My trailer's pre-wired with #6 wire for an inverter. I'm installing a Samlex 300 watt inverter and notice screw terminals are too small to accept #6, so I need to come up with a solution to step the wire down to a smaller gauge. They supply 2 cables with this inverter; the cigar type plug and they cables with the alligator clips for direct to the battery. Both have a flat end on them to be held by the set screws in the terminal connectors on the inverter. I'm sure I can come up with something, even if I have to rig up a pigtail of some sort, but looking for suggestions too.

Prewired for inverter... interesting. Never heard of that.

2oldman wrote:I'd probably put in a couple #10 (or what fits) pigtails and wire-nut to the 6.Thanks, and that was my fall-back plan. Leaving Friday so I want to finish it tonight after work.

Sorry..I edited my post. Maybe I haven't had enough coffee yet, but I'm having to assume you mean on the 12v side??

(A) .. cut your battery clamps off, a couple inches from the lugs, and butt crimp to the number 6 ga wires(B) But some number 6ga size "space lugs" and file or grind them to smaller outside dimension that will fit the inverter posts, without touching each other and shorting out

2oldman wrote:Prewired for inverter... interesting. Never heard of that.I'd probably put in a couple #10 (or what fits) pigtails and wire-nut to the 6.Pre-wired by me! :)The inverter was out of stock from Bestconverter for about a week, so the plan was to pre-wire and then simply hook it up when it arrived (yesterday) but I ran into this little snag. I downloaded the Samlex instructions prior and it was not really clear as to the connections, and was kind of generic. For my length of run the instructions called for #6 or borderline #4. Glad I did not run the #4 and kind of wish I would have used #8 as it was a lot cheaper. The #6 was overkill IMO for 300 watts. Live and learn :)

Wiring Samlex PST-300 Watt Inverter; ran into a snag!

MrWizard
Moderator
Jul 17, 2014
Number 4 ga is larger than #6ga
No way would #4.. be borderline.. that might be over kill
Depending on length , #8 might be borderline and create too much voltage drop for a full load on the inverter
2oldman
Explorer II
Jul 17, 2014
Ron3rd wrote:
snip a few strands off the #6 to make the cable fit. Might do that.
Yeah.. that's better. Had to do that with some 4/0.
Ron3rd
Explorer III
Jul 17, 2014
UPDATE: Randy from Best Converter just emailed me back and said it would be OK to snip a few strands off the #6 to make the cable fit. Might do that.
Ron3rd
Explorer III
Jul 17, 2014
2oldman wrote:
Prewired for inverter... interesting. Never heard of that.

I'd probably put in a couple #10 (or what fits) pigtails and wire-nut to the 6.

Pre-wired by me! :)

The inverter was out of stock from Bestconverter for about a week, so the plan was to pre-wire and then simply hook it up when it arrived (yesterday) but I ran into this little snag. I downloaded the Samlex instructions prior and it was not really clear as to the connections, and was kind of generic. For my length of run the instructions called for #6 or borderline #4. Glad I did not run the #4 and kind of wish I would have used #8 as it was a lot cheaper. The #6 was overkill IMO for 300 watts. Live and learn :)
MrWizard
Moderator
Jul 17, 2014
(A) .. cut your battery clamps off, a couple inches from the lugs, and butt crimp to the number 6 ga wires

(B) But some number 6ga size "space lugs" and file or grind them to smaller outside dimension that will fit the inverter posts, without touching each other and shorting out
2oldman
Explorer II
Jul 17, 2014
Sorry..I edited my post.

Maybe I haven't had enough coffee yet, but I'm having to assume you mean on the 12v side??
Ron3rd
Explorer III
Jul 17, 2014
2oldman wrote:
I'd probably put in a couple #10 (or what fits) pigtails and wire-nut to the 6.

Thanks, and that was my fall-back plan. Leaving Friday so I want to finish it tonight after work.
2oldman
Explorer II
Jul 17, 2014
Prewired for inverter... interesting. Never heard of that.

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Wiring Samlex PST-300 Watt Inverter; ran into a snag!

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