Inverter/Charger Options or Separate

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

So my Xantrex TrueCharge 2 40A finally s#!t the bed. Not a big surprise based on the reputation of these units and I guess I am lucky for getting 4 years out of it. Of course the warranty is only 2 years. But that's what I get for buying without research.

So I don't make the same mistake, I am looking for some recommendations on what to replace it with.

Some background, we are heading out on a 2 year cruise in October to the Caribbean. In prep for that I have installed a slightly higher output alternator (60 amp over the stock 50 amp) and solar (400 watts of semi-flex panels on an MPPT controller). Our cruising plans include spending the vast majority of the time on the hook. We won't be going into marinas very often. We plan to use a combination of running the diesel and the solar for our power. We will NOT be carrying a Honda generator because I refuse to be that person in an anchorage.

So my use will be relatively low on what ever charger I put in at this time. That might change several years down the road when we think about establishing a home base again.

Before the charger broke I was planning to add a Xantrex PROWatt 2000 inverter so that I could run some tools at anchor, charge some things that I don't have a 12 volt charger option, use a small shop vac and run the heat gun for various projects. Not constant use, just occasional for projects. All of our daily loads have been converted to 12 volt options.

So now I am trying to find a budget option (I know, not always the best idea). I am thinking of replacing the charger with an inverter/charger. I would wire a single, dedicated outlet for the inverter. I was not planning to connect it to the entire 120V system on the boat. I had budgeted $450 for the inverter with wire, fuses and terminals. So I would like to stay as close to this cost as possible.

The three options I have looked at are as follows:

1. The Xantrex Freedom HF 1800. I know, I have been burnt by this brand but it does have a nice price point at under $500.
2. The ProMariner TruePower CombiQS. Not a bad option from a brand with a better reputation but it costs about $200 more.
3. The Magnum Energy MM Series. A little more expensive than the ProMariner.

[/LIST]

OK, so I know the issues with the Xantrex: bad customer service; not very well built; etc. The ProMariner has a better reputation but that is mainly based on the ProNauticP line that they built with Sterling from what I have read. I am not finding much on reviews of these inverter/chargers. The biggest issue I have with both of these is they don't have battery temp sensors.

The Magnum Energy seems to be an OK company but again I can't find much in the way of marine industry reviews. The biggest thing I like about this is that it is the cheapest inverter/charger that has an option for battery temp sensor.

So do you have any thoughts about these 3 options?

Is there something else I should be looking at?

Should I just get a separate inverter and charger?

Thanks,

Jesse

 

[woodster]

Take a hard look at the sterling charger like the one in mainsails write up on installing chargers I have that one and am really happy with it it smarter than me which does take much but I can under stand it completely very nice unit

 

[Stu Jackson]

Jesse,

Given your very thorough introduction and explanation, and, most importantly your statement: "I would wire a single, dedicated outlet for the inverter. I was not planning to connect it to the entire 120V system on the boat...", I would recommend separate units rather than a combined I/C. Of course, there is more wiring cost from additional connections.

You are, of course, aware of Maine Sail's "eggs in one basket" theory.

Given your use, and also given my experience with our Freedom 15 I/C (1500W/75A) - still workin' after all these years and I like it - , I've thought about this over the years, and if I needed to ever do it over, I'd go separate.

While we have the entire AC system tied to the inverter, I "manage" the water heater by never using it away from the dock, simplifying the AC wiring. Other than the microwave, I, too, just use tools. It would be just as easy to wire a separate inverter output to the microwave duplex receptacle and use the other plug for tools.

The ProMariner new series is a good charger right in your ballpark size-wise. Then you can get any old inverter that fits your size.

Also combined I/C's dictate the charger/inverter sizes, so you're stuck with their choices.

Good luck, the rest of the comments should be interesting.

 

[Chief RA]

I recommend separate units as well. Chief

 

[Ron20324]

I learned the non-wisdom of all-in-one units in 1970 when I bought an AM-FM stereo receiver with built-in 8-track player and the turntable built into the top. One sgment went bad, and rendered the rest of it useless. I learned a lesson, so I bought individual components. I still have 8-tracks, though.

