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The simple answer is that we will help you to identify which model and brand will serve you best in your specific application – be it RV, Marine, Industrial or Off-Grid project.

Both brands have strengths and weaknesses so in this brief post I will point out the factors that set them apart so that you can choose the best one for your specific needs. Both brands are very well built and engineered and both are trusted/ approved for use with the Lithionics lithium-ion battery systems (Lithionics also approves of the use of the Chinese brand Kisae but wherever possible I prefer to supply Clients with North American/ European products).

Power:
Both Xantrex Freedom PRO XC 2,000 and 3,000 Watt inverter-chargers offer both more 120 Volt AC power as well as higher battery charging Amps than the comparable Victron versions. The Xantrex models offer a true 2,000 or 3,000 Watts of 120 Volt AC output and either a 100 or 150 Amp battery charger. Compare that with Victron Multiplus Compact or Multiplus that offers either 2,000 or 3,000 “VA” which is not Watts and in fact represents lower 120 Volt AC output of 1,600 or 2,400 Watts. This means that they cannot fully support a 30 Amp 120 Volt AC circuit breaker panel powering your gear that needs a full 3,000 Watts. In addition, the Victron models have less powerful battery chargers with 80 or 120 Amps of battery charging output which means it will take longer to recharge your batteries.

Installation:
Here, in most cases Xantrex is preferred for a number of reasons. First of all, the Xantrex can be more easily programmed for different battery types including lithium-ion. You can simply use the onboard display or Xantrex remote display to do the programming. Victron on the other hand requires a special computer software program called “Victron Configure” plus a special Victron data cable called the MK3-USB adapter plus an RJ45 Ethernet cable and of course a computer. This process is a little tricky to do the programming and is usually best for a Victron trained professional to do the programming. The Xantrex inverter-chargers are also of a form factor/ size that is easier to install and they can be table mounted (flat) or vertical or even roof mounted (upside down).

The Xantrex inverter-chargers are both smaller and a fair bit lighter than the Victron models (Victron Multiplus is approx. 40 pounds/ Xantrex Freedom PRO XC 3,000 is approx. 26 pounds). Note: Xantrex also offers a heavier duty Freedom SW 3012 3,000 Watt inverter-charger with the same specs/ battery charging of 150 Amps but it is in a larger case and weighs close to 60 pounds. The Victron models typically need to be mounted in the upright position only with all cabling coming out the bottom so they do require more vertical height than the Xantrex for installing – which often dictates that we need to use the Xantrex.

Functionality:
Both brands have a variety of features that can be adjusted but the Victron does not have a graphic display so you will need an additional Victron display (such as the Cerbo GX/ GX Touch display or the Ekrano) to be able to see what is going on. The one nice feature of Victron is that you you can easily turn off the battery charger with a rocker switch on the device's faceplate.

One key question to answer is this: Do you plan on having additional Victron devices in your system that are all networked together to a central hub like the Cerbo GX/ GX Touch display or the Ekrano? If this answer is Yes and you are not a heavy power user (not always maxing to 30 Amps of 120 Volt AC power) then the Victron may be the better choice for you as you will be able to see it through the central display. Without exception, on all of my installations and systems that I sell, I will also use the Victron Energy SmartSolar MPPT solar charge controllers as well as the Victron Orion Smart DC to DC chargers if we are unable to utilize the full alternator power.

Bluetooth:
Only Xantrex offers a simple Bluetooth solution for your Smartphone which is accomplished by adding the Bluetooth remote display panel for around $200. Victron can have a Bluetooth connection but you will need to network the Multiplus to the Cerbo GX/ GX Touch display or the Ekrano at an additional cost of $500 to $800 and still have limited control of the inverter.

Price/ Warranty:
Here, Victron is better on both price and warranty where the warranty is 5 years versus 2 years for Xantrex. However, if your inverter is a stand-alone device that you need some display for, the price goes up by a good $500 to $800 to add in the Cerbo GX/ GX Touch display or the Ekrano.

Summary:
Of the last 20 or so RV and Marine projects that I have installed on, I would say that just 2 of them used the Victron Multiplus 3,000 VA were chosen (not by me but by other engineers involved earlier) whereas the other 18 have been the Xantrex Freedom XC PRO 3,000 Watt version. Many of these projects involved upgrading an existing RV’s Xantrex Freedom XC PRO 2,000 Watt version to the 3,000 Watt version so that all of the 30 Amp 120 Volt AC circuit breaker panel via Lithionics battery power (as well as by Shore/ Generator power) so that things like roof top air conditioners could also be run on battery power. I tend to prefer the Xantrex model due to increased flexibility of installation, higher 120 Volt AC throughput, higher Amp battery charger and ease of use for Clients.

Important Note: Please make sure that you both leave at least 2” of free air space on all sides of the inverter and that it has plenty of ventilation. Like almost all electrical devices, inverter-chargers output less battery charging current and less 120 Volts AC as their temperature rises. We want to keep them cool as above 25 Celsius their output goes down.

More information on the Xantrex inverter-chargers is on our webpage at: https://www.getlithium.com/High_output_alternator_inverter_charger.html

More information on the Victron Energy inverter-chargers is on our webpage at: https://www.getlithium.com/30b_Victron_Energy_inverter_charger_electric_components.html