hookup for inverter

W

Walker

Guest

• Nov 25, 2005

• #1

I'd like to hardwire a 900 watt power inverter into my truck. It's been a
long time since I played with auto wiring or relays and there have probably
been several advances and/or new devices since the 80s. Would someone please
point me in the right direction to where I might get updated. Thank you.

Bob Walker
[email protected]

 

B

bowgus

Guest

• Nov 26, 2005

• #2

For what it's worth ... in the boat I just hardwired to the battery with an
inline fuse at the battery. And for what it's worth, in a boat, it's
especially important that the fuse be close to the battery, else if there's
say a wiring problem between the battery and the fuse, it could be
impossible to put the fire out because the fuse won't blow. There are handy
connectors to use on the battery post with connectors for just this sort of
installation.


Walker" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:5bNhf.801$4v.390@fed1read03...
> I'd like to hardwire a 900 watt power inverter into my truck. It's been a
> long time since I played with auto wiring or relays and there have
probably
> been several advances and/or new devices since the 80s. Would someone
please
> point me in the right direction to where I might get updated. Thank you.
>
> Bob Walker
> [email protected]
>
>

 

W

Walker

Guest

• Nov 26, 2005

• #3

"bowgus" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> For what it's worth ... in the boat I just hardwired to the battery with
> an
> inline fuse at the battery. And for what it's worth, in a boat, it's
> especially important that the fuse be close to the battery, else if
> there's
> say a wiring problem between the battery and the fuse, it could be
> impossible to put the fire out because the fuse won't blow. There are
> handy
> connectors to use on the battery post with connectors for just this sort
> of
> installation.
>
That was my first thought and may possibly be the one I go with although I
will use a relay.
>
> Walker" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:5bNhf.801$4v.390@fed1read03...
>> I'd like to hardwire a 900 watt power inverter into my truck. It's been a
>> long time since I played with auto wiring or relays and there have
> probably
>> been several advances and/or new devices since the 80s. Would someone
> please
>> point me in the right direction to where I might get updated. Thank you.
>>
>> Bob Walker
>> [email protected]
>>

 

A

Axel Hammer

Guest

• Nov 26, 2005

• #4

Walker schrieb:

> I'd like to hardwire a 900 watt power inverter into my truck.

You may want to wire a control line to a solenoid being actuated by ACC,
Ignition or similar to have the inverter draw power only when ordered to do so -
inverter power via fuse and solenoid, of course.
The quiescent current may draw your battery down when not using the vehicle for
longer times.

Axel

 

B

bowgus

Guest

• Nov 26, 2005

• #5

Oh yeah ... (d'oh) ... the inverter in the boat has an on/off switch for
that exact reason. But an ACC/solenoid is a much better idea ... it's - 11C
here right now, I'll do the solenoid install in say ... June ... thanks for
the insight.

> You may want to wire a control line to a solenoid being actuated by ACC,
> Ignition or similar to have the inverter draw power only when ordered to
do so -
> inverter power via fuse and solenoid, of course.
> The quiescent current may draw your battery down when not using the
vehicle for
> longer times.
>
> Axel
>

 

T

TheSnoMan

Guest

• Nov 26, 2005

• #6

Just remember that fuse performance is also based on temp and if it is
placed in a hot engine compartment, it will blow sooner and at a lower
level than if placed in a cooler area. Myself, I would place fuse next
to inverter. For a 900 Wat inverter, you want about a 75 amp fuse. (A 75
amp fuse does not blow at 75 amps and will let go considerabley above that.)

bowgus wrote:
> For what it's worth ... in the boat I just hardwired to the battery with an
> inline fuse at the battery. And for what it's worth, in a boat, it's
> especially important that the fuse be close to the battery, else if there's
> say a wiring problem between the battery and the fuse, it could be
> impossible to put the fire out because the fuse won't blow. There are handy
> connectors to use on the battery post with connectors for just this sort of
> installation.
>
>
> Walker" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:5bNhf.801$4v.390@fed1read03...
>
>>I'd like to hardwire a 900 watt power inverter into my truck. It's been a
>>long time since I played with auto wiring or relays and there have
>
> probably
>
>>been several advances and/or new devices since the 80s. Would someone
>
> please
>
>>point me in the right direction to where I might get updated. Thank you.
>>
>>Bob Walker
>>[email protected]
>>
>>
>
>
>


