The Victron Phoenix inverter range spans from the compact 250VA for charging a phone to the powerful 5000VA for running a workshop. All models produce a pure sine wave, work with 12V, 24V, or 48V battery banks, and feature high-efficiency power conversion. This guide compares every model to help you pick the right one.
Phoenix Inverter Range Overview
Victron sells Phoenix inverters in two sub-ranges:
- Phoenix VE.Direct — compact models from 250VA to 1600VA with VE.Direct communication.
- Phoenix Smart — larger models from 1600VA to 5000VA with Bluetooth and VE.Direct, plus higher surge capability.
Both sub-ranges are inverter-only (no built-in charger or transfer switch). For charging and transfer switching, see the Phoenix vs MultiPlus comparison.
Phoenix VE.Direct Models
| Model | Continuous | Peak Power | 12V | 24V | 48V | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 250VA | 250VA / 200W | 400W | Yes | Yes | No | 1.0 kg |
| 375VA | 375VA / 300W | 700W | Yes | Yes | No | 1.2 kg |
| 500VA | 500VA / 400W | 900W | Yes | Yes | No | 2.4 kg |
| 800VA | 800VA / 650W | 1500W | Yes | Yes | No | 3.4 kg |
| 1200VA | 1200VA / 1000W | 2400W | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5.0 kg |
| 1600VA | 1600VA / 1300W | 3000W | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6.3 kg |
Phoenix Smart Models
| Model | Continuous | Peak Power | 12V | 24V | 48V | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1600VA Smart | 1600VA / 1300W | 3000W | Yes | Yes | No | 6.6 kg |
| 2000VA Smart | 2000VA / 1600W | 4000W | No | Yes | Yes | 10.0 kg |
| 3000VA Smart | 3000VA / 2400W | 6000W | No | Yes | Yes | 13.0 kg |
| 5000VA Smart | 5000VA / 4000W | 10000W | No | Yes | Yes | 20.0 kg |
Choosing by Application
250VA – Phone and Tablet Charging
At just 1 kg, the Phoenix 250VA is tiny and sips very little standby power. It's enough for phone chargers, tablet chargers, and small electronics. A useful addition to a basic 12V campervan setup that doesn't need heavy AC loads.
375VA – Laptop Charging
Handles most laptop chargers (typically 45–100W) with headroom for a phone charger simultaneously. Still very compact and efficient. Good for a van where the only AC need is computing.
500VA – Small Appliances
Adds capacity for a small TV, a battery charger for power tools, or a CPAP machine. A practical choice for basic camping setups.
800VA – General Use
Handles most small appliances — TV, laptop, phone chargers, small kitchen appliances under 650W. Not enough for a kettle or microwave, but covers everyday electronics comfortably.
1200VA – Popular All-Rounder
The 1200VA is one of the most popular Phoenix models. It handles a 1000W load continuously and surges to 2400W. This covers coffee machines (most are 1000–1200W), hair straighteners, and larger electronics. Still not enough for a full-size UK kettle (2800W+).
1600VA – The Crossover Point
Available in both VE.Direct and Smart versions, the 1600VA handles 1300W continuously. This is the largest Phoenix you can get in 12V. Above this size, you need a 24V or 48V battery system.
2000VA Smart – Medium Power
24V and 48V only. Handles 1600W continuously — enough for a small microwave or a low-wattage kettle. The smart features (Bluetooth, ECO mode via app) make monitoring easy.
3000VA Smart – Serious Power
24V and 48V only. At 2400W continuous and 6000W surge, this handles most household appliances. Suitable for workshops, off-grid cabins, and larger boats where a MultiPlus isn't needed.
5000VA Smart – Maximum Phoenix Power
The largest inverter-only unit in the Victron range. At 4000W continuous with a massive 10000W surge capability, it runs power tools, washing machines, and multiple large appliances simultaneously. Only available in 24V and 48V.
VE.Direct vs Smart: What's Different?
| Feature | VE.Direct Models | Smart Models |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | No | Yes |
| VE.Direct port | Yes | Yes |
| ECO mode via app | No | Yes |
| On/Off via app | No | Yes |
| Live monitoring via app | Via VE.Direct dongle only | Built-in Bluetooth |
| Size range | 250VA – 1600VA | 1600VA – 5000VA |
The Smart models add Bluetooth for wireless control and monitoring via the VictronConnect app. This includes the ability to switch the inverter on/off remotely, configure ECO mode, and monitor load and voltage without additional hardware.
ECO Mode: Saving Standby Power
All Phoenix inverters have an ECO mode (configurable via VE.Direct or Bluetooth on Smart models). In ECO mode, the inverter periodically pulses its output for a fraction of a second to detect connected loads. If no load is detected, it sleeps. When a load is connected, it wakes up within a few seconds.
ECO mode reduces standby consumption from ~8–25W (depending on model) to near-zero. Over 24 hours on a 200Ah battery, this saves 190–600Wh — a significant amount for a small off-grid system.
Limitation: some loads with very low standby draw (phone chargers left plugged in, LED clocks) may not trigger the wake-up detection. In this case, keep ECO mode off or increase the detection sensitivity.
Summary
The Victron Phoenix range covers every inverter-only need from 200W to 4000W. For 12V campervan and boat systems, the VE.Direct 1200VA is the most popular choice. For 24V/48V systems needing Bluetooth and larger capacity, the Smart models from 2000VA to 5000VA deliver. Consider the SmartSolar vs VE.Direct differences when choosing, and enable ECO mode on any installation where the inverter isn't needed continuously.
