Inverter Wiring

[henw]

This is a view near where the dc electric comes in the front of the AS. Where would be a good place to wire in an inverter?

Tom

[overlander63]

Near where you are going to be using it would be first choice. If you want to have the inverter energize all outlets, a better place may be near the battery or breaker box.

[69AmbassFl]

I would probably try to wire in as close to the battery as possible. That way you don't have to run lengthy battery cables to it. If you put it in between the battery and the main breaker panel you can power all outlets with it and not have to run excess wiring, as the wiring between the battery(s) and the area that you have pictured may not be heavy enough for the invertor.

[henw]

I'm just going to use the plug outlets on the inverter. The red wires in the photo are positive. The white ones negative. I thought I would just wire it in there. Just wanted to make sure doing such would not cause trouble.

Tom

[overlander63]

As long as you don't exceed the wire curreent capacity, there should be o problem.

[Jim Foster]

When I installed the inverter on our Caravel, I put it close to the batteries. I went to Pep Boys and got a pair of jumper cables that had nice multistrand copper wire and cheap connection handles, which I cut off. It is important to use heavy copper cable between the batteries and the inverter. The run should be as short as possible. Small wire or long runs can cause inverter failure. The longer the run, the larger the cable needed. Your inverter instructions should have a size/length guide. I use a short extension cord with a switched six outlet box, placed in a central area where I can plug in the TV, Dish box, DVD player, laptop or other small draw items.

My inverter system is separate from the 110v trailer wiring. In our case, there was no reason to try to integrate the two. I plug items into the inverter outlet when boondocking, plug into the trailer outlets when hooked up.

Very simple, and works well for us.

[henw]

Thanks. I feel better about plundging ahead. The longer red cable, I believe, is the positive directly from the battery. The white wires originate where the black negative cable from the battery terminates. I suspect they are beefy enough.
Tom

[lewster]

Originally Posted by henw

Thanks. I feel better about plundging ahead. The longer red cable, I believe, is the positive directly from the battery. The white wires originate where the black negative cable from the battery terminates. I suspect they are beefy enough.
Tom

Tom,

I would run a dedicated set of cables of appropriate AWG (#2 or better) directly from your batteries to your inverter. Doing this will eliminate the future possibility of any electrial problems within your DC circuitry. Every motorhome that I work on with an inverter is wired like this.

[Jim Foster]

Originally Posted by lewster

Tom,

I would run a dedicated set of cables of appropriate AWG (#2 or better) directly from your batteries to your inverter. Doing this will eliminate the future possibility of any electrial problems within your DC circuitry. Every motorhome that I work on with an inverter is wired like this.

Don't even think about doing it any other way....

[Motoman]

Originally Posted by lewster

Tom,

I would run a dedicated set of cables of appropriate AWG (#2 or better) directly from your batteries to your inverter. Doing this will eliminate the future possibility of any electrial problems within your DC circuitry. Every motorhome that I work on with an inverter is wired like this.

I also agree with Lewster if you are installing a fairly large inverter, say a 600 watt true sine wave inverter like Airstream installs as an option. However you haven't told us what size you are installing. If you are talking about one of the cheaper 300 or 400 watt modified sine wave inverters with a cigarette lighter plug or cables to connect to a battery you can probably use a smaller wire and possibly connect to the DC power buss inside the trailer.

Give us some more info.

[henw]

I'm planning in installing a 1000W pure sine inverter. To run the TV, DVD, computer etc.
If I wire it directly to the batteries ( which are outside on tongue ), will the cables to the inverter fit through the small hole entering the trailer with the dc electrical bundle?

[Motoman]

Originally Posted by henw

I'm planning in installing a 1000W pure sine inverter. To run the TV, DVD, computer etc.
If I wire it directly to the batteries ( which are outside on tongue ), will the cables to the inverter fit through the small hole entering the trailer with the dc electrical bundle?

Definitely requires separate cables straight from the battery. I would suggest that you use "0" or "ought" gauge wire from the battery to the inverter.

I am installing the 600 watt inverter that Airstream uses and I am bringing the wire through a plastic exterior electrical box attached and sealed to the aluminum plate in the spare tire area behind the tongue where there is no belly pan or insulation. I am using liquid tight connectors for each wire into the box. I haven't installed it yet but could send you a picture of the box with connectors installed and the area where it will come through the floor. I'll try to get the pictures this afternoon.

[Motoman]

I couldn't find a nice weather-proof boot to use to run the wires through the floor in so I decided to use an exterior plastic electrical box with liquid-tite compression connectors to feed my DC cables in through the floor to the inverter (see the first two photos). The box will be attached and sealed to the floor near the spare tire and an opening cut through the back of the electrical box and floor to run the cables through. You can also se the liquid-tite connectors where the individual positive and negative wires will feed into the box coming from the battery.

I also included a picture of the area near the floor penetration for the existing wiring where the box will be mounted to the underside. i will have to make sure that the location doesn't interfere with removing and installing the spare tire carrier.

[henw]

Very nice idea Don.

Tom