Xantrex prosine or modified

[Pete Masterson]

The most modern inverter technology is more efficient than the inverters of a few years ago. Efficiencies of 95% are common. 

The digital circuitry in an inverter will normally create a "square wave" AC if it wasn't internally adjusted to do otherwise. Since most motor-driven devices can not accept a square wave, the "modified sine wave" inverter was created. It 'steps' the square wave up and down in the cycle sequence. If you could view the wave (on an oscilloscope), you'd see a pattern of stairs. A true sine wave inverter will some much closer to the analog sine wave that comes from electric generators. The digital nature of the inverter circuitry will always leave some 'stepiness' to the wave form, a true sine wave inverter will have much smaller steps than the typical modified sine wave form. 

The main reason to have a true sine wave is that electric motors run cooler and more efficiently. It has little impact on appliances and lights that don't have motors. (The power supply in a TV or computer usually converts the electricity to DC anyway for internal use -- but some such appliances don't particularly like square waves, so need, at least, modified sine wave electricity.)

Can't say how much improved efficiency a 2008 inverter will provide when compared to a 1994 model. Try to find a conversion efficiency specification in the documentation you have... 

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Feb 8, 2008, at 7:10 AM, Gregory OConnor wrote:

I do quite a bit of dry camping short trips.  Last year I replaced 8 

12volt batteries with 6 L-16 and now I need a larger battery charger.

I now have the origional '94 heart2800 inverter and two '04 Xantrex 

smart charge 40's for chargers. When the detroit is powered it puts 

out over 300 amps so I know the bank can take  a large charge.  I 

want to tax the generator with powering more charger at a shorter 

run time. It seems that the best way to buy a charger larger than 50 

amps is to buy a inverter charger. My thinking is that inverter 

technology has advanced  in efficiency since '94 also therefor I 

narrowed my choice to Xantrex refurbished units. I like refurbished 

mostly because $$$$$$$$$$$.   

I cant get a straight answer if the new  modified sine inverters are 

more efficient with consumption of 12volts then my old '94 

heart2800. Do I need a pure sine wave if the old heart does 

everything I need?

here is a link to the prices on refurbished Xantrex

http://sunelec.com/Distributors_/Trace/body_trace.html

GregoryO'Connor

94ptRomolandCa

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