Been a while since I have posted. Well we lost the 24VDC inverter a few days ago and of course it happened when we don't have the capital to replace it. On the up side I did finally replace my charge controllers with a new Outback 60A MPPT controller! I should have ponied up in the beginning! This thing is AWESOME!


      So as it stands now my equipment for power consists of the following:

2 – Talesun 250W monocrystaline panels
3 – Renesola 260W 24V monocrystaline panel
3 - Helios 7T2 300W 24V monocrystaline panels (not in service yet due to damage)
1 - Outback Flexmax 60 MPPT charge controller
1 - Tripp-Lite 24V 2400W PowerVerter inverter DEAD!
8 - US L16XC 6V 380Ah deep cycle batteries
1 - Custom built combiner box
5 - 15A DC rated circuit breakers
5 - 15A DC rated quick burn fuses
1 – Tri-Metric monitoring station


      I am working on getting the capital together for a Trace Xantrex TR2424-120-60 2400W inverter to replace the recently deceased Tripp-Lite.


      My loads have only increased a small amount but otherwise have stayed pretty consistent and predictable. I have a Tri-Metric “gas gage” that I use to monitor both charge and load, although it is currently out of commission due to my Siberian Husky puppy chewing the data/power lines which I am suspecting may be the cause of the inverter failure. And yes... the inverter is definitely dead. The smell of ozone coupled with the loud cantankerous buzz of an electronic device that is no longer functioning as designed are my indicators... that and it flat out wont start.


      So for the interim we are using a 750W 12V inverter to run the smaller loads and an 800W 12V to run the deep freeze. Sadly the fridge draws too much power and we have to run the generator pretty frequently to keep it cool. But with the extra 2.5 inches of insulation we added to increase efficiency we are ahead of the game.

      Moral of this tale? Keep a spare inverter on hand... for that matter spare everything... you just never know!

Peace, Love and Five Finger Death Punch!