Victron Phoenix 1200VA LF Inverter: Extremely Low Standby Consumption and More!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 มิ.ย. 2024
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0:00 Main Features and Use Case
3:32 Device Overview
4:16 Idle Consumption Measurement
5:32 Idle Comparison for 48V System
6:21 Air Conditioner Test
8:18 Bluetooth Connection and Settings
11:01 Conclusion
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the video is so perfect !
Glad to see you testing Victron. Ain't cheap but lots of people like Victron!
The one other thing I wish you had tested on this (and other) inverters is how well the eco mode works. Ie will an led light bulb activate it? Will it run a refrigerator? Etc. Most inverters I've used fail both of these tests. Which makes the eco mode useless imo.
Great video. U rocking lithium and all off grid systems man.
Have seen all your videos and gonne see all video from u in future for all time buddy.
Ur the best for us all
Hey Will, do you know how long the inverters can handle peak surge? I contacted victron and they were very rude and wouldn't answer my question.
Victron is simply the best manufacturer of all this kind of equipment there is on earth. I just love their stuff and their support.
Ya and they charge alot for being the best. That's the way it goes. It's always best to find the product that is the best that isn't too expensive. There is a point of diminishing returns.
When it comes to off-grid, Victron is the name you can trust!
Cool! I live in Arizona, where we get a lot of sun and daylight is reasonably consistent. Here, people are becoming very interested in daytime boost cooling systems, such as a ductless mini-split which connects directly to the chain of solar panels through to an inverter, without a battery. The idea is the boost system saves money and also works as an independent off-grid backup. I'd like to see a video on systems that require little or no battery to start up and function.
You need an adequate ATS automatic transfer switch. Review his vid on the MOES ATS. He tests it on some low power devices like laptop etc .
That got me to thinking along your same idea. It'd make sense to run air conditioner unit(s) directly from solar panels via a voltage converter plus power inverter. Then tie it into an ATS such that solar is your PRIMARY source and GRID is your SECONDARY(for when low sunlight,clouds,etc.)
Provided you have a capable power converter(smaller ones don't like heavy loads) then it should work. It would start off using GRID to get past the inrush current(which may overwhelm the panels alone) or maybe suck from batteries initially, then,once the wattage stabilizes at typical 500 to 550 watts,switch to solar only. Soon I may afford the components to test this although it'd be nice if Will did it first. With ever rising electricity costs, 5 to 10panels could be maximized daily to save money
I think you'll basically need SOME sort of super small battery in between. But yes that's doable on the cheap
for a man who claims to be burned out, you still show more enthusiasm then any other person in your arena... thank you for continuing to educate us...
I love my Victron equipment, the stuff is solid and just works.
When I was considering buying my system, a friend told me about Victron; "It'll cost ya, but it'll out-last ya".
@@TheDigitalMermaid Peace of mind and Return on Ownership
Great to hear your review. I have the 800 for a small sump pump. I felt I had to have a product that was proven for reliability. Your review is the icing on the cake. I use the victron smart shunt on my boat and love it too. A little more money but I think both have the support and longevity of victron to make it worth it.
Glad to see you covering a product I’m familiar with here in Australia. I have always been very happy with Victron Energy products in my standalone solar van builds. I have used this in my most recent builds, they are great!
I've been thinking about building a small system for a shed to power some light-duty tools. I now think I have found the inverter I want to use. Thanks Will!!
Will, your excitement is contagious!
Will, greetings from PR, thanks for every video, I finished installing my system just before Hurricane Fiona hit, it’s still holding (No power since Sep 17) I think your best videos are the “Solar Beginner” in your RV, and the mini generator guide. Some family members got the mini generators with the panels for charging phones and a couple os usb powered fans. In case anyone wants to know, my 5,400w Solar panel setup produced about 1.2kwh during the storm, 3.9kwh the next day (heavy rain all day), Monday climbed to 10.5kwh (little rain very cloudy, yesterday 14.3kwh. Again thanks for everything (You AND Hobotech)
My first Victron purchase was a 24V, 1200W inverter. I bought it primarily because of the low standby power and it was a perfect fit for a 6S Li-Ion (NMC) Tesla battery module. Now I have 15 Victron devices and I'm convinced Victron is best equipment out there.
