Always a good idea to have a spare inverter anyway, even if you have a good one. In anycase, you made a great choice getting a Victron for your replacement. You will be very happy with it. They make good LF inverters (actually Victron is a LF/HF hybrid, but very good), and they have very low idle consumption. Same thing with charge controllers and other components. It's always good to have at least two charge controllers hooked up (separate solar strings going into each one), so you aren't left high and dry if/when one breaks. -Matt
Agreed!! Soon as we get our “on grid” house sold, this system is getting a good upgrade. I’ve been looking into Victron’s Multiplus. A bit more expensive but looks like up to 6 can be ran together. I think 2-3 would give us all the power we’ll ever use. Plus upgrade those damn batteries 😂😂😂 (they came with the camper when we bought it)
I see those cheap chinese inverter all over amazon. But i spent the extra buck and got 1200 watt victron inverter. 2 years later and still work. Also you should add a fuse on your positive line going into the inverter. The fuse should be rated about 10 amps above your max draw the inverter can do. If anything shorts, the fuse will go out first instead of the inverter fuse or the inverter itself.
Next I would have a look at getting a Cerbo GX. It’s a networking device that allows all of your Victron gear to talk to each other and monitor other things like tank levels or anything you can put a sensor on like monitoring the temperature of a fridge/freezer. You’ll be able to monitor your power system on your phone via wifi/bluetooth and monitor your system when you are away from your property if you connect the Cerbo to the internet. They really are a great thing to have for a farm and for lots of other situations too.
@@ReWildingOffGrid If you need any advice just reach out. I’ve got a buddy here in Australia who has a channel about this too called Organic Power. Myself I’m a mature aged Electrical Engineering student following my father’s footsteps.
Your battery not lifetime warranty. You check with batteries level volts. Solar batteries can charger controller 30 amps or 60 amps feed more power batteries.
When it does come in make sure an REALLY upsize those cables! There is no way those were big enough for a 3500w inverter. Most of the cheap inverters don't reach near their claimed output and if they come with cables those are too small usually for what they actually do put out! You want copper, not CCA, 1/0 minimum but I would just go with 4/0 cable. Buy once, cry once, as they say. Get 20' of cable, a good crimper, and terminals and you will probably be set for life as it doesn't "go bad" if you keep it clean, dry, out of the sun, et cetera and your grandkids will be using those cables. It's the single best investment you can make in solar.
You got that right!!! The cables that came with it were absolutely too small. We did use a lower gauge cable but Chris said it up and I’m not sure exactly what size he used. I’ll ask him and show him your comment! Thank you!!!! Edit: Chris said we did upgrade to the 4/0 cables with the inverter. He said it was the largest he could find locally.
Not sure what your batteries are, they look like lead-acid ones... If so, swap your batteries for LiFePO4 batteries - significant upgrade. Also, consider a 24v or even 48 volt system vs the 12v - You can use smaller cables between connections and gives you more room on appliance options. Victron is the best! For batteries I really like the Battle Born Batteries with the self heater in them to keep the batteries optimal during the winter. Good luck!
They are lead acid. They came as a freebie when we bought the camper so we figured we’d put them to use for now. Definitely going LifePO4 once our on-grid house sells. Just gotta a few more things to do before it goes to market. But once it does, this whole system will get a redo! Thank you for your feedback!! 💚
Turn off the captions. UA-cam has their own if we need them. Yep.. you get what you pay for. I'd reccomend to have a spare inverter as well and fuses too.
Thanks for the feedback! Posted this to TT too and the captions help with search optimization. And I agree and I know better! Chris is going to see if he can repair this inverter but eventually, we want to switch over to Victrons inverter/controller combos and these will be our back ups.
Unplug that bad inverter and open it up. You will most likely find a blown fuse inside.
I’m going to check this! Thank you!
Always a good idea to have a spare inverter anyway, even if you have a good one. In anycase, you made a great choice getting a Victron for your replacement. You will be very happy with it. They make good LF inverters (actually Victron is a LF/HF hybrid, but very good), and they have very low idle consumption.
