GeoffSchultz wrote in news:e4b93ee5-
:
I have a ProSine 2.0 inverter/charger which is a piece of crap, to put
it mildly. I've replaced the thing, under warranty, at least 4
times. Now it's dying again and it's out of warranty, so I need to
replace it again. *&^*!@
From what I understand, Xantrex owns the majority of inverter/charger
companies and is constructing their products in China. I've had
multiple people suggest to me that Chinese assembly is a major issue.
As a result I want to replace it with something that isn't made by a
Xantrex based company.
Does anyone have any suggestions for an inverter/charger which is
hopefully made in the US? I'm looking for 2000 watts inverting and
100+A charging 12V.
-- Geoff
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...roductDisplay?
storeId=10051&productId=100609433&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_src=
14110944&ci_sku=100609433&cm_mmc=1hd.com2froogle-_-product_feed-_-D25X-
_-100609433
http://tinyurl.com/54ucg7
2500 watts enough? Vector was bought by Black and Decker. This puppy
will kill the house batteries and melt the plates! $265, not $1200....
2500 watts / 12.5V = 200 Amps +!
Mount it right next to the batteries and use STARTER CABLES to connect
its big terminals straight to the house battery bank.
Now, there IS a neat little trick.....remote control!
Obviously, it's tiny power switch isn't switching 200A. Remove the end
panel where the on/off switch is and solder two small wires (lamp cord
works excellent and is really too big. Even smaller wire is fine but
lamp cord is dirt cheap.) Solder two small wires to the two terminals
on the power switch. If there is a 3rd terminal, that's a pilot lamp so
make SURE you have the two terminals that are the switch.
Take apart a six outlet terminal strip that has a power switch on it.
Remove the power wires from its switch...make sure that's the switch,
too, not the AC pilot light. Do NOT use a terminal strip with a lighted
switch as there is low voltage DC on our control wires, not AC the pilot
lighted switch was meant for. Get one with just a switch, no light.
The switch is in series with the outlets so hard wire the black wire to
the outlet side of the switch where we just took the wire off, leaving
the switch with NO WIRES ON IT.
After pulling in our control wires from the inverter, solder them to the
switch on the outlet strip. Add a separate 110VAC neon indicator next
to the switch, BUT NOT WIRED TO IT. Wire the indicator right across the
AC line coming from the inverter so we can see it's on and putting out
AC voltage.
VOILA! Remote controlled power strip! Lionheart's is at the chart
table to plug in all the computer toys. Don't forget to plug the AC
plug of the outlet strip into the inverter AC output so you can use the
outlets. Run additional loads out the other 4 outlets of this to other
non-controlling or controlling outlet strips in handy places. As the
controlling switches are all in parallel, you can have as many as you
have strips for, but all of them will have to go OFF to shut down the
inverter....LEAVE THE INVERTER'S OWN SWITCH TO OFF! It's handing to
have them all with control switches so you don't have to go to where the
one switch is....or be fumbling around in the battery box under the deck
to turn the damned thing on without remote controls.
PS - You don't need to tell anyone on the dock the new inverter is a
Black and Decker from Home Depot.....It's best not to mention that to
some yachtie who just spent $1695 for his Xantrex that isn't a bit
better than yours.... Just in case he sees it when you're servicing
batteries, put a piece of black tape over the logo and nameplate so he
can't identify it....(c;
Now, be a good boy and buy a SEPARATE battery charger....25A should be
enough....automatic shutoff....like:
http://www.battery-chargers.com/catalog/28.pdf
JAC2512, the 25A 12V charger should do very nicely. Schauer chargers
are made in Cincinatti by Americans. I have one Schauer that's 30 years
old...works great...SCR but not fully automatic like this one. You
won't be pulling 500A at the dock as the inverter will be off. This
charger will let you keep the fridges and power the 12V lights no sweat.
The 50A model takes too much AC power...which on this webpage is a total
mistake and needs proofreading. The house batteries will charge nicely
on this 25A smart charger. Buy the little automatic 1.5A automatic
shutoff trickle charger for the starting battery, too, just to keep it
topped off. Those are at Walmart for peanuts.
Separate units make lots more sense because if the inverter fails,
you're not out for the other unit, too! It's why we don't buy huge
console stereos with TVs in them any more....Components only....just
replace one component, not the whole thing when the TV dies.
Again, don't mention to Mr Xantrex down the dock what you paid for it
and where you got it.....No need to rub his nose in it, you know...(c;