correct wiring of whole-house inverter?

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October 30, 2013, 01:37:57 pm

When installing a whole-house inverter, must an in-line fuse/breaker be installed on the positive cable between the inverter and the battery? Thanks--Ted.

Re: correct wiring of whole-house inverter?

Reply #1 – October 30, 2013, 02:00:15 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 143341

Ted,
Any time you are connecting ANYTHING directly to the battery it MUST be fused as close to the battery as possible. Remember you are protecting the wire between the item and the battery as well as the item itself.

Keep this in mind as a general rule and you won't be sorry.

Rich - 2000 MB - Birch Bay, WA

Re: correct wiring of whole-house inverter?

Reply #2 – October 30, 2013, 04:11:10 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 143343

What I use to fuse battery leads.
http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Sea-2151-Terminal-Block/dp/B007DN2VB8/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1383163080&sr=8-12&keywords=Blue+sea+fuse

As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: correct wiring of whole-house inverter?

Reply #3 – October 31, 2013, 12:43:16 am

Yahoo Message Number: 143348

"What I use to fuse battery leads...."

Interesting; I hadn't seen that type before. I use a class T 300 amp fuse with tab terminals. But this brings up the question of choosing the appropriate value... and that very much depends upon 1) your charging system and 2) your inverter.

For example, my proSINE 2.0 inverter/charger (which replaced the factory-installed Parallax 7300 series converter) can send juice to my battery bank at 100 amps, or a bit more, so obviously a fuse of more than a 100 A is needed.

But the proSINE is also a whole-house inverter, and when running the microwave oven it can draw as much as 160 amps... so a larger fuse is needed on that account. This is how Mike Sylvester, who installed most of the electrical upgrades to my rig, determined that 300 amps was the correct size for my particular configuration.

But for you it might be different. You need to look at how many amps your inverter can draw at maximum, then allow a comfortable safety margin for startup surges and the like, and determine your master fuse size on that basis.

Andy Baird
http://www.andybaird.com/travels

Re: correct wiring of whole-house inverter?

Reply #4 – October 31, 2013, 04:48:23 am

Yahoo Message Number: 143349

Thank you all. Just the info I needed. I had determined, from a fuse manufacturer's chart, that 300A is appropriate for a maximum 2000W inverter (mine is 1800W), which tallies with Mike Sylvester's recommendation to Andy.

BTW, the guy that installed my inverter failed to connect to the shunt of my Trimetric battery monitor, and now I find out he also didn't install a fuse. This was pointed out to me at an RV service center that I asked to move the cable to the shunt (with Andy's printed instructions in hand). He said, "hey, you don't have a fuse between the battery terminal and the inverter." I now have confirmation from all of you that his concern was legitimate. Many thanks once again. Ted

On Wednesday, October 30, 2013 10:38 AM, "rapgroupltd@..." wrote:

Re: correct wiring of whole-house inverter?

Reply #5 – October 31, 2013, 10:05:21 am

Yahoo Message Number: 143350

How I determine proper fuse size, or WAG it.
http://www.bluesea.com/articles/1441

Re: correct wiring of whole-house inverter?

Reply #6 – October 31, 2013, 11:30:40 am

Yahoo Message Number: 143351

Remember, the fuse protects the wire as well as the device connected to it. A 300 A fuse requires a wire no smaller than 0 awg no matter what the length of the wire is. A larger wire may be needed for voltage drop reasons dependent on length, but never smaller than 0 awg.

Rich - 2000 MB - Birch Bay, WA

Re: correct wiring of whole-house inverter?

Reply #7 – October 31, 2013, 12:28:22 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 143352

"Remember, the fuse protects the wire as well as the device connected to it. A 300 A fuse requires a wire no smaller than 0 awg no matter what the length of the wire is."

Good point, Rich! For the record, my battery/inverter/charger wiring is AWG 0000 (4/0).

Andy Baird
http://www.andybaird.com/travels

Re: correct wiring of whole-house inverter?

Reply #8 – October 31, 2013, 12:35:50 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 143353

" How I determine proper fuse size, or WAG it.
http://www.lazydazeowners.com/http://www.bluesea.com/articles/1441" http://www.lazydazeowners.com/

The fuse/wire chart is a keeper. It show most of the commonly available fuses used in automotive and marine applications.
http://assets.bluesea.com/files/resources/newsletter/images/Choose_the_Fuse_Amperage.jpg

When installing high-amperage circuits, unless the installation calls for a fast acting Class T fuse, I use a much more inexpensive ANL fuses. They cost about 1/2 as much and are available in a wide range of sizes, up to 400-amps.
Our LD's 440-amp -hour battery pack has a 250-amp ANL fuse. It is the smallest fuse that could be used and still crank the V10 engine over without blowing the fuse. Our LD has a marine battery switch that allow the engine to use the coach battery for starting.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=17296&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=50523&subdeptNum=50549&classNum=50556
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=17406&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=50523&subdeptNum=50549&classNum=50556#showReviews.
Whatever type you use, carry spares since ANL or Class T fuses are not widely available.

For mid-amperage circuits, up to 80-amps, I use MAXI fuses. Replacements are available at any good auto parts store.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=17211&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=50523&subdeptNum=50549&classNum=50556
http://www.delcity.net/store/Maxi-Inline-Fuse-Holder/p_11183.h_36724.t_1.r_IF1003?mkwid=7WlUPe7j&crid=8229606509&gclid=CK2mjeu8wboCFWnZQgodAUQADw http://www.lazydazeowners.com/http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=17299&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=50523&subdeptNum=50549&classNum=50556

Larry

Re: correct wiring of whole-house inverter?

Reply #9 – October 31, 2013, 02:14:28 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 143356

I know 2/0 cable was used by AM Solar when they installed the AGM batteries and I know that the inverter installer used 2/0 to connect the inverter. So, based on all your latest comments, I gather that I should be able to install the 300A Class T with existing wiring. Thanks--Ted

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October 30, 2013, 01:37:57 pm

Reply #1 – October 30, 2013, 02:00:15 pm

Reply #2 – October 30, 2013, 04:11:10 pm

Reply #3 – October 31, 2013, 12:43:16 am

Reply #4 – October 31, 2013, 04:48:23 am

Reply #5 – October 31, 2013, 10:05:21 am

Reply #6 – October 31, 2013, 11:30:40 am

Reply #7 – October 31, 2013, 12:28:22 pm

Reply #8 – October 31, 2013, 12:35:50 pm

Reply #9 – October 31, 2013, 02:14:28 pm

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