Victron vs Magnum vs Xantrex: Choosing a Marine Inverter Charger

Victron, Magnum and Xantrex all make pure sine wave inverter chargers that suit boats. The choice comes down to four things: your battery voltage (12, 24 or 48V), whether the boat needs 120V or 120/240V split-phase power, how much charger current your battery bank can take, and how you want to monitor the system. Victron is the most configurable and best for networked lithium and solar systems, Magnum is a simple, heavy-duty choice with one remote for every model, and Xantrex Freedom units are compact 12V options with NMEA 2000 on the XC PRO Marine.

How the three brands differ

Victron Energy (MultiPlus-II and Quattro) is a modular system. Units talk over VE.Bus, up to six MultiPlus-II units can run in parallel, and two identical units can be set up for 240V split-phase. A Cerbo GX or other GX device adds internet monitoring through the free VRM portal, and the VE.Bus Smart dongle adds Bluetooth control through the VictronConnect app. PowerControl and PowerAssist cap shore or generator current and let the battery cover any shortfall. The Quattro adds a second AC input, for example for shore power and a generator.

Magnum MS-series units are low-frequency, transformer-based inverter chargers with a power factor corrected (PFC) charger. The ME-RC50 and ME-ARC50 remotes work across Magnum inverter chargers. The MS-PAE models put 120/240V split-phase output in one box. In 2025 the Magnum line passed from Sensata to DMX Power, which announced US production in Oakdale, Minnesota.

Xantrex Freedom XC and XC PRO units are light 12V designs. The XC PRO Marine 3000 weighs 18.6 lb, against 55 lb for a Magnum MS2812. They can surge to twice their rated output for 5 seconds, and their Power Share feature cuts charge current so the shore breaker doesn't trip. The Freedom SW can be stacked in parallel, or in series for 120/240V.

Comparison table

All figures come from the manufacturers' datasheets. Rating bases differ. Victron lists watts at 25°C (77°F), Magnum lists VA at 25°C, and Xantrex lists watts at 40°C (104°F), which is closer to engine-room conditions.

Model Battery Continuous output Surge / peak Charger Transfer switch AC output
Victron MultiPlus-II 12/3000/120-50 2x120V 12V 2400 W at 25°C, 2200 W at 40°C 5500 W peak 120 A 50 A (each leg) 120V inverting; passes 120/240V from shore
Victron MultiPlus-II 24/3000/70-50 120V 24V 2400 W at 25°C 5500 W peak 70 A 50 A 120V
Victron MultiPlus-II 48/5000/70-95 120V 48V 4000 W at 25°C 9000 W peak 70 A 95 A 120V
Victron Quattro 5000 120V (12/24/48V) 12, 24 or 48V 4000 W at 25°C 10000 W peak 200 / 120 / 70 A Two inputs, 2x 100 A 120V
Magnum MS2012 12V 2000 VA 3300 W (5 s) 100 A 2 legs at 30 A 120V
Magnum MS2812 12V 2800 VA 3900 W (5 s) 125 A 2 legs at 30 A 120V
Magnum MS4024PAE 24V 4000 VA 5800 W (5 s) 105 A 2 legs at 30 A 120/240V split-phase
Magnum MS4448PAE 48V 4400 VA 8500 W (5 s) 60 A 2 legs at 30 A 120/240V split-phase
Xantrex Freedom XC PRO Marine 2000 / 3000 12V 2000 / 3000 W at 40°C 4000 / 6000 W (5 s) 100 / 150 A 24 A / 40 A continuous 120V
Xantrex Freedom SW 3012 12V 3000 W at 40°C 6000 W (5 s) 150 A 2 legs at 30 A 120V; 120/240V when two are series-stacked

Standby draw matters if the inverter stays on at anchor. Victron lists 13 W at zero load for the MultiPlus-II 12/3000 (120V), Magnum lists 30 W for the MS2812, and Xantrex lists 3 A DC (about 36 W at 12V) for the Freedom SW.

120V or 120/240V split-phase

A boat with a single 30A, 120V shore inlet needs only a 120V unit. Boats with 50A, 120/240V shore power often have 240V loads such as a water heater, air conditioning or an electric range. Each brand handles this differently:

  • Victron: two identical MultiPlus-II or Quattro units can be configured for a 240V split-phase output. The MultiPlus-II 2x120V takes a different approach. It passes both legs of 120/240V shore power through to the boat, but inverts only 120V. With shore power off, 240V loads shut down instead of draining the batteries.
  • Magnum: the MS4024PAE and MS4448PAE make 120/240V in one unit. Up to four can run in parallel, which needs the ME-RTR router and MP panels. Magnum lists the MS-PAE under UL 1741 for renewable energy systems, while the 120V MS models carry the UL 458 mobile listing.
  • Xantrex: two Freedom SW units can be series-stacked for 120/240V with the 808-9005 stacking cable. The AC source must also be split-phase.

