Wiring for inverter
I am going to install a new inverter I think about 800 to 1000 watts. We are low energy users. The wiring run from the battery will be approximately 12-14 feet. What gauge wiring should I use?T This...
Forum Discussion
The issue is to ensure that the wire feeding the unit is of adequate size and protected by a fuse. As was mentioned a 1000W inverter is capable of pulling a significant DC load at full power. You may not be planning to use it at full power, but a child, neighbor, relative may plug the wrong thing into that power strip and suddenly the inverter is trying to pull 90 amps from the batteries. If you've wired with inadequate wiring, it can start a fire.
You can place it as close to the batteries as practical and wire with appropriate sized wires (big!) and an appropriately sized fuse. Some might advocate wiring with smaller wire and a smaller fuse as you never plan to use it at full capacity.
Depending on wire size, you may also experience voltage drop on the 14 feet (for voltage drop calculations, you have to consider the entire circuit so it is really a 28 foot circuit). For very low loads, this is likely not an issue - but if you want higher loads, you'll need to keep the voltage loss to a minimum so the inverter doesn't cut-off due to low voltage.
If it were me, I'd try to get it near the batteries with 2 or 3 gauge wire and then run 120V a/c to wherever I need the power.
You can place it as close to the batteries as practical and wire with appropriate sized wires (big!) and an appropriately sized fuse. Some might advocate wiring with smaller wire and a smaller fuse as you never plan to use it at full capacity.
Depending on wire size, you may also experience voltage drop on the 14 feet (for voltage drop calculations, you have to consider the entire circuit so it is really a 28 foot circuit). For very low loads, this is likely not an issue - but if you want higher loads, you'll need to keep the voltage loss to a minimum so the inverter doesn't cut-off due to low voltage.
If it were me, I'd try to get it near the batteries with 2 or 3 gauge wire and then run 120V a/c to wherever I need the power.
