Samlex Pure Sine Inverter - How to Adjust the Output Voltage

A quick How To video on changing the output voltage of Samlex/GoPower/Thor inverters. This probably applies to Cotek as well but I do not own one of these to know for sure.

[@BreeUSA]

I've had my 3000W Samlex inverter almost two years now no issues. When I was searching for the best bang for the buck in a pure sine this one was leaping out at me, I emailed the company asking them for specific scope waveform captures under load and they sent them! Can't ask for more than that on top of high quality great company as well. I also have a 600W samlex pure sine that exceeds my expectations...

[@firstlast9184]

Thank you. I always enjoy watching your reviews. I respect your candor.

[@lorenrickey5481]

We really miss you and your videos! Hope all is well and have a Merry Christmas

[@jwsolarusa]

That's really brilliant and thanks for sharing. I really appreciate you sharing this awesome video with us all

[@cliffbyers1997]

Thanks for your videos, VERY EDUCATIONAL..... to say the least!!Thanks for the tip too. I just bought a SAMLEX SA-3000 inverter!!

[@stevenknight993]

Well done and thanks for the recommendations... you are a HOOT!

[@snn9019]

We just added a Samlex 1500 pure sine wave in one of our videos. It works very well and runs quiet. It seems to be well made.

[@threeredstars]

Thanks you have helped me a lot!!!

[@knurlgnar24]

The Thor and Samlex units are essentially the same based on the 2000W models I've inspected. I intend to use this 3000W Samlex for whole house backup as well and it is the one I'd recommend to others.

[@esunayg]

its same on cotek inverter. thanks for the info.

[@ejemm]

Awesome for 110v/50hz Jamaica where I live, dude you are awesome!!!

[@joekirklin]

Thanks for this video. I found the same is possible on my smaller Cotek. How to change voltage output on a Cotek S600 inverter

[@knurlgnar24]

Thanks for the video! Now I have evidence that this same method works for Cotek Industrial style Inverters as well.

[@silveradoblue327]

Nice thanks for the info

[@AdrianSymister]

Hello, thank for these informative videos. I would like to know your take on low frequency inverters, I hear they are the best but the have a high no load power draw. What your take?

[@westvandude]

Is it possible to change the detection range of the input DC voltage on these? Looking at fleet version which is 11vdc minimum.

[@hcsllc]

Hey, I love your videos, thank you for being so smart and educating us all. What is better 12v or 24v Inverter? I currently use a (sua1500rm2u) 1500 Rackmount APC unit for power outages I have connected (4) GC2 6v 214ah batteries to it set up in series to make 24v. These sit in the garage and the cable passes through the wall to the APC unit. I would like to replace the APC unit with a 3000 watt Samlex or Go Power but can't decide if 12v or 24 volt will last longer in on a power outage. Any help will be appreciated :)

[@roydredge1273]

very handy video,so which make would yoy recommend thanks

[@knurlgnar24]

They are both sold by Samlex so I believe they are the same quality. Minor feature differences are likely. I have not personally tested the Cotek inverters.

[@knurlgnar24]

The fan is not variable speed and comes on at low loads - somewhere around 150W if I remember correctly. It is fairly quiet but definitely not silent. The internal heatsinking is good compared with most other inverters I have seen. The internal components are conformally coated to protect against corrosion.

[@kenda993]

Why don't you have a review on this inverter

[@nyghtmyst5118]

I have a question the power cut off from your battary bank is this ajustable what I have seen is will drain down to 11 volts before warn of low power now your try to maintain a battery bank you don't want to drain it past 12.2 volts or so which I believe about half way on your bank can this be done or is there another way to shut it down

[@mtf347]

Thank you

[@NiHaoMike64]

Incandescent bulbs use less power but become less efficient with reduced voltage. Of course, efficiency is probably of next to no concern if you're still using them. Most switching power supplies are more efficient at higher voltages, especially the universal input versions. A common exception are some digital audio amplifiers with unregulated supplies, where lower voltage means less power use at the expense of slightly less (but most likely still far more than enough) maximum volume. It's also nice that the inverter has the option of setting the output to 100V/50Hz, which can make for less power draw on motor loads. That can be nice if you're OK with a 20% slower load in exchange for 20% or more better runtime.

[@knurlgnar24]

A good point on the 50hz/100V setting. I hadn't considered using it for that.

[@odinson810]

***** I have a samlex 1500 that needs repair could I pay you to do it?

[@knurlgnar24]

odinson810 I could look at it but I cannot guarantee that I will be able to repair it. After shipping costs both ways it likely won't be worth the risk/reward of the endeavor.

[@9westwood9]

Very good information ,How big is the heatsink inside, how often the fan come on does it have a variable speed fan, I'm looking to get a 24 volt version thanks jay

[@douglascooke1926]

Works the same on a Cotek SK1000-124, but the switches are on the right side.