Can you discuss your typical loading percentages of your victron inverters (percentage of max rated load)? Have you discovered the sweet spot of efficiency?
I’d done a lot of other research on a good RV inverter but it wasn’t til I saw your video that I knew that the Victron Phoenix 12/500 was the right one for me. Thanks for the video, it’s a great inverter that I’m super happy with, especially the low idle draw in eco mode. Thanks Will!
Will, you described my setup precisely. I bought a 4kw SungoldPower inverter for my well pump and a 1200VA Phoenix to run a couple fans and lights at night. Also bought another Phoenix for the barn. Still in boxes though. Now I need to hook it all up. Thank you for all your hard work in putting these vids together. You are a Titan!
Do you divide stuff between low power and high power? Or is there a way to setup the inverters where the big one will kick in automatically?
@@SnifferSock Nothing automatic. The plan is to separate the circuits for low and high power inverters. Not sure yet how eco mode on the SungoldPower will play with a well pump. Will probably manually shut it off each night since it has remote control.
Well if your running a victron multiplus you can have it setup where this unit can feed into the multiplus, and pass through. Then when your load increases past your programed value(say 7amps) then the multiplus fires up and starts assisting.
So by combining a multiplus2 and an inverter can increase overall wattage past the multiplus’ 3k cap? Or run separate loads to it and then the rest to the multiplus2?
Great concept. I'm a fan of Victron products, but currently I only have two of their charge controllers running my garage/shop/mancave via a three 12 v battery system for lighting and and a six 12 v battery system thru a 3,000 watt Renergy pure sin wave inverter . Enjoy your videos, keep up the great content!
This is a great video showing an option for critical loads like a fridge, lights, and internet. Your bigger stuff you can run off a bigger inverter that could be controlled to come on when the sun comes up. This could save you on panels but also battery size too, saving even more money.
I just added this to my RV with other Victron components. With it I can run all 120V devices other than AC, microwave, and fireplace. Not the end of the world. If I wanted to run any of these would require more solar and batteries both of which may come some day, but not anytime soon. In the mean time quite happy being self contained on or off shore power.. Thanks for the review..
man God has blessed you from where you were at to where you are. Must be nice to have all those toys
The idea of buying these vs targeted cost of battery capacity for AIO device power overhead at night is the most interesting aspect of this video to me. I plan on exploring that more to see if its worth it on my end (EG4 6500) to buy 2x Victrons for tv/media/router + fridge and shut off the 6500s at night. If anyone else has done the math on this as id love to compare. I need to justify / have ROI buying more fun stuff. Will needless to say your the man, great video.
You probably only need one-these can handle a high initial surge,and most refrigerators these days are pretty efficient.
Will, you hooked me up once again, my friend. I was so, so much on the EG4 train and was geekin' out to it that so much that I got tunnel vision and pulled the trigger to buy the EG4 setup. BUT now that I see the ultra-amazing efficiency of this setup (Phoenix 1200-small loads / (2) Multiplus IIs in split-phase - powering my 240v - 38 SEER mini-split and Cinderella Comfort toilet), my efficiency all-around will be well worth the cost of these expensive but ultra-efficient Victrons. I am so glad I watch your YT videos, sir.
I have this unit for my off grid cabin in Colorado running starlink, led lights, tv on occasion and security cameras. works great.
yes have it like that, a 800W Phoenix inverter build in my battery box for 24/7 and a 5 kW Multiplus for the heavy loads. That is the ideal off-grid setup.
Hi, I normally not comment on YT stuff and your doing an awesome job, even I learned a lot as a EE from Germany living in TX for 15 years. To measure correctly the current for low volt consumption leave the minus cable and use a Fluke True RMS (177 or higher) between battery plus pole and inverter and use the current outlets on the Fluke.
