[RE-wrenches] Reliable Cheap Modsine Inverter

[Dan Fink]

Bob; agreed!

And to add to your 24v issue from my own Morningstar SureSine wish list....

Some sort of "power panel" type box, but deep,  that houses the
SureSine inside with easy mounting of the inverter, secure strain
relief on everything especially the DC input wires, DIN rail for PV
input DC and 120vac breakers, and Main DC breaker, which doesn't have
to be huge, and an outdoor rated box as an option.

The Midnite MiniDC w/ 125 amp Dc main works fine electrically, but I
want the SureSine *inside* an enclosure. The groovy input lugs up to
#2AWG on the sure sine work fine, but there's no strain relief. No
idea where to get deep, esoteric grey boxes with knockouts cheap. ANd
have to drill and tap our own holes, etc

Midnite Solar, APRS World, are you listening? Not that tiny off-grid
systems are a huge market or anything. But I bet we could deploy a few
SureSine-in-a-box systems. We end up having to screw system components
to a plywood square and shrink wrap them so no wires get pulled out of
their lugs during helicopter or raft transport. Much better to have
everything in one secure box.

Dan Fink,
Executive Director;
Otherpower
Buckville Energy Consulting
Buckville Publications LLC
NABCEP / IREC accredited Continuing Education Providers
970.672.4342




On Wed, Mar 13, 2013 at 11:07 AM, bob ellison <reellison at gmail.com> wrote:
> I can second the Morningstar SureSine, it just works! To bad it is not
> available in 24 volts. I keep hoping.
>
> Bob Ellison
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
> [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Dan Fink
> Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 12:28 PM
> To: RE-wrenches
> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Reliable Cheap Modsine Inverter
>
> Ray;
>
> Keep in mind that with truck stop inverters, everything *must* be plugged
> into the front 120vac outlets on the inverter. You can use a power strip,
> but can NOT run a wire to a breaker box. The ground/neutral bond will fry
> most of these inverters, and you could see some significant leakage on the
> ground line.
>
> The only brand I've had decent luck with is Xantrex ProWatt. The rest have
> all fried fairly quickly for various reasons.
>
> Personally I'd go straight for a MorningStar SureSine, and a small breaker
> box. These are awesome little inverters at 300W continuous. No fan, no
> hassle, they just sit there and work, for years.
>
>
> Dan Fink,
> Executive Director;
> Otherpower
> Buckville Energy Consulting
> Buckville Publications LLC
> NABCEP / IREC accredited Continuing Education Providers
> 970.672.4342
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Mar 13, 2013 at 10:01 AM, Ray Walters <ray at solarray.com> wrote:
>> Hi Guys;
>>
>> I have a project that will need multiple small battery based inverters.
>> Each one will only be running a 100 w max. computer power supply, so
>> there are no significant surges, and modsine will be fine  (most small
>> UPS systems only put out modsine)  Avg load will be 20 watts.
>> I know these little devils are sold everywhere from Walmart to
>> Autozone, but what brand holds up to moderate use?
>> Has anybody tried AIMs inverters?
>> Cost is an issue, budget can't afford a Magnum 600, or other
>> transformer based model, but reliability is most important.  I'm
>> planning on oversizing it substantially, I figure I would start with
>> something at at least 400 w cont rating, just to make sure.  I had an
>> old no name 1500 w inverter on our work truck that we took in on
>> trade, and it actually ran a circular saw.  We tried to burn it out and
> never did.
>> UL listing is not an issue, as these will be very small stand alone
>> systems not requiring AHJs or permits.
>>
>> Thanks in advance as always,
>>
>> --
>> R.Ray Walters
>> CTO, Solarray, Inc
>> Nabcep Certified, Licensed Contractor
>> 808 269-7491
>>
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