[@threeredstars]

Holy Smokes I just learned about 10 things today but I was wondering if air conditioners prefer lower volts like refrigerators? Thanks again brother.

[@drkashifsohail333]

Wawooo i like it i will soon buy thos model

[@nightstringers]

I really like their inverters however one of mine I don't like how the dc hooks up they use those ribbed screws made to tighten with your fingers. they can come loose to easy. I have never thought of messing with the voltage ....

[@Fastlanedann]

Any way to adjust INPUT CUT OUT voltage? I have a simlex 2000 modify sine wave, Battery input voltage must be ABOVE 12.36vdc, it CUT-OUT at 12.35vdc. I would like to adjust the cut out to 11.5vdc. Is that possible? how? Reason: I have simlex2000 installed on my RV. I have 2 AGM batteries (new) at 1010ah/ea + 200watt solar panel (charging state). I would like it to power my refrigerator (while driving) w/o running my generator. Unfortunately, inverter will cut out less than 10 minutes.

[@nyghtmyst5118]

how would you a just input voltage say you got a 12 volt input inverter to 24 volt input voltage would be cool

[@sirtom68]

Nice. Can these inverters be strung in parallel ?

[@knurlgnar24]

AC units generally are more efficient at lower voltages as well. AC units need to run in widely varying environments, unlike refrigerators which keep a constant temperature, so they do not have as optimized a PSC system but will still be a little more efficient at lower voltages. I would not go below 110V.

[@bill767667]

where can I find someone to service samlex inverters,I'm looking at one on EBay,pst 60012 volt, 4years old $100.00 if it breaks how could I get it fixed?????

[@amberrivers81]

we got a thor just like it the are nice inverters

[@grahammacleod3464]

Hi, I really enjoy your videos and have found them really educational. One question i have is about the Samlex. Go power and Thor inverters are they available for Australian use? around 230/240V output would be great. If not what other Brand would you recommend for use here? Thanks M8 and keep the videos coming :)

[@knurlgnar24]

Yes, 230V versions are available. Take a look at the Cotek SK3000-212 as an example.

[@grahammacleod3464]

***** Thanks for your help and for recommending the Cotek SK3000-212! I was surprised to see there are a number of different units and wattages to choose from, but I definitely need the extra output of the 3000W unit you recommended. Thanks again for all your help Cheers Graham

[@knurlgnar24]

Graham Macleod It's a good 3kw unit and is honestly advertized unlike many others. It does >3kw for a short time, has a real surge capability, and will do nearly 3kw continuously at a reasonable price. So long as you give it good battery power and don't expect more out of it it than what a 3kw inverter can do it should meet your needs. Best wishes.

[@firstlast9184]

Graham Macleod. Did you get this recommended inverter? If so how is it working out?

[@runningbear4666]

Mr Harms which inverter should I get for off grid living, thinking 3000W and looking at the pure sine wave go power

[@jean-francoisjanelle8897]

Geronemo Bauer Yes

[@silveradoblue327]

how to do 220 volt for well water 20 amps 2 inverters ?

[@acnavarrojad]

How much is that? and it is available here in Cebu philippines?

[@keithbrier4397]

Better than my 2500 watt vector inverter.At 13.5-14.4 loaded or not volts are under 100 frequency is 43 to 45 hz.I am going to check if this thing has a pot inside to adjust It I hope.And info would be much appreciated.

[@knurlgnar24]

I've had a killowatt meter fail such that it no longer reads RMS properly. (would read properly in a wall sockent but not all inverters) A long shot but it might be good to check with a true RMS multimeter or another known good device. If your frequency is truly wrong then that inverter appears to have a some serious issues. It's probably worth opening up as you likely have a bad logic power supply or oscillator or something like that.

[@keithbrier4397]

@@knurlgnar24 possible.The seller just got back to me and said.The shop he bought it from says that it should go up with the load BS and it could have a 50-60 hz switch on it BS.

[@keithbrier4397]

And I noticed you kill o watt meter I have the same also.Plug it in the wall it is all normal just to rule that out besides my true rms meter.

[@ehsoule]

I always thought higher volts were more efficient because you can run less amps and get the same watts. For instance if you have a 1000 watt appliance at 120 volts then your running 8.3 amps as opposed to 115 volts at 8.7 amps to get the 1000 watts? I’m no expert just thought higher amps create more heat.

[@unyalliman]

This is correct. A load draws power (watts). If a load needs 1000 watts it needs 1000 watts. Lower the voltage up go the amps.

[@GoingOffGrid101]

same!!!

[@threeredstars]

Is Cotek the same or a cheaper clone?