Same thing with charge controllers and other components. It's always good to have at least two charge controllers hooked up (separate solar strings going into each one), so you aren't left high and dry if/when one breaks.
-Matt
Agreed!! Soon as we get our “on grid” house sold, this system is getting a good upgrade. I’ve been looking into Victron’s Multiplus. A bit more expensive but looks like up to 6 can be ran together. I think 2-3 would give us all the power we’ll ever use.
Plus upgrade those damn batteries 😂😂😂 (they came with the camper when we bought it)
I see those cheap chinese inverter all over amazon. But i spent the extra buck and got 1200 watt victron inverter. 2 years later and still work. Also you should add a fuse on your positive line going into the inverter. The fuse should be rated about 10 amps above your max draw the inverter can do. If anything shorts, the fuse will go out first instead of the inverter fuse or the inverter itself.
That’s what we ended up going with! Fuses and all the goodies are coming as soon as our other house sells 💚
Once you’ve had Victron gear for a while you’ll never want anything else.
I definitely see that being the case 😂 just gotta upgrade and add a little here and there for now!
Next I would have a look at getting a Cerbo GX.
It’s a networking device that allows all of your Victron gear to talk to each other and monitor other things like tank levels or anything you can put a sensor on like monitoring the temperature of a fridge/freezer.
You’ll be able to monitor your power system on your phone via wifi/bluetooth and monitor your system when you are away from your property if you connect the Cerbo to the internet.
They really are a great thing to have for a farm and for lots of other situations too.
Interesting! I’ll have to look into that after we get the cabin built.
@@ReWildingOffGrid If you need any advice just reach out. I’ve got a buddy here in Australia who has a channel about this too called Organic Power.
Myself I’m a mature aged Electrical Engineering student following my father’s footsteps.
I’ll do that!! Thank you!! 😊 Any advice is always appreciated. Solar/electrical is new territory for us!
Your battery not lifetime warranty. You check with batteries level volts. Solar batteries can charger controller 30 amps or 60 amps feed more power batteries.
I’m sorry, but I can’t make sense of your comment.
@@ReWildingOffGrid I am experience solar system. I can’t help with your solar system problem issue. I am sorry
Oh ok.
When it does come in make sure an REALLY upsize those cables! There is no way those were big enough for a 3500w inverter. Most of the cheap inverters don't reach near their claimed output and if they come with cables those are too small usually for what they actually do put out! You want copper, not CCA, 1/0 minimum but I would just go with 4/0 cable. Buy once, cry once, as they say. Get 20' of cable, a good crimper, and terminals and you will probably be set for life as it doesn't "go bad" if you keep it clean, dry, out of the sun, et cetera and your grandkids will be using those cables. It's the single best investment you can make in solar.
You got that right!!! The cables that came with it were absolutely too small. We did use a lower gauge cable but Chris said it up and I’m not sure exactly what size he used. I’ll ask him and show him your comment!
Thank you!!!!
Edit: Chris said we did upgrade to the 4/0 cables with the inverter. He said it was the largest he could find locally.
Not sure what your batteries are, they look like lead-acid ones... If so, swap your batteries for LiFePO4 batteries - significant upgrade.
Also, consider a 24v or even 48 volt system vs the 12v - You can use smaller cables between connections and gives you more room on appliance options.
Victron is the best! For batteries I really like the Battle Born Batteries with the self heater in them to keep the batteries optimal during the winter.
Good luck!
They are lead acid. They came as a freebie when we bought the camper so we figured we’d put them to use for now.
Definitely going LifePO4 once our on-grid house sells. Just gotta a few more things to do before it goes to market. But once it does, this whole system will get a redo!
Thank you for your feedback!! 💚
Turn off the captions. UA-cam has their own if we need them. Yep.. you get what you pay for. I'd reccomend to have a spare inverter as well and fuses too.
Thanks for the feedback! Posted this to TT too and the captions help with search optimization.
And I agree and I know better! Chris is going to see if he can repair this inverter but eventually, we want to switch over to Victrons inverter/controller combos and these will be our back ups.
I see these all the time $135 pieces of junk. I saw them last night. I’m not gonna buy one.
Definitely don’t recommend that you do! They are junk.