Alternative Power sources - Aims v.s. Samlex sine wave inverters ??

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Aims v.s. Samlex sine wave inverters ??

meshach@allstream.net

2005-08-10, 2:21 pm

When comparing the Aims 1500w and Samlex 1500w sine wave inverters, why
the big difference in some specs? Aims sine wave inverters are twice as
heavy, twice the surge capacity and consume 3 to 4 times more power in
no load conditions when compared to the Samlex inverters. The Aims sine
wave inverters cost about 15 - 20 % less.
Link to the Aims inverter http://www.invertersrus.com/inv150012s.html

Link to the Samlex inverter:
http://www.donrowe.com/inverters/puresine_1500.html

Robert Morein

2005-08-10, 4:21 pm

<meshach@allstream.net> wrote in message
news:1123691690.833824.252450@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> When comparing the Aims 1500w and Samlex 1500w sine wave inverters, why
> the big difference in some specs? Aims sine wave inverters are twice as
> heavy, twice the surge capacity and consume 3 to 4 times more power in
> no load conditions when compared to the Samlex inverters. The Aims sine
> wave inverters cost about 15 - 20 % less.
> Link to the Aims inverter http://www.invertersrus.com/inv150012s.html
>
> Link to the Samlex inverter:
> http://www.donrowe.com/inverters/puresine_1500.html

Because they are designed differently.
There are many choices the designer can make.
I chose the Samlex because it has extremely low power draw when in "search"
mode. Thus, the system can run all night to provide on-demand lighting.

If you have a scenario that involves starting motor appliances, choose the
Aims converter.

Scott Willing

2005-08-10, 10:21 pm

On 10 Aug 2005 09:34:50 -0700, meshach@allstream.net wrote:

>When comparing the Aims 1500w and Samlex 1500w sine wave inverters, why
>the big difference in some specs? Aims sine wave inverters are twice as
>heavy, twice the surge capacity and consume 3 to 4 times more power in
>no load conditions when compared to the Samlex inverters. The Aims sine
>wave inverters cost about 15 - 20 % less.
>Link to the Aims inverter http://www.invertersrus.com/inv150012s.html
>
> Link to the Samlex inverter:
>http://www.donrowe.com/inverters/puresine_1500.html

Though I know nothing of the AIMS...

An inverter needs to perform the following functions:

(a) invert (duh) i.e. convert DC to AC
(b) step up the voltage from battery to line level
(c) isolate input from output (unless it's a small toy inverter) by
incorporating a transformer somewhere

There are two common topologies. Exceedingly simplified they are:

1. Low voltage inverter stage feeds transformer at line frequency.
2. Transformer-coupled high frequency switching step-up converter
feeds direct-coupled inverter.

The former is favoured by the Trace / Outback guys and others.
The latter is favoured by Samlex, Statpower and others.

(Of course Trace+Statpower are now part of the evil Xantrex empire.)

Potential pros and cons of the two approaches (again, simplified):

1. Pro: relative simplicity (one electronic conversion stage + a big
passive chunk of wire and iron) and potentially higher ruggedness as a
result. Con: line-frequency transformer = heavy and large.

2. Pro: small size and low weight thanks to high-frequency transformer
in up-converter (for a given power, size of magnetics goes down as
frequency goes up). Con: more complex (two separate electronic
conversion stages).

The second approach tends to have the edge, all other things being
equal, in efficiency.

-=s

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