You pretty much described my use case exactly. Thanks for validating my thinking :-). I use the Phoenix 12/500 to power the Internet connection and a couple of IP cameras in a remote cabin. The cams and the router are connected to a Kasa power strip that is programmed to turn on for a couple of hours in the morning and afternoon so those loads are not running 24x7. I like that the Phoenix can be monitored and controlled remotely. The other thing is that it's pretty snowy where the cabin is located, so it the panels were covered for an extended period and the batteries run down, I'm confident the Phoenix will restart when they're recharged. We have another inexpensive Chinese converter that we use when we're there for the daily convenience loads. It is a good, reliable setup and I really like all the Victron components.
Thanks for come back to small systems!
I'm new to this... I do not have any solar yet but hope to in the future.... These videos are helping me to grasp some concepts. Thank you.
Cotek inverters are great. I ran an SK1500 or the last 10 years with no problems. Ran my pesky fridgidare clothes washing machine great and its really sensitive. Just went lipo 24v, and Growatt! Thanks to Will!
Yes, this Inverter supplies most of my 24/7 loads of the house. I took this because the 800W version is the recommended minimum version for refrigerator. The fridge makes no problems, but when the freezer starts, I hear noise from the transformer (magnetostriction) and the function of some sensitive appliances are disturbed. TV, laptops and Desktop PCS are not disturbed but i hear the starten of the freezer from the speakers of the PC which are connected by a small Power supply.
I've been using a 48 volt 375VA Phoenix for almost 3 years now to power overhead lights and a couple ceiling fans. That way if I need to power off my main inverters I still have lights fed directly from the batteries and it eliminates the flickering I would occasionally get with some LED bulbs running off my Growatt inverters. It's run rock solid, has low voltage disconnect and just works. They make a solid product.
Hello, do you know if it is possible to connect a Victron Phoenix 48 250VA to a 13S 12Ah lithium battery?
@@stereojos86 yep, they support a voltage range of 38 to 62 volts. You can set the voltage it should shut off as the low voltage for your battery bank as long as you have the Bluetooth dongle for it.
@@stereojos86 why only 12 Ah ? because of the space? You should have 100 Ah at least.
Cool video, cool product. What we really need is a comparison video between a 48v all in one system VS a Victron system.
Very nice! I have some victron components and if you are using cerbo or something like that ( i have raspberry with victron program running in it) you can access it from victron connect app -> from top corner VRM -> select your installation -> and again top corner select devices. And now you have list all of victron devices what are connected to cerbo or something similar. So no need of bluetooth in this case, all system settings can be configurated from there😀👍🏼✌🏼
I bought 3 of those refurbished.. best deal ever ❤
I just got a little one of these on marketplace for 1/2 retail 🙌👏🏻 setting up a little backup power supply, just to keep the fridges and router on.
I love going to buy something and seeing that you have a review on it 👌
Thanks for the useful info. It's great that you are knowledgeable and even better that you find so much joy ("it's so cool!") with good technology. 🙂
I just purchased this exact inverter from Victron for an off grid location that I have a couple small loads I want to power 24/7 including a mini fridge, some lights, and a couple fans for keep a shipping container vented and equipment cool. I originally got the 800VA model but upgraded to the 1200VA because I wanted to see if my 12k BTU Mr. Cool mini split would be able to run off it. Well you just proved it can. Now I’m really excited about this inverter.
One thing to keep in mind is that the the Pheonix inverters are rated in VA and their actual watt ratting is lower. The 1200VA mode has a 1000 watt continuous output rating at 25 Celsius and 850 watt continuous output at 40 Celsius. The Mr. Cool pulls almost exactly 1000watts so it should be perfect. I was so excited when I saw this review from you. Thanks Will!
I used to have a mini fridge,insulated it with closed cell foam insulation. Now I have a full size,(no auto defrost)that draws just about the same amount of power.i also insulated it.
for the least power draw(most efficient)you can use a chest freezer with an external thermostat.
