:Pure Sine Inverters/Solar Panels

[Ladypilot10]

Has anyone on our forum purchased a pure sine wave inverter and installed
solar panels to run the coach (Winnebago 24V Chalet, E450). If so,
which inverter, how many watts?, and which solar panels did you use?

Thanks.

Ladypilot10
Birmingham, AL

[okcnewbie]

It really doesn't matter what MH you have. There are many panels, controllers, etc that will work well. It's best that you educate yourself and then do an power evaluation.

You could start by getting a good battery monitor while you research.

Here is a good place to start. I ended up building his small project example.

https://handybobsolar.wordpress.com/

[Lv2Roam2]

Also check out the AM Solar website...they sell components and do installations...

[Duner]

Here's a 400 watt system with a pure sine wave inverter and solar regulator/charger Costco sells for $1300 ($1100 on sale). It's probably one of the lowest cost systems available and a satisfaction guarantee.

Grape Solar 400-Watt Off-Grid Solar Panel Kit

[LarryW21]

WindyNation 300 watt solar panels with MPPT controller work great for me. My inverter is only 150 watts...plenty for my TV and cell/iPad recharging.

[S Bradley]

There is more to the Solar process than just throwing money at it, unless you are letting someone else make all the decisions $$$$$. Be armed with a little knowledge.

Here is are some links.

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f93/solar-power-194234.html

You will need to determine your AMP Hour requirement, first.

Battery School | Batteriesnorthwest.com | Battery Information

Solar calculator

Solar Sizing Calculator

http://www.rvsolarsystemsonline.com/wattage-calculator/

[wa8yxm]

I do not have solar but do have a no longer made PSW inverter, so I won't bore you with the make (ox it's Xantrex)_ or model... One thign I found out surprised me big time..

I always thought that an MSW inverter was more "Efficient" than a PSW.

That is till I decided to research it one day (Someone on one of the RV forums made a statement and I decided, as I often do, to check it out)

Turns out that for the inverter I have peak effiency is about 90%
For the X-power MSW inverter, also by Xantrex and far as I know still made. the peak efficiency is .... 90%... No differnece (THUD)(Sound of me falling off chair).

I will add just to make it as even a comparison as possible I choose two inverters with the same wattage rating as well (not the one I have). but to find them both (Well the PSW was actually 89-90%) the same was surprising.

So do not fear PSW. more money up front but.. I will now give you the list of things that do not like (Work properly) with PSW inverters.. The ENTIRE LIST:

Any device needing more power than the inverter can produce.

There is is folks, that's it, the entire list

now for the MSW list... Well The above is the last item in a list that's too long for me to type and growning daily but some of the enteries are

Clocks, Microwaves, ANY DEVICE with a digital timer, Electric blanket controllers, LED "path" or night lights, Any audio, or video (Including radio television and satellite receivers) devices and more....

As I said, an ever growing list. Oh, and Voltmeters.. Many of them give wrong voltage indication.

[LarryW21]

Oh rats! Yes my inverter is pure sine wave. I'm not wiling to chance using a modified.

[UFO Pilot]

Funny, I have been running my TV's, DISH satellite box, surround sound / Bluray, etc on a MSW inverter for 9 plus years without any problems. Blanket statements are rarely correct. Just my experience and opinion.

[vsheetz]

Originally Posted by UFO Pilot

Funny, I have been running my TV's, DISH satellite box, surround sound / Bluray, etc on a MSW inverter for 9 plus years without any problems. Blanket statements are rarely correct. Just my experience and opinion.

Me too, many years of running everything via several MSW inverters in three different coaches. No problems...

[Jim_HiTek]

Mine is a MSW too. And no problems so far. It's the lower cost devices that are affected adversely by MSW. And those are slowly being retired.

Also, these days, even the lower cost MSW inverters have a pretty good looking sine wave.

[Switchflicke]

I'm so glad you folks Jim HiTek, vsheetz and UFO Pilot spoke up. I have a high(er) end MSW inverter of 400 watt. It's been powering the TV and charging devices for a few years now without any adverse effects that I can tell. I read these articles and think I should get a PSW inverter to protect my stuff, but it's been OK for so long that I chicken out each time!! Thanks again.