Community Forums

Juggler · 04-05-2006, 01:05 PM

I have a 500 watt continuous, 1500 watt surge invertor. It's my understanding it needs to be mounted close to the batterys. However, my batts are mounted in the traditional area on my TT, behind the LP tanks on the trailer toungue. By the time I snake the wires around the underside of the trailer and get to the area where the convertor (PD 9140 with CW), is located your talking 15' at least. Would 4-6 gauge wire be sufficient? Or should I mount it closer yet to the batts? (2 group 27's totaling 210 ah's). I have the typical 12volt outlet by the TV shelf, but thats quite a distance from the batts, and I'm not sure what gauge the wires are. The invertor will be used mainly for the TV, and on occasion a fan.

Thanks!

(Love that little "juggler" icon!)

Juggler · 04-05-2006, 01:05 PM

I have a 500 watt continuous, 1500 watt surge invertor. It's my understanding it needs to be mounted close to the batterys. However, my batts are mounted in the traditional area on my TT, behind the LP tanks on the trailer toungue. By the time I snake the wires around the underside of the trailer and get to the area where the convertor (PD 9140 with CW), is located your talking 15' at least. Would 4-6 gauge wire be sufficient? Or should I mount it closer yet to the batts? (2 group 27's totaling 210 ah's). I have the typical 12volt outlet by the TV shelf, but thats quite a distance from the batts, and I'm not sure what gauge the wires are. The invertor will be used mainly for the TV, and on occasion a fan.

Thanks!

(Love that little "juggler" icon!)

rogueii · 04-05-2006, 03:26 PM

I installed a 2000 watt invertor and if I remember, the inventor to battery cables had to be No longer than 6 feet. I had 2.0 cables, with a 300 amp fuse in line. My unit had a 100 amp charger. Call the Manufacturer and ask them for the proper size cables. Just to be safe.

ajbjrvers · 04-06-2006, 03:03 AM

To, Juggler,

When I had my travel trailer , I installed the inverter under the full size bed which was about 4 feet from batteries, with the outside wall in-between.

I have since learned, by trial and error, that the larger tha welding cable you use the better performance you get. I have 4/0 welding cable on all connections.

When I traded trailer for first class A , I removed inverter and wires ,put trailer back to it's original equipment and installed everything in class A, had to get longer cables to run to inverter.

Hope this info helps ,, let us know,

Aime==== AJBJRVERS===

Gary RVRoamer · 04-08-2006, 08:28 AM

A 500W (AC) load will draw 45-50 DC amps from your batteries and you should probably use a 50-60A fuse or breaker on the inverter-to-battery wiring. You need to make sure that that wiring can easily handle a continuous 50A load. The rating for a battery cable will depend on the type of insulation it has, but the typical 4 gauge cable found in auto parts stores should handle 50A up to around 20 feet. That allows for a 3% voltage drop at 20 feet (0.03 x 12.6V = 0.38V) and that should still be OK. I doubt if your batteries can deliver 50A for much more than 20-30 minutes anyway, before the voltage drops below the inverter's minimum input level.

If you are talking about 4 gauge house/appliance wiring, I would suggest a service entrance grade of cable. Among other attributes it will have an all-weather exterior cover.

Welding cable is fine-stranded and will carry more current or, better yet, have less voltage drop for any given length. 4 AWG welding cable would be a great choice.