I also run a regular,"garage rated"(more insulation,and will work at a wide range of external conditions) freezer,and that takes hardly any power at all......my fridge draws WAY more.
Something to also be aware of with modern fridges is that many actually have "heaters" on the outside,to prevent condensation.....guess they do that cause it is cheaper than more insulation.....or the walls of the fridge/freezer can be thinner,thus more cubic feet inside compared to one with more insulation.
This feature uses quite a lot of energy.....but it can be physically(electrically) disabled after you have gone past your warranty period.
That's why I have two inverters. A large 6kVA low frequency inverter for summer, with an idle consumption of 75W or so, which I don't mind in summer. For winter, I just replaced my Phoenix with a Multiplus II 3kVa which only pulls 10W idle.
It would be enormously helpful if you would do a comprehensive video about the proper installation of a 12-volt system in an older motorhome. That's where most of us DIY RVers need the most help. Especially, as regards to the DC to DC charger involving issues to make sure you don't damage the motorhome's alternator. And how to handle the already installed crossover switch for the vehicle to house batteries. Thanks.
Man I learn so much from you thanks for the information you provide
I actually purchased the phoenix 48v 5000 VA as a dedicated inverter to charge my future ev truck and it ties in so simply to the rest of my Victron system.
Very good video, but I think you forgot to mention one of the biggest strengths of the Phoenix, the 1200VA version can handle up to 2200VA Peak power which is crucial for powering big power Tools like a saw or a well pump. We're using this unit in our garden to power the well and all power tools and it's flawless for years. while all our neighbors are still relying on generators were silent carbon neutral. Feels so great!
This review posted at a great time. I've had my eye on this inverter for my camper. I have other Victron equipment and wanted to be able to integrate it with the Venus OS on a Raspberry Pi. It's pricier than other inverters of the same size, but I won;t have to worry about it.
Yes love it, and love Victron. We use for most of our components because power consumption is a big deal. We have off grid AI cameras that don’t have a generator so they have to be able to operate basically forever. Power consumption on the inverter is a big deal where we don’t go directly DC
Love the review, oh yeah and these things are heavy I have a couple and I was like what the heck. Quality quality
As always your posts are Incredible. It's a great idea to use this to power small always on loads (or entire building) in a small off grid situation.
For 'whole house' battery / PV systems, which I'm guessing 100w idle for all your equipment, just to make the math easier, it's 2.4 kw a day, and if you plan for a 3 day cloudy spell, that's 7.2 kw, or about $3,000 worth of battery and $1,000 max for additional PV panels to recharge on a sunny day, so $4,000 vs $1,000 for this inverter and a tiny bit of battery. Problem with the math is at least 1/2 the day you'd need the whole house system running, requiring $1,500 worth of battery PLUS the $1,000 of this system, putting the real cost at $2,500 vs $4,000, a $1,500 savings which on a whole house system is not a huge savings.
PLUS
To economize on full home systems, seems trickier. I'd imagine that one could connect this to your main circuit panel, with a breaker to keep from accidentally over loading it, so you could use existing wiring to power up small loads and use your brain to limit loads, but if you have a family, friends around, that probably isn't an option and you'd need a separate panel and wiring feeding small loads, along with 'signage' and warnings at the plugs so nothing else it added that you haven't sized the system for. Tricky one way or the other.
One of these seem like a perfect use case for a small stand alone system in a garage powering the door opener and some lights.
Nice video! This inverter fills a common need for sure!
Dude, I enjoy your videos so much. I guess we’re the same kind of nerd. Thanks
You read my mind. I just got the 500w version for my portable solar bank. The cost is high, but it's actually able to handle its rating +++
I have the 800 version hooked up to a small lithium setup in my jeep that I only use for camping. I do not have much of a need for an inverter as most stuff I use is run off of 12 volt. All of my other components aside from my battery are Victron as well. I could have gone with a cheap china unit but I've used garbage in the past, and its always garbage. I wanted to know that what I have was going to just work no matter what. Ive only needed the inverter a handful of times and its been flawless. I have the remote mounted to a panel, I usually have no need to keep it on. This is a solid unit that will probably last me a lifetime. Its also nice using all Victron components so I have all relevant information on one screen in the app. While it may cost a little more up front, more than likely I will not ever have a need to replace any of the components so it will cost less in the long term.
