Outback Power Inverter Questions
 

Does anyone have first or second hand knowledge of Outback inverters?
They seem to be the only company that makes a totally sealed unit but
have I've never heard of them before, and know nothing of their track
record.

Next question: Outback, Xantrex and others offer the option to sync
up two 110 volt inverters to provide 220 volts. Assuming both
inverters are connected to the same battery bank, my concern is what
happens in charge mode. If both inverters are charging the same
battery bank at the same time, are they able to work in coordination
with each other, or would one tend to shut the other down?

Wayne.B wrote:
Does anyone have first or second hand knowledge of Outback inverters?
They seem to be the only company that makes a totally sealed unit but
have I've never heard of them before, and know nothing of their track
record.

Next question: Outback, Xantrex and others offer the option to sync
up two 110 volt inverters to provide 220 volts. Assuming both
inverters are connected to the same battery bank, my concern is what
happens in charge mode. If both inverters are charging the same
battery bank at the same time, are they able to work in coordination
with each other, or would one tend to shut the other down?


You have 220-volt batteries? WOW!


--
Satellite photocharts of the UK & Ireland
available, excellent detail and accurate
calibration using Oziexplorer.
Remove *nospam* to reply.

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
Does anyone have first or second hand knowledge of Outback inverters?
They seem to be the only company that makes a totally sealed unit but
have I've never heard of them before, and know nothing of their track
record.

The Outback is popular in the off-the-grid market. My brother-in-law
uses on in his off-the-grid home in upstate NY. He has solar panels and
a wind generator charging 16 L-16 batteries in a 24V system. I'm not
aware that the Outback is also a bettery charger but I suspet that there
my be models that are. Very rugged piece of equipment IMHO. I'll
probably use one in my off-the-grid home.

Next question: Outback, Xantrex and others offer the option to sync
up two 110 volt inverters to provide 220 volts. Assuming both
inverters are connected to the same battery bank, my concern is what
happens in charge mode. If both inverters are charging the same
battery bank at the same time, are they able to work in coordination
with each other, or would one tend to shut the other down?

You would have to call the Outback folks to get a good answer. My charging
system on my boat use 2 chargers in parallel, so it is possible.

Doug
s/v Callista

In article ,
Wayne.B wrote:

Does anyone have first or second hand knowledge of Outback inverters?
They seem to be the only company that makes a totally sealed unit but
have I've never heard of them before, and know nothing of their track
record.

Next question: Outback, Xantrex and others offer the option to sync
up two 110 volt inverters to provide 220 volts. Assuming both
inverters are connected to the same battery bank, my concern is what
happens in charge mode. If both inverters are charging the same
battery bank at the same time, are they able to work in coordination
with each other, or would one tend to shut the other down?

Outback has a very interesting history. If you look at their website,
and compare their address to that of the old Trace Company before
Xantrex bought them, you will notice that they are just back up the
street from each other. This is due to the fact that when Xantrex
bought Trace, they rellay ****ed off the employees, and the whole Design
Team walked "Outback" and started their own company called Outback.
These guys really pioneered the whole Big Power Inverter industry,
and are still pushing and driving the inovations. These are also the
same guys that did such a GREAT job with their Customer Service and
made Trace the CS MANE in the industry. Since Xantrex took over Trace
is almost impossible to deal with. If you call Outback on the phone,
you can actually talk to the guy that designed the product, and he is
very interested in how his product is working for you. If you call
Xantrex you get a machine, that never calls you back. I have two Trace
products that are from the independant Trace era, and they have served
me very well for many years. When I need to replace them, I WILL buy
Outback, no question.

Bruce in alaska one very satisfied cunstomer....of Outback.....
--
add a 2 before @

In article ,
"Dennis Pogson" wrote:

You have 220-volt batteries? WOW!


--
Satellite photocharts of the UK & Ireland
available, excellent detail and accurate
calibration using Oziexplorer.
Remove *nospam* to reply.

Hmmmm, Well, the answer to the OP's question, is that when the Stacking
cable is used to make 240Vac, it also sync's the two systems chargers
so that they can both charge the battery bank in tandem, without causing
any problems.

Me

On Thu, 03 Mar 2005 19:49:30 GMT, Bruce in Alaska
wrote:

I have two Trace
products that are from the independant Trace era, and they have served
me very well for many years. When I need to replace them, I WILL buy
Outback, no question.

===============================

Thanks, that's interesting information.

Thanks for the history lesson. How does this even remotely answer the
OPs question?


"Bruce in Alaska" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Wayne.B wrote:

Does anyone have first or second hand knowledge of Outback inverters?
They seem to be the only company that makes a totally sealed unit but
have I've never heard of them before, and know nothing of their track
record.

Next question: Outback, Xantrex and others offer the option to sync
up two 110 volt inverters to provide 220 volts. Assuming both
inverters are connected to the same battery bank, my concern is what
happens in charge mode. If both inverters are charging the same
battery bank at the same time, are they able to work in coordination
with each other, or would one tend to shut the other down?

Outback has a very interesting history. If you look at their website,
and compare their address to that of the old Trace Company before
Xantrex bought them, you will notice that they are just back up the
street from each other. This is due to the fact that when Xantrex
bought Trace, they rellay ****ed off the employees, and the whole Design
Team walked "Outback" and started their own company called Outback.
These guys really pioneered the whole Big Power Inverter industry,
and are still pushing and driving the inovations. These are also the
same guys that did such a GREAT job with their Customer Service and
made Trace the CS MANE in the industry. Since Xantrex took over Trace
is almost impossible to deal with. If you call Outback on the phone,
you can actually talk to the guy that designed the product, and he is
very interested in how his product is working for you. If you call
Xantrex you get a machine, that never calls you back. I have two Trace
products that are from the independant Trace era, and they have served
me very well for many years. When I need to replace them, I WILL buy
Outback, no question.

Bruce in alaska one very satisfied cunstomer....of Outback.....
--
add a 2 before @

On Thu, 3 Mar 2005 21:31:03 -0500, "Doug Dotson"
dougdotson@NOSPAMcablespeedNOSPAMcom wrote:

Thanks for the history lesson. How does this even remotely answer the
OPs question?

==================

I actually asked a couple of questions, one of which related to the
conpany's track record, i.e., reputation, etc. The answer seemed
relevant to me, both interesting and useful.

After a more detailed review of Outback's inverter products, the
device selection process has gotten more complicated. They make one
line of inverters for "Off Grid" usage, i.e., no tie in to utility
power what so ever, and another product line for marine usage. The so
called marine inverters lift the neutral ground when in shore power
transfer mode. Presumably this is done to prevent electrolysis,
ground loops, etc., when hooked up to utility power. All well and
good. The problem is that the inverter I really want is not offered
in the marine version. I could design the system to be totally "off
grid" and lose the benefit of shore power transfer and recharging, but
I'd rather not for reasons of complexity and flexibility. The other
possible solution is to put in a large isolation transformer but
that's another layer of complexity and expense in an already expensive
system.

I'm going to call them tomorrow for their advice.