Voltage drop on inverter
I have a Samlex 3012 inverter charger that is powered by 4 x 100 ah LIFEPo4 batteries. Each of the batteries is wired separately to a bus bar using 00 welding cable, this bus bar feeds another one tha...
Forum Discussion
BFL13 wrote:phemens wrote:
If I understand correctly from those charts, the recommended maximum ampacity for 0000 gauge wire is about 300 amps, but the inverter recommends 466 at maximum surge rating. 80% of that is about 372 amps. So I guess I should aim for 400?
If 80% is 466, then you want ampacity of 582.5 for the wire and fuse for that. It is just silly IMO. Your max amps from running say the microwave -130a plus the kettle 90a, and the toaster 90a is 310 and then the furnace comes on for another 10 and run the tap for another 10 so call it 350 to go crazy.
The Vector manual seems to suggest the "surge" rating of the inverter somehow comes from the slow blow ANL fuse. Not sure about that, but the wording seems to say that. If the actual surge ability is from the fuse's time to blow, why should you fuse to the surge rating of the inverter? I don't get it.
Also the wire gauge relates to the length of the wires. Beware of not allowing for both pos and neg return "distances". Those tables are bad for not making clear which length is being counted.
To clarify, the inverter manual recommends 500a. The Samlex Manuel does not suggest the surge is based on fuse. Agreed that I never will likely approach the limits of the inverter, but the fuse melting (300a ANL in Blue Seas block from previous inverter) while I had the hot water heater running on inverter has me thinking twice... given a negligible price difference at 400 amps in a heavy duty T class fuse and holder, that’s where I would go unless someone can convince me otherwise,
