inverter wiring layout

[jeremywatco]

Hi everyone,

Just bought a 600w Xantrex ProWatt and am getting ready to install. I'm planning on installing the inverter in a small pass through space that goes from one bin to the other side of the coach. Its literally 10" away from battery bank.

Now for my questions.

I bought a 100amp fuse and fuse holder and also a battery selector so I can disconnect the inverter while not in use.

Currently in my battery bank the positive cable goes about 6 inches and into a 150amp fuse. Can I just add my inverter terminal to this fuse block and call it a day? Or should I screw onto the battery and install a separate fuse block? Seems like I could just attach to the existing and be done..

Just not sure if the 150amp fuse wouldn't blow fast enough if there was an issue.


Thanks Jeremy

[turbojimmy]

jeremywatco wrote:
As a follow up... Its all installed and working great. Only question I have is this.... I drilled a hole out the side of the basement. It was carpet on top of metal. The hole was only large enough to squeeze two battery cables through and I used foam to seal it. Question is will the metal eventually cut through my cables from road vibration?

Maybe, maybe not. And if it's fused as you've described a dead short like that should pop it pretty quick, but maybe not before the cable welds itself to the body or sets the carpet on fire. I would put a grommet there to be safe. And check on it once in a while.

As an aside, I have a 1200 watt inverter in my limo. It's fed from a trunk-mounted battery that I installed. I ran 0-gauge wire 20-feet to a distribution block about 3 feet from the inverter (all of the a/v and electrical stuff is hidden behind the front seats on the partition so I had to run the battery cable up there). I ran 4-gauge wire from there to the inverter about 3 feet away. I've plugged coffee makers and other high-amp stuff into it without any problems. You'll be fine with the 4-gauge wire for that short run.

In my short time here I've noticed a lot of people install inverters in their MHs. It makes sense for a lot of smaller-amperage 120V stuff so you don't have to run the generator. I'll have to add that to the to-do list as well.

[jeremywatco]

As a follow up... Its all installed and working great. Only question I have is this.... I drilled a hole out the side of the basement. It was carpet on top of metal. The hole was only large enough to squeeze two battery cables through and I used foam to seal it. Question is will the metal eventually cut through my cables from road vibration?

[KD4UPL]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi #4 wire is not really rated for 80 amps, so I would not fuse it at 80.

70 Amps Rated ampacity of selected conductor
0.2957 Ohms Resistance (Ohms per 1000 feet)
0.048 Ohms Reactance (Ohms per 1000 feet)
0.36 volts maximum allowable voltage drop at 3%
0.9 Power Factor

It's rated for 70A at 60 C, 85A at 75 C, and 95A at 90 C; all in conduit.
In a residential service application it can be rated 100 amps.
Since I would assume this is a "free air" installation it's actually rated at 105A at 60 C, 125A at 75 C, and 140A at 90 C.
I think an 80A fuse sounds like a good fit.

[Golden_HVAC]

The 600 watt inverter should normally never see more than an average of about 60 amps going into it. IF you are using #4 wire, then 70 or 80amp fuse is plenty. If you will not have more than a 500 watt load on it, then 50 amp fuse will trip before damage to the inverter can happen. But might trip to often, such as when running a vacuum cleaner.

Good luck,

Fred.

[jeremywatco]

The wire package says 1500w.. So 1500w/12v=125a

[time2roll]

My chart says #4 105C insulation in free air (no bundle or conduit) is good for at least 136 amps. 80 amp fuse is fine.

You need to connect direct on the battery or after the 150a fuse. Your choice.
Before the 150a fuse could potentially load the wire to 230a and need 1/0 wire.

[pianotuna]

Hi #4 wire is not really rated for 80 amps, so I would not fuse it at 80.

70 Amps Rated ampacity of selected conductor
0.2957 Ohms Resistance (Ohms per 1000 feet)
0.048 Ohms Reactance (Ohms per 1000 feet)
0.36 volts maximum allowable voltage drop at 3%
0.9 Power Factor

[RoyB]

My 600WATT AIMS PSW Inverter uses a 80AMP block fuse from BLUE SEA. I like to have all of my battery component wiring using ring terminal terminals. This allows for battery cables using ring terminal connections where needed. All of my battery cable wiring is at least 4AWG size.



Roy Ken

[jeremywatco]

donn0128 wrote:
Run straight from the battery to the inverter adding a dedicated fuse for the inverter. 100 amps seems way too big for a 600 watt/50 amp inverter. What do the instructions call for?

Wow that's what I get for posting from my phone. It's 80amp not 100..sorry, 80 is what the instructions called for. Using 4awg wire.

I'll just put a fuse before the disconnect.

So it will go Battery > Fuse > Disconnect > Inverter

[donn0128]

Run straight from the battery to the inverter adding a dedicated fuse for the inverter. 100 amps seems way too big for a 600 watt/50 amp inverter. What do the instructions call for?

[pianotuna]

Hi Jeremy,

You can only use the 150 amp fuse if the wire from that connection point to the inverter is also rated at 150 amps.

Fuse to protect the wire size.

[2oldman]

What is the 150a fuse protecting? Will the 100a fuse fit in the 150a holder?