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There are two ways to add an inverter, Easy and Easier.. First the easiest way, This woudl be a stand alone inverter.
NOTE: if the inverter is bigger than say 100 watts (And you do need bigger) then it is best to mount it NEAR the batteries, but not in the same space, Use heavy cable (For a 500 watt or so you can use the common Starter Cables you can get at any auto parts store, when you hit a kilowatt or larger thing bigger (For a KW just double up on starter cable) NOTE 2: Tape the red and black cables together for as much of the run as you can, Cuts down on some inductance issues.
As said: put the inverter as close to the batteries as possible but NOT in the same air space (A compartment next door is good) Use heavy cables and the proper in-line fuse..
Then simply run 120 volt wire from there to where you want E-power. Use a properly sized breaker on that wire (near the inverter) if the inverter has none built in. (Some do) use RED or ORANGE outlets and covers for the Inverter powered (To distinguish from the regular) and simply plug into the inverter outlet when you need to use it.
I would not put a switch in the inverter line less it is a very heavy duty marine grade (A 1,000 watt inverter needs at least 100 amps running)
I also recommend TRUE SINE WAVE inverters, more expensive, but your electronics will thank you.
Now the less easy way.. Properly installed.
To do this one you need the right kind of inverter,, One such is the Xantrex Prosine 2.0, there are several others which are every bit as good, some may say better, I mentione the Xantrex only because.... I have one. In all cases the install is identical save for one or two features of the 2.0, These are in fact options for the most part.
First you decide what outlets/circuits you want on E-power (E = Emergency, or in this case Inverter) and remove those leads from the primary breaker box.. Also remove the breakers (Optional on that) You replace ONE breaker with the proper size breaker to feed the inverter (The Prosine is a combo unit, Inverter and converter with built in transfer switch, it is also a true sine) the proper breaker for the Prosine 2.0 is 30 amps.. NOTE you may need to "Re-balance" if your rig is a 50 amp rig.
Now... Route these wires to a new breaker box, called a "Sub Panel" this type of box has no main breaker in it, just branch circuits. Hardware, Lowes, Home Dept, any electrical supply house., Sears.
Run the proper wire (10ga in the case of the 2.0) from the 30 amp breaker to the inverter's AC-IN leads, Using a sharpie write Power IN on the wire at the inverter end. (or INPUT or MAIN power)
Run a 2nd 10ga Romex from the inverter to the sub panel (ON this one write INVERTER OUT)
You will use very heavy wire with a 2.0.. Multiple zero guage (4/0 or heavier) I suggest one grade heavier than the manual recommends (heavier won't hurt, will help) again tape the two leads together ad much as possible, and mount in the compartment next to the batteries,, The max current here is, well just divide watts by 10 so 2,000 watts = 200 amps, actually the Prosine can suck more than that for about 1 second during POST (Power on self test)
That about covers it.. It is really easy to do save for running the 120 volt wire, that can be a pain.. How to do that depends a lot on your rig.
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Home is where I park it!
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