As far as the firmware updates. Victron updates the firmware pretty regularly which is a good thing. The latest update has all the important info on one screen now in the app, I've been waiting for that
did you have to buy any bluetooth gizmo to get that data, or did it come as no extra cost?
As always, a great video and information.
I have this inverter and it has been working great for a year or so now. It is in constant daily use in my van. I’ve run a small Instapot on it but I needed full sunshine to do it. It is the largest 12 volt inverter I’d get. The Multiplus units are what I want to put in my motor home. I’ve got the Cerbo GX and the display along with the cellular comm device but I can’t figure out how to configure all of it. I have the Lynx distribution system and love it but still don’t have the BMV set up right. I’m a bit autistic and get confused but one day it will click and I’ll get it all figured out but it still all works great
Happy holidays, hope all was nice merry new year!
Until 12 months ago I was using a 12/375 Phoenix inverter for my TV, satellite receiver and for charging phones, laptop, Dyson vacuum battery etc. It's surprising how small an inverter you can get away with. I upgraded to a 12/800 when I wanted to run a Mobicool MB40 cooler/freezer 24/7 in the summer following installation of an SOK 206ah lithium battery. My Victron phoenix inverters (and other Victron gear) have been rock solid.
I'm surprised you were surprised at the ease of using the Bluetooth dongle 😂. Great review as always 👍
@@Erika_Kelly_Apparel at the store: they have a lot of refrigerator running , it will use a lot of power....
I have the Victron 12 oh 3000 W multiplus II In my motorhome and I love it. Thank you for the video.
congrats on your videos, they are cool, clear and easy to understand. Best
I have the 24v version. it runs the TV router sat dish and box and a couple lamps. it's been on 24hours a day for 9 months. good stuff
Dang man, when you were talking about the high cost I was thinking $1,000 +. $400 isn't that bad at all. Being limited to 1,200 watts is harder to overcome than the price.
That's almost the cost for a gallon of milk these days.
@@steveguy7165 its cheaper if you consider the gallon of gas to get it.
@@Ranch321 what did you say?
Did you not watch the video?
@@fishhuntadventure where do you get your milk from?
@@Ranch321 cows.
My point was 1200W; Will specifically mentions using it for a parallel system for continuous needs. It’s not that difficult - I’ve been over 4 years on a 1200W inverter. Even with a bigger off-grid household situation I can still see that being doable with some diversion from consumer mentality and instead doing planned usage.
My money most will pay the inverter and the controller . A lot of choice is my issue before l bite the bullet and go for it . Brilliant Videos . 👍
I use the 12/500 to recharge my goalzero 1500x instead of them silly lead acid tanks love it works perfectly
Another awesome video. Thsnk you for the detailed content.
The Meanwell 1500 3000 48V has similar specs and has a build in solar charge controller. Super high reliability but older design. No failures after dozen deployed.
I am your admirer, God bless you and all your TH-cam knowledge you share
Good vid & info as usual Will. Victron is nice, clean & reliable gear I believe, but it gets extra pricey for us Aussies who seem to like paying thru the arse for most things. I only have a couple of Smart shunts at this stage for a 24v & 48v system but am looking at more of the blue stuff for future builds/expansions. cheers
You are the best at what you are doing
After starting my system with a popular brand the starts with "R" and ends in "Y" which, as a newbie, I found to be a very helpful company, and relatively affordable, and fiddling around with other brands, I am beginning to migrate to Victron. I have a smart 150/100 cc, and I have converted a Power In into a fused battery combiner. I've been using a bmv-700 for many years. If my 12v2kw RY inverter ever burns up(good for several years now) I will most likely switch to a 48v victron inverter.