--

-----------------
www.thesnoman.com

 

B

bowgus

Guest

• Nov 26, 2005

• #7

If I was installing in my jeep, I would direct connect to the battery ... no
fuse. And the no-load current should be negligeable (don't seem to have my
spec sheet anymore) so I'm thinking I would might not install a relay
either. Now, in the boat the inverter runs off the deep cycle battery, not
the starting battery, so I won't be stranded if that runs down. Depending on
your plans for that inverter, you may want to look into a dual battery
setup. There's lots of how-to info on that available at 4x4 sites. Anyway, a
quick trip to the shop and a looksee at the inverter specs ... e.g does it
shut down leaving you some battery power ... and I'm sure all your questions
will be answered.

 

T

TheSnoMan

Guest

• Nov 27, 2005

• #8

bowgus wrote:
> If I was installing in my jeep, I would direct connect to the battery ... no
> fuse. And the no-load current should be negligeable (don't seem to have my
> spec sheet anymore) so I'm thinking I would might not install a relay
> either. Now, in the boat the inverter runs off the deep cycle battery, not
> the starting battery, so I won't be stranded if that runs down. Depending on
> your plans for that inverter, you may want to look into a dual battery
> setup. There's lots of how-to info on that available at 4x4 sites. Anyway, a
> quick trip to the shop and a looksee at the inverter specs ... e.g does it
> shut down leaving you some battery power ... and I'm sure all your questions
> will be answered.
>
>


Actually the no load is not negliable and its amount depends on the size
of inverter as the bigger the unit, the higher the no load current which
can easily exceed several amps and a big (1000 wats) inverter.

--

-----------------
www.thesnoman.com

 

A

Axel Hammer

Guest

• Nov 27, 2005

• #9

bowgus schrieb:

> If I was installing in my jeep, I would direct connect to the battery ... no
> fuse.

Have a fire extinguisher ready.
Ever seen a car with THIS installation burning? _I_ did (not mine ;-)

Axel

 

B

bowgus

Guest

• Nov 27, 2005

• #10

Out of curiosity, which inverter was that? I know that mine's 3 ac outlets
are independently fused and I believe(d) the dc input is also fused
internally (it's been a while since I installed it) ... but as mentioned, in
a boat, it's very wise to fuse everything at the battery(s).

> > If I was installing in my jeep, I would direct connect to the battery
.... no
> > fuse.
>
> Have a fire extinguisher ready.
> Ever seen a car with THIS installation burning? _I_ did (not mine ;-)
>
> Axel
>

 

B

bowgus

Guest

• Nov 27, 2005

• #11

For what it's worth, I am "currently" using a 35A inline fuse in the
boat (so that's roughly limiting to 420 +/- watts) ... my ac requirements
are not extreme ... mainly for recharging the cameras, running that portable
radio/CD player my wife likes to bring along. Ok, adios.

 

C

Coasty

Guest

• Nov 27, 2005

• #12

"Walker" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:5bNhf.801$4v.390@fed1read03...
> I'd like to hardwire a 900 watt power inverter into my truck. It's been a
> long time since I played with auto wiring or relays and there have
> probably been several advances and/or new devices since the 80s. Would
> someone please point me in the right direction to where I might get
> updated. Thank you.
>
> Bob Walker
> [email protected]
>
>
This is a good site to answer your questions.
http://www.donrowe.com/inverters/inverter_faq.html

--
Coasty
Remove The SPOOGE To Reply

 

B

bowgus

Guest

• Nov 27, 2005

• #13

Bookmarked, excellent ... thanks Coasty

> This is a good site to answer your questions.
> http://www.donrowe.com/inverters/inverter_faq.html
> Coasty

 

L

Lon

Guest

• Nov 27, 2005

• #14

Without knowing the internals of the specific inverter, the internal
fuses are usually there to protect the inverter, not protect your
vehicle wiring from problems with the inverter itself.

