Alex, I have not owned either up to this point. I have done some research on the subject since I have added battery capacity to my rig (4 x 6V), and have read the same as you about Xantrex supposedly bad customer service. apparently there was a buyout a few years ago. I have zeroed in on Magnum or Outback to replace my "el cheapo" that only runs the wine fridge, now. It seems like Magnum dominates the Class A motorhome market, some having 2 inverters. Outback Power is a few $$ higher than Magnum. I'm just waiting for the "fun money budget" to replenish. Too many capital improvement projects last year.
My money would be on the Magnum.
How do you panel on wiring it? Using a sub panel?
I have a Heart Interface 2500 similar to the Magnum, also a 1 in 1 out.
Lots to think about. But since you are looking at the high end, you have even more options.
What you may save in a 1 in 1 out inverter you will end up offsetting by potentially having to install sub panels.
And inverters are not 100% efficient, and the efficiency drops a bit once they get hot.
The Magnums are rated at 89% efficiency.
So if your battery bank is up to the task you will get about 1800 watts out of your 2K unit. Is that enough?
The Magnum series you are looking at work well with genny's too.
Ok, so here is where the plan sits now. After a ton of research I'm going to jump head first and do solar and the inverter all at once. I'm going with the Magnum 2012, and remote. I'll use the TriMetric 2030 Controller (PWM) and Monitor. I'm thinking 3 Kyocera 130-140 Watt 12V panels, for 390 to 420 total. I'll wire the panels in parallel on the roof with 8AWG to a combiner and run 4AWG to the basement. I plan to airtight seal the 4 6V batteries in a box, and mount the charge controller and inverter in the batt/generator compartment, (unless that's a horrible idea, then they go on the other side of the wall in the basement.) 4AWG cable from the charge controller to the batteries, and 4/0 cable connecting the batteries to each other and the inverter. The inverter will be fed from the main by a dual 30 amp breaker. I will run 10/3 to a new sub panel and balance the microwave and bedroom outlets on one 30 amp side, and two 15 amp circuits for the remaining outlets on the other side. I'll be adding a 300 amp catastrophic fuse to the battery, and appropriate fuses and switchers to the wire runs.
I have come off the MPPT solar controller idea since the gains likely realized (10%-ish) are too small on a 400 watt solar array. It limits me to 12V panels, but the cost of three 12V panels plus PWM controller is within a few dollars of 2 larger panels and an MPPT controller.
I'm open to suggestions or comments to steer me in the right direction. Again, I am looking to run the microwave and Keurig (not at the same time) and be able to watch all the TVs at the same time without running a generator. Thanks for everyone's input. I feel like I'm getting a pretty decent handle on all this stuff.
