GFCI protected outlet needed on a 300W inverter?

Hi w8,

Thanks for the excellent explanation.

Ask this: WHY do you have a GFCI in the first place?

Answer: the power system has the "neutral" bonded to ground, Now as it happens I know the reasons for this and they are likely not what you think (less you have either done research, are older than dirt or happen to live in one of the few places that still do it that way) but.. Well, there is a reason for it.

Now imagine you pick up a tool, say a Skill Hand Grinder (Dremel like device) and there is a short, the hot lead makes contact with the metal case.....

Guess what the path back to neutral is? Yup, the ground, via YOU.. SHOCKING isn't it (I choose that device for a reason.. I USED that grinder for a while, till I got a dremel to use instead, double insulated dremel).

Now let's look at your inverter power.

There is no ground, The ground lead is Not Connected, There is no ground, it is isolated by a transformer from the 12 volt ground no less. there is no ground.

So if there is a hot wire to case short.. YOU ARE SAFE because there is no ground. PERIOD.

And thus there can not possibly be a ground fault.

No need to install a GFI on your inverter single AC output
Suggest you take a look at the installation instructions
Make sure you ground the AC Neutral white wire as outlined in the instructions

I think the Morningstar inverters have internal fault protection but wouldn't swear to it. That info is probably available in the inverter's data sheets. In any event, there is no law chipped in granite that you need GFCI protection for any device (unless you follow NEC location requirements).

Hi,

I don't bother with gfi on my 2500 watt inverter.