Not fusing any high current load is best done by those who think the "In
God we Trust" on pennies means they are safe to use as household fuse
replacements.


bowgus proclaimed:

> Out of curiosity, which inverter was that? I know that mine's 3 ac outlets
> are independently fused and I believe(d) the dc input is also fused
> internally (it's been a while since I installed it) ... but as mentioned, in
> a boat, it's very wise to fuse everything at the battery(s).
>
>
>>>If I was installing in my jeep, I would direct connect to the battery
>
> ... no
>
>>>fuse.
>>
>>Have a fire extinguisher ready.
>>Ever seen a car with THIS installation burning? _I_ did (not mine ;-)
>>
>>Axel
>>
>
>
>

 

C

C. E. White

Guest

• Dec 5, 2005

• #15

"Walker" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:5bNhf.801$4v.390@fed1read03...
> I'd like to hardwire a 900 watt power inverter into my truck. It's been a
> long time since I played with auto wiring or relays and there have
> probably been several advances and/or new devices since the 80s. Would
> someone please point me in the right direction to where I might get
> updated. Thank you.

900 watt is going to take some pretty stiff wiring. You are going to need to
supply at least 90 amps to power that baby at maximum output. I am not an
electrical engineer, and I don't play one on TV, but I think you'll need at
least 2 gauge wire (assuming a short run and non-continuous usage) for that
much current and a fuse in the circuit to make sure you don't start a fire.
If you are going to run the wiring any distance, I think you are going to
need even bigger wire. I doubt your vehicle's alternator can keep up with a
900 watt inverter running wide open and the car's power needs at the same
time. See
http://www.simacorp.com/products/item.ep.html?session=3421995e6bb4e5da8ff73754f0a82ec6&id=490
(or http://tinyurl.com/bsvd2 ) for a kit for hard wiring an inverter.

Ed White

 

W

Walker

Guest

• Dec 6, 2005

• #16

"C. E. White" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Walker" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:5bNhf.801$4v.390@fed1read03...
>> I'd like to hardwire a 900 watt power inverter into my truck. It's been a
>> long time since I played with auto wiring or relays and there have
>> probably been several advances and/or new devices since the 80s. Would
>> someone please point me in the right direction to where I might get
>> updated. Thank you.
>
> 900 watt is going to take some pretty stiff wiring. You are going to need
> to supply at least 90 amps to power that baby at maximum output. I am not
> an electrical engineer, and I don't play one on TV, but I think you'll
> need at least 2 gauge wire (assuming a short run and non-continuous usage)
> for that much current and a fuse in the circuit to make sure you don't
> start a fire. If you are going to run the wiring any distance, I think you
> are going to need even bigger wire. I doubt your vehicle's alternator can
> keep up with a 900 watt inverter running wide open and the car's power
> needs at the same time. See
> http://www.simacorp.com/products/item.ep.html?session=3421995e6bb4e5da8ff73754f0a82ec6&id=490
> (or http://tinyurl.com/bsvd2 ) for a kit for hard wiring an inverter.
>
> Ed White
After reading the articles included with some of the replies and getting a
better understanding of how an inverter works, I've switched anything over
that can run on 12 volt and the rest will run easily on a smaller inverter
plugged into the cigarette lighter socket. The 900 watt inverter was
originally intended to run an air compressor and uses battery clamps to
attach to the battery (while stopped). While my immediate needs are taken
care of, I am still going to learn some more and do some research on
building a deep cycle storage battery system for running lights and small
appliances while camping. I have a perfect location for it where the third
row seats are stored and it can be easily isolated and/or vented.

Bob Walker

 

A

Astermagik

New Member

Posts

14

• Dec 19, 2005

• #17

Just a quick point: In the postings, someone said that not fusing a high current circuit is foolhardy. While I agree with the sentiment in general, it's not totally unheard of. Think about your landy: Is there a fuse on the 200A+ cable which goes to the starter? And what about your new winch? And the alternator? The secret is in the quality of the cable insulation, it's routing and the load. It's not always practical to fuse very high current circuits running on 12V - the fuse can cause unacceptable volt drops due to it's internal resistance. Also, one of the biggest issues is where cables pass through metal panels (like the battery box or the firewall). Friction can cause the insulation to wear through and therefore a huge short to occur. The only way to solve this is to use gromets in the holes and extra insulation on the cables. When last did you hear about a starter cable catching fire?
In short: Fuse where practical / possible, bear in mind it's possible to wire without, especially where the appliance is internally fused, like almost all inverters.