 

[IStream]

I had a Xantrex 12V charger on my first boat, have a Pronautic 24V charger on my current boat for the thruster, and also have a Magnum 12V Inverter/Charger for my 12V house bank. Of the three brands you mention, I'd go with Magnum in a heartbeat. The Pronautic P series has all the right features but it was clearly made to a price point. It's doing the job but if it's the best that Pronautic can do, I wouldn't buy anything else from them. The Magnum was admittedly 6X more expensive but it most definitely feels like it, from the 1/4" solid aluminum baseplate to the beefy connectors, to the fancy powdercoating. I've only had it for 18 months so take it FWIW but it was designed by the same guys who ran Heart Interface and I have high hopes that it'll last as long as the 15 year old and still perfectly good Heart it replaced.

 

[Maine Sail]

The three options I have looked at are as follows:

1. The Xantrex Freedom HF 1800. I know, I have been burnt by this brand but it does have a nice price point at under $500.

No

1. The ProMariner TruePower CombiQS. Not a bad option from a brand with a better reputation but it costs about $200 more.

No

1. The Magnum Energy MM Series. A little more expensive than the ProMariner.

While on the lesser end of the Magnum end of the spectrum this is the best of your three BY FAR. I still prefer the pure sine models starting with the MS series.

OK, so I know the issues with the Xantrex: bad customer service; not very well built; etc. The ProMariner has a better reputation but that is mainly based on the ProNauticP line that they built with Sterling from what I have read. I am not finding much on reviews of these inverter/chargers. The biggest issue I have with both of these is they don't have battery temp sensors.

The Magnum Energy seems to be an OK company but again I can't find much in the way of marine industry reviews. The biggest thing I like about this is that it is the cheapest inverter/charger that has an option for battery temp sensor.

So do you have any thoughts about these 3 options?

Is there something else I should be looking at?

Should I just get a separate inverter and charger?

Thanks,

Jesse

If you want an inverter / charger stick with Magnum, Victron or Outback... If you want separates then the little Xantrex ProWatt SW is cheap and okay for what you want to do. For a charger the Sterling PCU or Pronautic P in a 60A model would be fine. If you go Magnum the ME-ARC is the remote to get...

With large I/C's you get a larger charger (100-120A+) and faster charging where many switch mode chargers top out at about 60A. I run separates on our boat but would have no qualms with a Victron or Magnum set up to charge our LiFePO4 bank.

 

[Maine Sail]

I had a Xantrex 12V charger on my first boat, have a Pronautic 24V charger on my current boat for the thruster, and also have a Magnum 12V Inverter/Charger for my 12V house bank. Of the three brands you mention, I'd go with Magnum in a heartbeat. The Pronautic P series has all the right features but it was clearly made to a price point. It's doing the job but if it's the best that Pronautic can do, I wouldn't buy anything else from them. The Magnum was admittedly 6X more expensive but it most definitely feels like it, from the 1/4" solid aluminum baseplate to the beefy connectors, to the fancy powdercoating. I've only had it for 18 months so take it FWIW but it was designed by the same guys who ran Heart Interface and I have high hopes that it'll last as long as the 15 year old and still perfectly good Heart it replaced.

There is a HUGE difference between a "switch-mode" type battery charger and a massive transformer based I/C. They also make "switch-mode" inverter/chargers but I don't install them because the failure rates are much higher. They are getting better but not as fast as the charger only switch mode units have. The ProNautic P is a small efficient switch mode charger, like all the other small chargers these days, but it has a 5 year warranty when many of its competitors have a two year and then don't actually stand behind it even when in warranty..... The Magnum is a massive transformer based I/C two entirely different products. Magnum is a great company...

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I guess I knew the answer already I just wanted to hear someone else say it.

I just really hate the idea of paying close to $500 for something that I will probably use less than 24 times in the next couple of years (e.g. a battery charger is not much use on the hook). Well at least it will get more use from now until October.

Fair winds,

Jesse

 

[woodster]

are you going to have a portable gen set on board if so you can charge your batts with the new charger and the gen set

 

[mitiempo]

Keep in mind that many battery chargers live a short life if used with modified sine wave inverters.

I would go separate -Promariner Pronautic P charger and a sine wave inverter from Xantrex if on a tight budget - Magnum or Victron if less concerned about price.

 

[waternwaves]

Separate baskets for those eggs.

Xantrex makes decent inverters. Use a single function. However, having multiple inverters sized for specific loads is a better solution.

Buy good chargers for your batteries