Which inverter?

[thejonesey]

My Sterling 1500w inverter died recently and I am trying to decide what to replace it with. I have a generator so only use the inverter for the TV, lamps and ice maker! Sterling have offered me 25% off a new inverter but I was wondering whether to get a cheaper quasi-sine one from Maplins. If so how powerful should I go? I should also add that the inverter lives under the bed in the hull area so not a great environment.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

 

[david_bagshaw]

victron have served well, & that connected to medical equipement, so has to be reliable and steady in its output.

 

[jrudge]

They are cheap on eBay. I got one some years ago and it was fine.

Is he one that died full sine wave ? If not ebay will be fine.

If it was then TV and lights will be fine but it is possible the ice maker will not like a non sine wave supply.

Perhaps if you post the model someone maybe able to advise.

 

[rafiki_]

I had a Sterling inverter on my old Sunline. It chose the fail while being surveyed for sale, so I replaced like for like. I understand that the replacement failed after 6 months. Not good. The Azi doesn't have an inverter, but a stinking great gennie that we seldom use.

 

[Elessar]

My Sterling 1500w inverter died recently and I am trying to decide what to replace it with. I have a generator so only use the inverter for the TV, lamps and ice maker! Sterling have offered me 25% off a new inverter but I was wondering whether to get a cheaper quasi-sine one from Maplins. If so how powerful should I go? I should also add that the inverter lives under the bed in the hull area so not a great environment.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

I bought a cheap Chinese 2.5 kw sine. Lives in the same place as yours.
Works fine, ande runs the kettle or microwave. Silently.

 

[thejonesey]

Thanks all. I have decided to go cheap and bought a Chinese 2000w pure sine job!

 

[rosssavage]

Good choice! On my second cheap Chinese pure sine - the first one only blew up cos I broke it whilst Ferlinghetti some other non related component (can't remember what now...). About five years old and still working.

Used for the usual phone laptop tv stuff, but also long periods running the leccy blanket on cold nights...

 

[rosssavage]

Ferlinghetti = fettling in apple autocorrect speak!!

What on earth is a Ferlinghetti??

 

[abraxus]

Thanks all. I have decided to go cheap and bought a Chinese 2000w pure sine job!

Would that be sino wave then?

 

[loggie]

Hi Elessar
Would you have a link to the inverter you bought? What is the best way to install these inverters. Is it good to have a battery just for the inverter.
Thanks

I bought a cheap Chinese 2.5 kw sine. Lives in the same place as yours.
Works fine, ande runs the kettle or microwave. Silently.

 

[rafiki_]

You need as much capacity as possible otherwise a 2500W inverter will quickly drain a single battery. On my previous boat I had 3x115 ah driving the inverter, and this allowed us to use fridge, microwave, kettle, TV and lights for about 24 hrs between charging.

 

[jrudge]

I used to run the engines (on crossfeed) when the Kettle or Microwave was on as it meant about half the power was coming from the engines which lessened the recharge time. By definition you don't have shore power when needing the generator and the drain with a good load is staggering.

 

[loggie]

Good to know rafiki. I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for that.

You need as much capacity as possible otherwise a 2500W inverter will quickly drain a single battery. On my previous boat I had 3x115 ah driving the inverter, and this allowed us to use fridge, microwave, kettle, TV and lights for about 24 hrs between charging.

 

[thejonesey]

I plan to connect it across two 180ah batteries and will only use for Tv, chargers etc... Although I like Ross' idea of the blanket. We are lucky to have a genny tucked away for microwaves etc.
Thanks again.