Power Inverter install?

[cgau]

Has any one added a Power Inverter? Is this difficult? Where can you find info on install? I have a 2001 Intruder. Thanks, Chris

[RJay]

You might start by calling tech support of the company who you plan to purchase your inverter or visit their website where they may have an installation manual online for your unit. In general this is what you need to consider:

• • Some way to isolate the inverter when plugged into shore power or when the generator is in use. This may or may not be a built in feature of the inverter you purchase.
  • Connection to the batteries. This will be your battery charger so the cable runs(size and distance) are important.
  • Running the 120 volt wire(s) to the AC panel(s) to feed the circuits connected to the appliances and or receptacles you want to run off the inverter.

Have you determined what size inverter you need?

[kayo]

As noted above, what do you want the inverter to do? And once that you have that figured out, then you need to see if you have the house battery capacity to handle that load. You may find out that you need to add several more 6V batteries, which again is another problem. there are several inverter suppliers that can hope you do the math.

Do it yourself? Absolutely. I added three 120V solar panels, a 2000 Xantrex inverter/charger (wish I had gone with a 2500), and four more 6V batteries, for a total of 6)

[hamdave]

Yes, I did my own. As others have suggested, first you do need to figure out how big a unit you will need. I found a unit at a local hamfest two years ago, and have it limited to 600 watts max working load. It outputs a modified sine-wave which works just fine on all my computer,switching-power supplies, etc. Mine is fused from the house battery with 'heavy' cable capable of delivering about 50 amp continuous if needed, but it only gets about 20-30% loaded at any one time.

cheers