This happened September of 2021. I don't think much of Lippert, for a variety of reasons but the main one being build quality.

The (kitchen) appliances in my 2025 RV are all Furrion/Lippert. It's been back to the dealer once already to fix the refrigerator.

That's a great low price. Buy two so you have a spare.
 
All I have to add to this thread is that Furrion is owned by Lippert. This happened September of 2021. I don't think much of Lippert, for a variety of reasons but the main one being build quality.

The (kitchen) appliances in my 2025 RV are all Furrion/Lippert. It's been back to the dealer once already to fix the refrigerator.

That's a great low price. Buy two so you have a spare.

Yep, my 2022 toy hauler is fitted almost entirely with Furrion products - Range, microwave, water heater, furnace, controls, "pre-installed preparations" for TPMS and cameras (worthless garbage). Even the back glass doors are Furrion branded.
 

diy solar

diy solar
Back
Top