R...y has had decent customer service in my experience, obviously they sell lower quality products than victron. My experience with victron support was horrible, very rude and refused to answer simple questions. Local victron retailers are likely helpful but victron direct is not
@@TBButcher That's unfortunate about CS. This was my major reason that I stuck with the other brand so long, even though their gear is, as you say, inferior to Victron. It was fairly reliable, and not too pricey. The CS and replacement warranty is good. I will say, though, that victron has good web guides. Lots of manuals, etc. and I feel like Victron gear will be around for the long term. As with anything good, the initial investment can be a bit rough, but I don't think they'd be the choice of yacht builders if they were not reliable.
Love you brotha Will, Thanks for sharing.
Can't wait for your AC500 review!!!!! Hurry please!!!
Thanks for all your work.
Have you seen the announcement from Morningstar about the introduction of their expanded line of SureSine inverters and the GenStar MPPT DC charging platform? The new SureSine inverters include six models from 150-2500W .
The launch webinar via BigMarker is w/ PV Mag on Sept 28th, "New Off Grid Launch: DC/AC Inverters and HIgh-End DC Charging System".
There's also an interview w/ the presenters in the Sept 2 issue of PES Solar, p46.
Good info! And that test rig doesn't look too bad either. Would appreciate a refresher on the balance of system modules, wire-ways, panels etc. that are always mismatched and almost offensively ugly.
Such a pity this unit doesn't have a UPS function. It would be perfect !! Even the cheaper Rynogy units have the UPS function..... However Rynogy units shouldn’t be used with LiFePo4 battery's due to their inability to change charging parameters to suite LiFePo4. Thanks Will for another great review :)
Will, great video as always. Now, I have a challenge for you. One of the most difficult parts of a solar system is the location of panels. Many dont have the real estate to place them so my question for you is - Can I place panels vertically against the wall of my house and bounce sun light with mirrors? Is there any efficiency loss or is it do-able? any experiments you have done?
The victron software is awesome! I hate all the wires and different components you have to connect together though. Evern victron system looks super intimitating and complex. Wires everywhere!
thank you will Prowse everything i ever wanted in a youtube video
Will... your videos are awesome. I've watched close to all of them and some more than once as well as read your book. Still don't feel real confident to design a system. My girlfriend got a new building (25×34) built and wants a small system in her shop big enough to run lights and perhaps a few tools like drill or sander every once in a while. There is no heat or air so I'm wondering how the high and low temp will affect batteries or system? How small of a system do you think she could get by with? Located in Southeast Missouri so sun is pretty good and building may be dark for several days at a time.
I've got two 23 year old Trace SW2512 inverters that consume 12 watts on standby and have an adjustable search mode that uses a watt or two. 23 years old and still running! Trace was the original and as far as I'm concerned is the best.
I have the 24v version. I got it because it has a wider input voltage range than alot of cheaper inverters. I use it with a 3.5 Kilowatt Lithium Titanate battery bank that needs to be okay with 30V ish input. Some other inverters listed 30V as the absolute max input but would make unpleasant sounds at 30 volts, and didn't feel comfortable using them. This one doesn't seem to mind at all. Plus I really like the automatic shutdown on low voltage, I mean it's never been needed but I'd rather my freezer cut off for a few hours than my batteries getting fried out.
Regarding sound, how is the noise under different loads? I am considering running a max of 70 watt on f.e. a 24/250 model.
Thanks for the really great information.
I have the starklink and all my equipment is Victron Energy its all installed on my 47 foot sailboat the starlink works like a champ when I near shore since I have the RV version, yea even down here in Mexico.
Hey there buddy, took your advice on a simple agm solar power setup a few years back. Well if I had the amount of solar you have in your big home I could probably power all my needs in a place that has sunshine all year round. However, just a year into powering just 200ah of agm with 800 watts gave out. Still couldn't afford the lithium batteries so I bought another set of agm batteries. One year year later they gave out too. Also I fried many cells in my panels because I didn't have large enough solar wire for 800 watts. I had 10 gauge but I wasn't made aware from your setup that a lower gauge was necessary if your powering more than 200 watts on 10 gauge. Either way, my total investment of 2000 could have been better spent by just using a generator or portable power bank which would provide 10 times more power and last 10 times longer. Just an FYI.
