I'm looking for suggestions on a reliable 48V inverter that's 1200 watts or more, ideally under $350. I have 1280 watts of solar power setup with a Victron 150/45 charge controller and four 12V 100a LiFePO4 batteries. I plan to use it to run a 425 watt window A/C unit, along with a TV, fan, a couple of lights, a phone charger, and a laptop for about 4 to 5 hours during daylight. This setup is for my fully insulated 96 sq ft shed that serves as an office.
2 Answers
I'd definitely recommend checking out the Victron Phoenix series. They're known for their reliability and efficiency, which seems to fit well with your solar setup.
If you're planning to run a window A/C, I wouldn't recommend a 1200W inverter. You really should go for a minimum of 2000 watts. I tried using a 1500W inverter with a 400W A/C, and it didn't end well – it just couldn't handle the load. A 425W A/C can have a surge of around 1600W when it starts up, so a 1200W inverter won't cut it even if it claims 2400W peak. I upgraded to a 3000W Giandel and have had no problems since.