A Quiet Inverter

[Panope]

I would like to buy an inverter that is silent. Does anyone make one that does not have a fan? Looking for about 500 watt capacity. Pure sine wave. My preference is to mount the unit in the main cabin and plug appliances directly into it. Thanks.

Steve

[transmitterdan]

At 500W it is unlikely you will find something without a fan. This is because the cost would be very much higher. Some units use variable speed fans. So you may wish to look for a higher power unit such as 2kW with variable speed fan. Then test it to see if the fan will be mostly silent at 200-300W.

[rebel heart]

I have a xantrek (I know, garbage) 1000w that has performed flawlessly and I can't hear it (or its tiny fan) at all. Pure sine wave.

[transmitterdan]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

I have a xantrek (I know, garbage) 1000w that has performed flawlessly and I can't hear it (or its tiny fan) at all. Pure sine wave.

What is the model #? I am also looking for same thing as OP. It sounds like this might be what I need (even though it took a vow never to buy their products again).

[zeehag]

i bought a xantrex 1000 invertor, found it not to function, bought a spare invertor of 1000 wtt capacity, use that, friend fixed the xantrex--it was the toggle switch not functioning... something about connections in the brand new item.....easily fixed..
my xantrex charger invertor system, on my ericson is fine, and the fan is almost silent, but that is an older, pre-china model.....
i have yet to find any completely silent invertors.
let me know if you do find some.

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by transmitterdan

What is the model #? I am also looking for same thing as OP. It sounds like this might be what I need (even though it took a vow never to buy their products again).

I got this one:

Xantrex PROwatt SW 1000 Power Inverter

The charger I have from them is rather crummy. It frequently goes offline from "overheating" and just randomly blinks on and off. So if you're in the states and can handle returning it the unit if it's a dud, go for it.

There's also no remote (or I don't have one if there is one), which kind of sucks because I have it mounted in the battery compartment and I'd like to be able to turn it on and off so the SSB doesn't get noisy.

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by Panope

I would like to buy an inverter that is silent. Does anyone make one that does not have a fan? Looking for about 500 watt capacity. Pure sine wave. My preference is to mount the unit in the main cabin and plug appliances directly into it. Thanks.

Steve

Why not just locate the inverter somewhere else?

[transmitterdan]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

Why not just locate the inverter somewhere else?

For us the answer is we already have a big inverter someplace else. But I also wanted a smaller one for the times when all we want is to watch a DVD. The cabin is already wired for a small inverter and I don't feel the need to spend some days rewiring. Plus it's nice to have a backup.

RH, thanks for the link. I worry a bit about the RF noise but I can return if it wipes out reception.

[smac999]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

I got this one:

Xantrex PROwatt SW 1000 Power Inverter

The charger I have from them is rather crummy. It frequently goes offline from "overheating" and just randomly blinks on and off. So if you're in the states and can handle returning it the unit if it's a dud, go for it.

There's also no remote (or I don't have one if there is one), which kind of sucks because I have it mounted in the battery compartment and I'd like to be able to turn it on and off so the SSB doesn't get noisy.

I'm pretty sure the panel is removable and can be mounted anywhere. probably just need a phone cable. I think they even come with a blank plate to fill the hole when you buy it.

also that website shows the optional external switch...

[Panope]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

Why not just locate the inverter somewhere else?

Panope has no A/C power system. If I mount the inverter in the mechanical area I will have to run an extension cord sorta permanently = cheesy.

Also, I am very paranoid about any out-of-sight electrical equipment. I want to be immediately notified of any smoldering or burning so that I have some chance of putting out the fire before the hull insulation ignites.

Metal boat + blown-in-insulation + fire = My worst nightmare.

Steve

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by smac999

I'm pretty sure the panel is removable and can be mounted anywhere. probably just need a phone cable. I think they even come with a blank plate to fill the hole when you buy it.

also that website shows the optional external switch...

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by transmitterdan

For us the answer is we already have a big inverter someplace else. But I also wanted a smaller one for the times when all we want is to watch a DVD. The cabin is already wired for a small inverter and I don't feel the need to spend some days rewiring. Plus it's nice to have a backup.

Sure... in your case you'd obviously just grab a smallish fanless inverter ( < 200w ) I have a couple of 75W inverters like that.

Originally Posted by Panope

Panope has no A/C power system. If I mount the inverter in the mechanical area I will have to run an extension cord sorta permanently = cheesy.

Also, I am very paranoid about any out-of-sight electrical equipment. I want to be immediately notified of any smoldering or burning so that I have some chance of putting out the fire before the hull insulation ignites.

Metal boat + blown-in-insulation + fire = My worst nightmare.

Understood.

Unless your batteries are in the cabin, you may pay more to run heavy DC wire to the inverter than it would cost to run one properly-installed AC outlet. That may be a consideration.

My worst nightmare involves Roseanne Barr and food poisoning. But this isn't the place to elaborate.

[transmitterdan]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

Sure... in your case you'd obviously just grab a smallish fanless inverter ( < 200w ) I have a couple of 75W inverters like that.

I could not find a sine wave inverter at 200W that has no (or at least silent) fan. There are lots of quasi sinusoidal but my DVD player and TV won't work on them.

[Panope]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

Unless your batteries are in the cabin, you may pay more to run heavy DC wire to the inverter than it would cost to run one properly-installed AC outlet. That may be a consideration.

A good point.

If I mount the inverter on the galley bulkhead, It will be about a 5 foot run to the battery switch panel - so 10 feet round trip. Not to bad.

While I was looking at wire size charts, I got to thinking about the inverter's power rating. Most have a "surge" rating of double the normal rating. Does one size the wire for the surge or for the normal rating?

Steve

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Panope

Panope has no A/C power system. If I mount the inverter in the mechanical area I will have to run an extension cord sorta permanently = cheesy.

Also, I am very paranoid about any out-of-sight electrical equipment. I want to be immediately notified of any smoldering or burning so that I have some chance of putting out the fire before the hull insulation ignites.

Metal boat + blown-in-insulation + fire = My worst nightmare.

Steve

Then put a smoke alarm in with it.


Dave