[@liskaerik]

*Q: Why do they let you adjust the frequency but not the voltage?* A: Its for the Japanese market. In Japan the standard voltage is 100 V. The standard frequency is 50/60 Hz.

[@dexter2433]

i just got the 1000w ssw-samlex pure sine inverter will run my tv's and computers with it and a 1500w modified wave to run other stuff setting up 400w solar/400w wind battery charging system with 6 175ahr golf cart batteries for a off the grid system for emergency/on demand power plan to expand system in the next few years in hopes to me 100% off the grid will have my tv's internet router and 1 laptop and one home pc 100% off the grid

[@knurlgnar24]

They cannot be stacked. They also cannot be connected in series to make a split phase 120/240 output. They are very nice, however, and while much more expensive than the cheap-o stuff I consider them a good value.

[@ConnorEhrgood]

This would apply to the cotek inverters, as samlex, go power, and thor, are all manufactured by cotek. I'm pretty sure cotek is samlex's parent company, I don't know how go power and thor are affiliated with cotek, but go power is owned by some other company now. There is no difference between the inverters but a paint job and a few little features that my be thrown in to the different ones. A $1,199 samlex is no better than a $980 cotek, as they are literally the same thing, just with different shades of blue. Same quality control, same parts, same factory.

[@dexter2433]

they make 220v out inverters for that ' cant use 2 110 inverters to make 220 because the transformers will not be tied together The waveforms would have to be synced to each other best to just buy one built to run 220v out

[@Orafrith]

am looking to buy a inverter/charger what do you think about the xantrex Freedom SW 3012 (815-3012)

[@knurlgnar24]

Unfortunately I haven't seen, tested, and disassembled one to check it out, but I would recommend to stay away from the generic 'Chinese' brand units. You might pay a little more for the Xantrex name but at least you know you'll get something that is 'All right, I guess' or better.

[@Orafrith]

thanks the 3 brand you recommend does not have a inverter/charger as big or needs other part to make it into one

[@MrPman4768]

I have always thought that an electric motor was designed for a certain amount of power to run. If that is true, changing the voltage will cause the current to change to equal the same amount of power as before. If that is true, a motor designed to run on 110vac draws 4.5 amps if the voltage is changed to 120vac the current will drop to 4.125 amps . Both instances equal 495 watts

[@VladFredK]

I don't think you right about lower voltage = more efficiency. Common sense is you cant get same amount of heat or cold from 120V 5A and 110V 4A in a same amount of time ... If you lower voltage on appliance it will take less Amps but to get to the same heat or cold it has to run longer. Simple as 1+1=2 Besides it is not good for refrigerator compressor to lower the voltage. This is not a good advice for your followers.

[@knurlgnar24]

Motors in appliances like refrigerators are designed to operate in a wide variety of conditions including in buildings with poor wiring where the voltage may be as low as 100V. Those manufacturers don't want complaints so they make sure they operate acceptably well even in non-ideal circumstances. Due to this they are always optimized to run at a lower voltage than nominal, usually 110 to 115V. If you connect a variable transformer up to your refrigerator and put an electricity meter on it you'll find that it takes the least amount of power and total energy at a lower voltage than nominal. If you go too low it will cause the current to ramp up more than the voltage goes down, but that usually doesn't happen until closer to 100V. Keep in mind that any megnetic devices (motors, transformers, etc) have hysteresis loss which increases with increasing voltage. Usually motors start saturating badly much above 130V and the knee isn't that much above 120V as they are optimized to operate acceptably down to 100V or so.

[@VladFredK]

@@knurlgnar24 You must be dealing with some special refrigerators. Regular kitchen refrigerator will not even start on lower voltage like 110 volts if sitting unused for a few weeks. Coming from my own experience I have to start my gen to start the fridge the first time when going back to my cabin after month or so and then switch to inverter/solar. Inverter runs at 118 volts, Honda gen/inverter runs at 127 volts. Anyway my point was most of the people will not have some special refrigerators so best is to keep the volts close to 120 V. And when it comes to small heaters we know 1+1=2 Thanks

[@macky9098]

Well i certainly cannot recommend this product at all. My company purchased quite a number of samlex inverters to power some hot spots sites but it was a waste of time and money, because they kept going down.....smh.

[@knurlgnar24]

Was it this model? Samlex has a variety of products that differ greatly. Given the application you mention I suspect your company made the common mistake of purchasing a small 'cost effective' model and did not oversize it adequately, or installed a model with a fan in locations with high dust. I have worked for a company that did the same things with power supplies and then wondered why failure rates were high. ugh. The lesson was learned eventually and then once warranty claims went down to low levels guess what? Yup, back came the cheap junk. It's an industry-wide problem. Even the model in this video is NOT what I would consider proper for industrial applications although it's great for residential use and many companies use much worse to get the low bid.