Inverter hookup

Almot wrote:

Gerald55 wrote:
To clarify, this is about the permanent installation of an inverter in an inaccessible location, and it should be wired into the 120V system permanently.

So solutions like plugging the inverter into the shore power outlet don't work since, well, that's outside and can't be a permanent thing. Similarly for only plugging devices into the inverter as I need them (the inverter is not accessible).

Suicide cord will work, and the risk of being electrocuted will be high.

Plugging inverter into shore power outlet with a shore power cord and cheap Female30A/Male15A adapter will also work, and the hazard to you will be minimal, but you need to remember to temporary disable the converter and all the permanently wired 120V appliances like A/C and water heater. There still remains hazard to converter, inverter and batteries if you forget to disable something.

I don't think you've done your math yet. 400W inverter that you have, is fine for everything except few loads like microwave, and for those loads 1500W will be marginal. Get 2000W. 400W inverter doesn't need to be wired with short and beefy cable or mounted directly onto the battery.

I think all big inverters will have fan running as long as there is any load at all. You mount it where you can't hear it, and use a remote on-off switch. Inverters under 500W either don't have a fan, or you can get a 200-300W one that doesn't - for small loads this will be enough.

I've already picked the inverter by now: it's 2000W pure sine inverter, which should be adequate for all my loads (AC is out of the question) - especially since all normal household appliances (that is, with 5-15 plugs) will max out at around 1800W (15A). By all reports the fans don't turn on unless you are working it pretty hard, which is one of the reasons I got it.

The 400W isn't going to cut it for a variety of reasons:

1) It's not going to run some of the important 500W+ loads I have.
2) It's super loud even at 0 load.
3) It's a junk brand modified sine wave and doens't run my electric blanket.
4) It's hooked into the TV/entertainment system in a fairly intricate way (i.e., behind a relay so that everything 12V + 120V powers on all together). I don't really want to change that.
5) There aren't any free outlets on it, so I have to go behind my TV and unhook the existing stuff any time I want to plug something in. 6) It's not wired into the general 120V house wiring.

OK 4,5,6 are kind of redudant, but a list of 6 reasons it better than 4, right?