Inverter cable

[nostradoofus]

Hi. I recently purchased a Renogy 200 wt package for my motorhome. The panels and controller are working perfect. However, I cannot connect my 2000w inverter close to my batteries because the battery compartment is located under the slide out. I will need to run about 12 feet of cable to the inverter. Should I use o/1 cable? Also, what kind of cable is best...the copper coated aluminum cable or the pure copper(very expensive). Any help would be appreciated.

thank you

[Nwcid]

Since 2/0 cable is typically needed for a 2000 watt inverter, going half the size to a 1/0 is not a good idea.

You will likely need to go 3/0 or 4/0.

[twinboat]

You don't need to see your inverter, mount it close to the batteries and run 120 volt wiring longer distance, otherwise get 4/0 copper cable.

[Weldergary]

I just installed the inverter and battery and used 4/0 cable. Don't go light it will over heat. That said use cooper flexible cable. I got mine thru amazon you can also get it from a welding supply co.

[shootist]

2/0 over 24 feet is good. Use a fine strand copper. Aluminum won't carry it. DC the distance is calculated to and from. 1/0 is enough but it is on the edge

[dvspl]

Originally Posted by twinboat

You don't need to see your inverter, mount it close to the batteries and run 120 volt wiring longer distance, otherwise get 4/0 copper cable.

This is the best suggestion. If you've got no choice but to locate the inverter far from the batteries, I don't think 1/0 will be sufficient mostly because you'll get a lot of voltage drop at full inverter capacity. For 2000W, the cables will need to be capable of 167 amps at 24 feet (round trip). Here's a good cable size calculator to help you consider both ampacity and voltage drop: https://baymarinesupply.com/calculator When voltage drops, amps go up which causes more heat, both in the wiring and the inverter.

Pure copper is a much better conductor than copper coated aluminum...worth paying extra for.

[Marine359]

Renogy says their 2000w inverter will draw 83 amps at full load. 1/0 cable can safely handle 150 amps. I used 1/0 when I installed my 2,000w Xantrex inverter/charger after checking with Xantrex. However the inverter/charger is just 3ft round trip to bus bar, and battery is 4ft round trip to bus bar., so a total of 9ft. IMO, 1/0 is perfectly suitable for most 2,000w inverters, as long as you fuse the wire. Even if the inverter has a boost feature of 50% for 30 seconds, the 1/0 cable should be quite safe for short haul to batt.

[twinboat]

Originally Posted by Marine359

Renogy says their 2000w inverter will draw 83 amps at full load. 1/0 cable can safely handle 150 amps. I used 1/0 when I installed my 2,000w Xantrex inverter/charger after checking with Xantrex. However the inverter/charger is just 3ft round trip to bus bar, and battery is 4ft round trip to bus bar., so a total of 9ft. IMO, 1/0 is perfectly suitable for most 2,000w inverters, as long as you fuse the wire. Even if the inverter has a boost feature of 50% for 30 seconds, the 1/0 cable should be quite safe for short haul to batt.

You need to go back to your spec sheet.

A 2000 watt inverter will draw over 150 amps at 2000 watts.

The cable size on inverter installs is to limit voltage drop, not so much for overloading the cables.

In a 24 ft run, your 12.6 volt batteries voltage may only be 11.6 volts at the inverter, while drawing 2000 watts. If the batteries drop to 12 volts, the inverter may shut down or at least start sounding an alarm.

[Marine359]

Sorry Twinboat,
The OP stated he has a Renogy 2000w inverter. So, I looked up the specs for his inverter. Other inverters may be different, but it’s all there on the Renogy website. So, I did go back to the spec sheet, so, you might want to check the spec sheet.

83 amps at full load for a Renogy 2000w inverter. It’s right from the Renogy website:
https://www.renogy.com/blog/3000w-in...%20full%20load.

Additionally the highest wattage appliance is likely to be the microwave. His Renogy probably won’t run it. But for reference, a 1,400w microwave will draw 128 dc amps. So, no danger to 1/0 wire before the inverter trips.

[twinboat]

Originally Posted by Marine359

Sorry Twinboat,
The OP stated he has a Renogy 2000w inverter. So, I looked up the specs for his inverter. Other inverters may be different, but it’s all there on the Renogy website. So, I did go back to the spec sheet, so, you might want to check the spec sheet.

83 amps at full load for a Renogy 2000w inverter. It’s right from the Renogy website:
https://www.renogy.com/blog/3000w-in...%20full%20load.

Additionally the highest wattage appliance is likely to be the microwave. His Renogy probably won’t run it. But for reference, a 1,400w microwave will draw 128 dc amps. So, no danger to 1/0 wire before the inverter trips.

Link didn't work and what ever you saw was wrong anyway.
It's math, you can not invert 12.6 volts to 2000 watts of 120 volt AC power for less then 150 amps.


It's not a danger with undersized wire, it's the 3% voltage drop on a 25 ft, 1/0 wire run. That's almost 3 volts drop, the inverter will shut down.

This is from the Renogy install manual.

[Tombsy]

I have the same Renogy inverter, the output specs are 2000w continuous and 4000w peak surge.
I believe that’s closer to 300 amps?

[Marine359]

Interesting discussion. I think there is the theoretical, and then there is the real product.
Maybe the published Renogy manual is wrong as you suggested, but the manual states the inverter is shipped with 2awg cable. Why on earth would they undersize the cable that much if the inverter could draw draw 150amps as you suggest? 2awg can carry only 130amps. It Could be your generalized presumption are correct, but it seems they don’t apply to this particular inverter. Could be, I’m misreading the manual, so I’m more than willing to admit fault. Maybe this link to the manual will work better:
https://www.renogy.com/content/Manua...S%20Manual.pdf
The cable size is on page 6
If you have a content blocker, the link will not open.

Also, I do agree that if an inverter outputs it’s full 2000w rating, it would draw 166 amps dc.

[Tombsy]

Originally Posted by Marine359

Interesting discussion. I think there is the theoretical, and then there is the real product.
Maybe the published Renogy manual is wrong as you suggested, but the manual states the inverter is shipped with 2awg cable. Why on earth would they undersize the cable that much if the inverter could draw draw 150amps as you suggest? 2awg can carry only 130amps. It Could be your generalized presumption are correct, but it seems they don’t apply to this particular inverter. Maybe this link to the manual will work better:
https://www.renogy.com/content/Manua...S%20Manual.pdf
The cable size is on page 6
If you have a content blocker, the link will not open.

I’m not sure if that’s an older model but mine came with 4awg cables as shown here.

[twinboat]

Originally Posted by Marine359

Interesting discussion. I think there is the theoretical, and then there is the real product.
Maybe the published Renogy manual is wrong as you suggested, but the manual states the inverter is shipped with 2awg cable. Why on earth would they undersize the cable that much if the inverter could draw draw 150amps as you suggest? 2awg can carry only 130amps. It Could be your generalized presumption are correct, but it seems they don’t apply to this particular inverter. Maybe this link to the manual will work better:
https://www.renogy.com/content/Manua...S%20Manual.pdf
The cable size is on page 6
If you have a content blocker, the link will not open.

It's shipped with 2 gauge cables but they are 2 feet long, that doesn't mean you can use 2 gauge of any length.

On page 13 they list solar controller cable sizes. The instructions are poorly written.