Victron Energy Phoenix Inverter C 12/1600 and C 24/160012V or 24V 1600VA pure sine-wave inverter with VE.Bus

Overview

This listing covers the Phoenix Inverter Compact 1600VA in two variants: C 12/1600 for 12V and C 24/1600 for 24V batteries. Both deliver 1300W continuously at 25°C, 1200W at 40°C and 3000W peak, in the same 375×214×110mm, 10kg case with 1.5m battery cables and a G-ST18i AC plug. Maximum efficiency is 92% on 12V and 94% on 24V. Victron recommends 200–700Ah of battery on 12V and 100–400Ah on 24V. ECE R10 automotive certificates are published for both voltages.

• 1200VA, 1600VA and 2000VA, 12V or 24V
• SinusMax hybrid HF design with high start-up power
• Up to six units in parallel or three-phase
• VE.Bus port for GX monitoring and configuration
• Programmable relay, preset as alarm relay
• ECE R10 automotive type approvals published

How it works

The Phoenix Inverter Compact turns 12V or 24V battery power into a 230V 50Hz pure sine wave. Victron's SinusMax design uses hybrid high-frequency technology, giving a light, compact unit with high start-up power for difficult loads such as refrigeration compressors and electric motors. Continuous ratings at 25°C are 1000W, 1300W and 1600W for the 1200VA, 1600VA and 2000VA models, with peaks of 2400W, 3000W and 4000W. AES and search modes cut consumption when there is little or no load.

Installation and compatibility

Mount the inverter on a wall in a dry, ventilated place close to the battery, never directly above it, with at least 10cm clearance; vertical mounting gives the best cooling. The 1200VA and 1600VA models come with 1.5m battery cables and a G-ST18i AC plug, while the 2000VA models have M8 battery bolts and spring-clamp AC terminals. Victron recommends battery banks from 150–700Ah for the 12/1200 up to 350–1000Ah for the 12/2000.

The neutral of the AC output is bonded to the chassis, so that a residual current device installed on the output works correctly; the chassis itself must be connected to earth, the vehicle frame or the boat hull. The inverters have no transfer switch or charger: where automatic switch-over to shore or generator power is needed, Victron recommends a MultiPlus, whose charger can be disabled.

Parallel systems and settings

Up to six identical units can be connected in parallel with RJ45 UTP cables, or three for a three-phase wye system. DIP switches select the remote-control mode, output frequency and search mode. VEConfigure with an MK3-USB interface, or VictronConnect, gives access to output voltage and frequency, under- and overvoltage limits and the programmable relay, preset as an alarm relay and usable to start a generator. A GX device such as the Cerbo GX connects through VE.Bus for VRM monitoring.

Questions and answers