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 /Power/Inverter Chargers
Inverter Chargers Combined Inverter Chargers InformationThe new range of combined inverter chargers are made primarily for new builds, these units incorporate an inverter and charger with a U.P.S. crossover (uninterruptible crossover). This means that a TV, if on shore power, will automatically switch over to the inverter if the shore power is disconnected, without the TV switching off. The units also have other important features. For example, they have power sharing built in with a priority to the 230 mains. For example, if the battery charger is using a lot of power and you switch on a hair dryer, the battery charger will reduce its power consumption to ensure the hair dryer is suitably supplied from the shore power. Then after the dryer is switched off the charger will up its power output to charge the batteries as fast as possible. The rating of these products in Europe is becoming a bit of a nightmare. All companies are trying to make their products look the best, by twisting the power figures and temperatures, so that members of the public sees these big power figures and believe the power figures on the box are what the product does as a continuous rating; until it is too late. Then he finds out he has not purchased what he thought he had and because there are no legal ratings for these products, it’s just tough. The performance of an inverter is dependent on the temperature of the ambient and how long you wish to sustain the maximum power. The problem in Europe is the absence of an agreed standard. And as such, there is a major free-for-all, as everyone endeavours to get the largest figure possible on the front box, to give the illusion of better value. The trouble with this practice is as soon as one company starts to con the public with their new twist on figures, then other companies who do not practice this, have no option but to follow. Then some other new twist comes out, which make this specification process become worse and worse. The general public are simply not sufficiently informed about or protected against these bad practices to make an informed decision. We have this all the time where people compare our 2500 watt inverter to a Mastervolt or a Victron 2500 watt inverter, we then have to explain that the figures are simply not the same. Here are examples of 2 products whose figures were obtained from their web sites and are correct as per 30/10/2003 when this was written. The Victron 3000 watt combi (multi) on the surface looks like a 3000 watt inverter, however when you read the actual specification it is 3000 va at 25C. It is 2500 watt at 25C and at 40C (the ABYC temperature) it is only 2000 watt. So when you read the small print, what looks like a 3000 watt unit on first inspection, is in fact a 2000 watt unit when comparing it to a ABYC rated Sterling product. As if that is not bad enough, their 2500 watt unit turns out to be a 1600 watt unit, so a 1500 watt sterling unit is almost the same as the 2500 watt Victron. This is why we get all these phone calls saying that our products are bigger than Victron. Now you know why, they are a lot more powerful. The Mastervolt units are not much better. Take for example, their product called the Dakar 3000.On first inspection it looks like a 3000 watt inverter, however in the specification it is 3000 va at a P30 rating (this is some magic 30 min rating, I believe). But at 40C it is a continual 2500 va rating. Which according to Victron, a 2500 va rating is a 2000 watt rating. So again on the surface this 3000 watt unit is in fact a 2000 watt unit at ABYC 40C specification. It is both unreasonable and impractical for the public to wade through all the technical jargon. They simply expect that a 3000 watt inverter from Sterling is the same power as a 3000 watt inverter from Mastervolt or Victron (or anyone else for that matter) As we can see from the above figures, this is simply just not the case. The only way to ensure this, is through CE legislation, which will come one day, but not today. At present some companies are using the P30 rating which means that the inverter is rated for 30 minutes. I personally have never had a customer ask me for an inverter which falls over after 30 minutes. Maybe Victron and Mastervolt have different customers than me. What is next? A P1ms rating (for 1 millisecond) then we can sell a 150 watt inverter as a 3000 watt P1ms rating. I can guarantee you that 80% of the public would see 3000 watts and think that this 150 watt inverter would run their washing machine and why not, it would give that impression on the box. The Americans on the other hand have addressed this with their ABYC standards. These rate battery chargers and inverters at 40C ambient (a realistic temperature rating in the real world).And the term continuous must mean, at that figure for 24 hrs. There is therefore no ambiguity in this standard. And if you want to be ABYC certified, then this is the standard you must comply with. However in Europe it's a big race to see who can present the public with highest power figure, knowing full well that the public will not understand it correctly. So as they say, Buyer beware. Conclusion: As a member of the public, wanting to purchase this type of product, do look at the 40C continuous rating of any product be it a charger or an inverter, before assuming the figures you are initially presented with on the product box, are in fact what you perceive the product to be. And always remember a 2000 watt unit from one company could in fact be more powerful than a 3000 watt from another company. In this market the only way to compare like for like, is to read the small print or look for the ABYC standard to ensure that what you thought you were purchasing was in fact what you end up with. Purchase with confidence, Sterling. 
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