Well, I have a Xantrex Prosine 2.0 (2,000 watt True Sine Wave) you want a True Sine Wave by the way.....
Low wattage (300-500) run a TV and support electroincs, or a home theater, or both (I'd go with a 600 for both) these can be stand alone or in-line. They can also run your CPAP but consider getting one that eats 12 volts DC via a brick or wall wart,, that way you can skip the inverter and power direct. (Get one with an optional car cord).
Higher wattach 1500-2000 + can run a Microwave or some kitchen appliances (Coffee in the morning, there is no life before Coffee).
Install in the compartment next to where the batteries hang out, if the Inverter has it's own protection (circuit breaker) run wires to where you want power and install outlets,, I suggest red or orange color for those outlets (Denoting "Emergency power")
In-line install
Again, Inverter goes in compartment next to batteries
Very heavy wires to battery (Xantrex recommends 0000 or a short run on a 2,000 watt inverter,, I recommend adding another zero or two). Two cables, one red (positive) one black (negative) makes 'em easy to tell apart, Tape them side by side for as much of the run as possible.
Do not forget the fuse (in the positive lead)
120 volt side This is for a 2,000 watt
Run a pair of Rome cables from the inverter compartment to your breaker box,, How to do that you will need to decide,, Mine follows plumbing channels crossing over between the gray and black tanks.
Label them TO INVERTER and FROM INVERTER using a sharpie both ends
Disconnect the wires from the breakers and bus bars for the circuits you wish to power with the inverter, Label them with a sharpie. as to what they are and the breaker size (usually 15 amp) unless all of 'em are 15s.
Note if the inverter has breakers (usually 2) and you are only switching 2 circuits, see notes below.
Obtain a "Sub Panel" this is a breaker box which lets you feed the HOT bus without a breaker,, The "From Inverter" wire goes here, Move the leads you disconected to this box and move one of the breakers, Get additional breakers for the other circuits.
Replace the removed breaker in the main box with a 30 amp (Smaller inverters you may use a smaller breaker) and hook the TO inverter to this.. That is about all there is to it.
Notes: If the inverter has its own breakers...
Run 10 ga to the inverter, 12 or 14 back (Depending on the breaker size, 15 amp can use either 20 needs 12).
use a Junction box instead of the sub panel, Label all wires as before.
NOTE: in both cases your main panel will be left with extra breakers, Re-label as needed,, you may find a use for the spares later.
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Home is where I park it!
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