I'm in the market for a 1000 watt inverter and looking at Samlex. It seems that they have 3 series; SSW, PST and SA. The SSW looks like a price point product to compete with other Chinese stuff. Probably won't choose that. I'm having trouble distinguishing between the other two. The PST is a 120V device with DC input range of 10.7V-16.5V. The SA is a 110V device (switch adjustable to 100V or 120V)with DC input range of 10.5V-15V. My concern is that the high cutoff of the SA of 15V could be a problem when the alternator is really putting out or when the weather is cold and the solar is cranked up. Anyone have any experience with the SA who can allay my concern? Price is about the same for the PST and SA. Dunno the target market for each.
Samlex inverters
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In reading the spec sheets for the SA vs. PST it seems to me the SA is superior. The operating temperature range is not as good on the SA however, so if doing the cold climate thing the PST may be the choice. Dimensionally the SA seemed better, more efficient converting DC/AC, the 2000w surge for 3s vs. < 8ms, sleep mode. I don't know the history of these products nor have I used them. It seems to me the SA might be the newer or more high end product.
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the u.s. military was impressed with them at first and bought 100s of them but after the first year of use decided they were unsuitable for military use and they switched to Xantrex and have since bought 1000s of them. but that says a lot about the samlex or else they would have never considered them at all! (i have read that the xantrex are now junk since they switched to chinese manufacture!)
I came to the same conclusions. I'm hoping that someone who has actually used the SA can tell me whether the thing has cut off from overvoltage.
And, yes, Michael, I've read the same about the Chinese made Xantrex.
You may have better luck finding someone with experience with them on a solar power forum. The one I use is run by Northern Arizona Wind & Sun, who sells both models.
http://forum.solar-electric.com/index.php
I have a 1500W PST model but it's the previous generation. Worked fine for my needs at the time (I had a 12V bank in the house, have since upgraded it to 48V) and am debating installing it in the Transit. Not sure I'll need it yet though...
From a brief read of the SA web page it sounds like that line has been built more like a "real" off-grid house inverter. The PST series is more of the "turn it on when you need to use it" type inverter. It doesn't go to sleep automatically, has a relatively high idle current, stuff like that. Also the SA line looks to be designed to handle poor power factor (reactive) loads better. That may or may not be very useful for you, depends on what you intend to power with it. I have so far not found much I'd want to run that's too bad power-factor wise. I'm not sure how a microwave does though, haven't put my Kill-A-Watt meter on one to measure yet.
One spec difference that could be very helpful is the surge rating. The PST series is kind of pointless - mine was rated 1/2 cycle (1/120th of a second!) which is useless really so anything I want to power with it must come in below 1500W - thus why I got it in the first place, so my fridge would start. It had a 1200W or so surge on startup that would last several seconds. The SA's 3 second rating is more reasonable. My favorite inverter in this regard is the Morningstar SureSine. Only a 300W inverter but can handle a 600W load - for 15 minutes!
http://forum.solar-electric.com/index.php
I have a 1500W PST model but it's the previous generation. Worked fine for my needs at the time (I had a 12V bank in the house, have since upgraded it to 48V) and am debating installing it in the Transit. Not sure I'll need it yet though...
From a brief read of the SA web page it sounds like that line has been built more like a "real" off-grid house inverter. The PST series is more of the "turn it on when you need to use it" type inverter. It doesn't go to sleep automatically, has a relatively high idle current, stuff like that. Also the SA line looks to be designed to handle poor power factor (reactive) loads better. That may or may not be very useful for you, depends on what you intend to power with it. I have so far not found much I'd want to run that's too bad power-factor wise. I'm not sure how a microwave does though, haven't put my Kill-A-Watt meter on one to measure yet.
One spec difference that could be very helpful is the surge rating. The PST series is kind of pointless - mine was rated 1/2 cycle (1/120th of a second!) which is useless really so anything I want to power with it must come in below 1500W - thus why I got it in the first place, so my fridge would start. It had a 1200W or so surge on startup that would last several seconds. The SA's 3 second rating is more reasonable. My favorite inverter in this regard is the Morningstar SureSine. Only a 300W inverter but can handle a 600W load - for 15 minutes!
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