Remotes, monitoring and parallel systems

  • Victron: the Digital Multi Control panel gives on/off, charger-only mode and a knob for the shore current limit. The Cerbo GX with a GX Touch 50 screen shows the whole system (inverter, batteries, solar) and connects it to VRM. GX devices also have an NMEA 2000-out function that puts inverter and battery data on the boat's network. A SmartShunt adds battery state of charge.
  • Magnum: the ME-RC50 sets battery type, bank size, charge rate and the shore breaker limit, and shows fault codes. The ME-ARC50 is the advanced version, with more setup and monitoring menus. MagWeb Wireless provides internet monitoring.
  • Xantrex: the Freedom X / XC remote panel comes in a Bluetooth version that works with the FXC Control app. The Freedom SW uses an on/off remote panel or the optional System Control Panel.

How to size an inverter charger

  • Continuous watts: add up the input watts (from each appliance's label) of everything that will run at the same time, such as a microwave, coffee maker and refrigerator. Choose a unit whose continuous rating, at 40°C if it sits in a hot space, covers that total with margin.
  • Surge watts: compressors and motors draw several times their running power for a moment at startup, so compare against the 5-second surge figures.
  • DC current: divide the AC watts by the battery voltage and by about 0.9 for efficiency. A 3000 W load on 12V draws roughly 280 A, and Xantrex lists 304 A DC at full load for the XC PRO Marine 3000. The same load on 24V draws about half that current, and on 48V about a quarter.
  • Battery bank: energy used is watts × hours. A 1,000 W microwave run for 12 minutes uses about 200 Wh, or roughly 18 Ah from a 12V bank once losses are included. Keep a day's use within the bank's usable capacity. See our battery guide and solar sizing guide.
  • Charger amps: keep the charger at or below the battery maker's maximum charge current (for lithium, the BMS limit). On the AC side, Magnum lists 18 A AC for the MS2812 at full charge, and Xantrex lists 24 A for the Freedom SW 3012. On a 30A shore cord, use the shore current limit (PowerControl, the ME-RC50 shore setting, or Power Share) so charging and onboard loads together don't trip the breaker.

Installation notes

  • Standards: on boats, inverter charger installations fall under ABYC A-31 (battery chargers and inverters) and E-11 (AC and DC electrical systems). Xantrex lists the XC PRO Marine as meeting ABYC E-11 and A-31, and as UL 458 Marine Supplement listed when its 808-1050 drip shield is fitted. The Freedom SW also needs its drip shield (808-9004) for its marine supplement listing.
  • Fusing: put a DC fuse or breaker sized to the inverter's input current in the positive cable. ABYC E-11 calls for overcurrent protection within 7 inches of the battery connection. Longer distances are allowed only when the cable is sheathed or enclosed along its whole length.
  • DC cable: size the positive and negative cables using the cable table in the inverter manual, based on the fuse rating and the round-trip cable length.
  • AC wiring and grounding: the inverter must handle the neutral-to-ground bond correctly when it switches between shore power and inverter power. Victron's MultiPlus-II does this with an internal ground relay.

Mount the unit in a dry, ventilated space, and have large systems checked by an ABYC-certified marine electrician.

Which one for which boat

Browse marine inverters, our inverter guide, or shop Victron Energy, Magnum and Xantrex.

Questions & Answers

Is Victron better than Magnum for a sailboat?

For a sailboat that spends time at anchor on lithium and solar, Victron usually fits better. The MultiPlus-II 12/3000 (120V model) draws 13 W at zero load, against 30 W for a Magnum MS2812, and the GX devices monitor batteries, solar and the inverter in one place. Magnum suits owners who want a simple, heavy-duty unit with one standard remote and fewer settings.

Do I need a 120/240V inverter charger on my boat?

Only if you want to run 240V loads from the batteries. Many 50A boats use 240V only for the water heater or air conditioning, and those loads are usually left off while inverting. A Victron MultiPlus-II 2x120V passes 240V through from shore power and inverts 120V only, which suits that kind of boat.

What size inverter do I need to run a microwave on a boat?

Check the input watts on the microwave's label. A 2000 W inverter charger such as the Magnum MS2012 or Xantrex XC PRO Marine 2000 covers a typical galley microwave, but on 12V it draws over 100 A while running, so the battery bank and cables must be sized for that.

Which inverter charger connects to NMEA 2000?

The Xantrex Freedom XC PRO Marine has a built-in Micro-C NMEA 2000 connector. Victron systems reach NMEA 2000 through the NMEA 2000-out function on a GX device such as the Cerbo GX.

Can my old Magnum or Xantrex inverter be repaired?

Often, yes. eMarine diagnoses and repairs Magnum and Xantrex inverters at its Fort Lauderdale shop. It also stocks replacement Magnum FET boards, control boards, AC boards and cooling fans, so a repair is worth pricing before you buy a new unit.

See current models and prices for each brand in our marine inverter collection.