I use it on my woods house powering no problem lights/phone/pc No brainer with the bluetooth dongle able to program shut off nad everything !
More Victron videos please Will. Soon you'll be a Victron ambassador and they'll just send you stuff for free to review. I'm doing heaps of research on a 3 phase micro grid setup and Victron seems to be the only gig in town. Can you also do a video on connecting a grid tied Fronius snap inverter to a Victron micro grid setup? Thanks in advance 😉
Have you done any reviews of inverters with internal automatic transfer switches? I have an RV that has "inverter prep" meaning I need to cut the AC cable that feeds the inverter prepped outlets and hardwire it to the inverter. (Not plug in to outlets on the RV, or the inverter, like most inverters seem to be set up for.) I've been trying to find one that would work, but wondered if you've tested any? I built, and installed, my own solar system on the RV from watching your videos and buying your book! So obviously I trust your reviews and knowledge. Thanks for guiding us!
For more accurate low current DC measurements, I would suggest that you run the DC directly through your good quality DVM. Most of them will accommodate 10 Amps (max). This will be more accurate than doing multiple turns through your Hall effect clamp-on DC meter. A 3.5 digit DVM should give you accurate DC current measurements down to 1 mA.
I think it's good to have a small 12v inverter that can power the basic required appliances, in an emergency you can connect your car to it to charge it if needed, especially if you are off grid! And if you have a riding mower, it would be worth fitting a car alternator to that you can remove the deck belt, and connect the alternator, or use its own pulley! 10-12 hp can generate tons of power to charge batteries,
Thanks for all of your videos. Do you have a listing of the standby power draw for all of the devices you recommend?
I am using the 24V/ 800VA version to drive a freezer on my boat both as dedicated inverter and not having to run the main 2kW inverter all the time, but also for its low idle draw. Having two inverters is good for backup too. The freezer has very large surge power need on startup, significantly over 1kW but only 60watts when running. You can hear the inverter growl for a second as the freezer demands power. First I bought the 500VA version and it could not handle the surge.
Thanks for your info! I'd like to get one for my fridge, it draws less than 100watts but spikes to over 600w on startup. At one point I saw it spike for 12 seconds at 400w but usually for 1 second. Do you know how long you can spike above rated for without doing damage?
Awesome info thnx Will
I run an independent, inductive inverter circuit to power a small refrigerator using a 700 watt "industrial" 24V inverter from Go Power. In its equivalent "eco" idle mode it draws 1.5 watts of power on average, far better than if my main inverter was powering this type of load. Its cost is in the same range as the Victron, though.
That was exactly what i was thinking about doing.
Hallo zusammen gute Videos sehr gut erklärt ich selber habe auch alles von Victron bin sehr zufrieden 😊👍
One thing to note, starlink pulls somewhere around 40W 24x7, and a lot more when the dish is searching. Its not a low-power system compared to, say, a cable-modem which pulls less than 5W 24x7. Also it is fairly easy to power most cable modems directly from 12VDC (their power adapters are typically 12VDC), so the AC does not have to be used at all. The starlink, unfortunately, takes AC directly into the unit.
Just a side note there, I know you were just using starlink as an example of a small load.
Other useful small loads... things like ethernet switches (2W), POE switches (variable), small routers (10-20W typically), and wifi base stations (typically 15W each), all 24 x 7 loads.
-Matt
Good information. Thanks Matt
Thanks, I just got notified and paid for my starlink this week. Now I need to find someone to install it on the roof (two story house).
After hurricane Katrina I ran a DSL modem and a Linksys wireless router off of a 60w Radio Shack inverter plugged into my pickup truck's cigarette lighter with 200' of 12 ga extension chord from the inverter to my home office. I recharged my laptop with the cigarette lighter charger when running around picking up supplies and waiting in line for water and ice. While I was out of electricity, I never lost the Bell South telephone/internet service. I was able to sit on the front porch and watch streaming news from the local TV stations on the laptop to stay informed for the week without power. I don't think the cable telephone I now have is nearly as robust.
After hurricane Katrina I ran a DSL modem and a Linksys wireless router off of a 60w Radio Shack inverter plugged into my pickup truck's cigarette lighter with 200' of 12 ga extension chord from the inverter to my home office. I recharged my laptop with the cigarette lighter charger when running around picking up supplies and waiting in line for water and ice. While I was out of electricity, I never lost the Bell South telephone/internet service. I was able to sit on the front porch and watch streaming news from the local TV stations on the laptop to stay informed for the week without power. Kind of primitive, but it worked. I don't think the cable telephone I now have is nearly as robust.
When it’s melting snow, it draws even more. Snow really croaks it. I’m going to have to buy the new Pro Antennae, which supposedly has a more powerful heater. If you have it mounted up high, like I do, you don’t want to be climbing up on a ladder in -20F..
Great videos Will. I have a Magnum CSW1012 inverter in our 20’ trailer, along with the Magnum CSW-RS Remote switch (using an RJ-11 phone cable) for easy ON/OFF. My inverter still works, but recently, the inverter’s display stopped showing the amp usage as it alternates with the voltage display (which does still display).
Also, I recently upgraded to an Enduro Power 200 Ah LifePo4 battery with a Victron 712 Smart Battery Monitor. I love the BT functionality, so I might want to upgrade to the Phoenix Inverter you review here (with the BT dongle).
Question: Can I utilize my existing Magnum RJ-11 On/Off Remote switch with the Victron inverter’s On/Off switch port, and if so, how would I wire it in? It was a lot of work running the Magnum remote switch’s cable, and I actually had to add an additional 6’ of RJ-12 wire to reach the location where I have the remote switch. So, I really don’t want to have to run another remote switch cable if I don’t have to.
Thanks! Keep up the great work.
My axpert 5kva hybrid inverter its about 5w in stand-by mode and it needs about 80w load to open full operation. With victron the budget was 3 or 4 times the money i spent. The advantages of the victron are the toroidal transformer, the monitoring application and service support.
My 12 volt off-grid inverter uses 1 Amp on standby, in winter, far too much, I used to have to go outside to turn off the inverter before sleep, getting out of a warm bed and going out naked in the snow was not much fun. Pre made remote switches only came with a non extendable 15m long cable were expensive and over complicated, so I ended up fitting a relay across the on/off switch of the inverter and a cable to a switch by my bed.
Sweet video just ordered one 🎉 but Can you use the eco mode when running a fridge?
Hey Will... I would love to see you address replacing a lead acid to lifepo4 in a UPS. I have seen people say it is fine to add lifepo4 to a standard UPS (cyber power, APC) and others scream it will burn down the entire neighborhood (exaggeration but you know what I mean) if you replace a lead acid for a lifepo4. A few companies (Chins, Ampere Time) have UPS in the title and description of Amazon posts post that they are ok for a UPS. Keep up the great work man.
Yeah, thise efficiency specs are insane. Perfect for my 48v car hauler project coming up. Yhe 1200 watt model will run the 8000btu inverter AC unit no problemo. And since 2 is 1 and 1 is none, ill have THREE because the price is pretty good for that efficiency.
Perfect for a greenhouse.
I don't understand why people seem to insist on using ONE inverter in power systems. Sometimes two if it's a phase thing.
With enough cap between the batteries and several smaller inverters makes more sense.
Simply zone your use types.
One for AC, another for lights and so on.
We love your job too!
Hello from Sacramento CA
I'm happy with my small Phoenix Inverter 12 | 375VA on my boat. Enough to power some laptops.
If the laptops can be charged from USB C then it might be worth going from battery to USB C power supply to laptops.
Victron Needs to Make Some Solar Power Stations, aka SOGENS, I love their Interface