Invertor power (puzzled)
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Olathe, KS
Invertor power (puzzled)
Hey all, Did a little searching but must be using wrong search words. I am hooking up a 1200w power invertor in my 04 drw 6.0. My question is which battery is best to hook my invertor into?
Tuned
Joined: Jun 2011
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From: West TN
...because, they are in the same circuit, they are a parallel connected battery of batteries for starting. There is no isolation like you may be thinking would be there in a 'auxiliary battery' setup, this is all the same so anywhere you connect you get both. And drain both, if you run it down.
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Olathe, KS
Thanks guys, figured it was simple. The drivers side battery is much easier and shorter to run so was hoping for your good news...
BPofMD - 10 amp for 1200w sounds a little low? Most invertors are not very efficiant so have a notable power loss in the conversion. anyway, This one is actually a 2000w surge with 1200w continuous. Recommends "00" cablings for my length for 80 amp draw. I will run #2 wire ($$$) along with a 3farad power cap at the back seat to reduce surge hits. I fuse at the battery for 80 amps. but have never blown a fuse. It runs quite a number of power tools from time to time so does get loaded. I run power to avoid low voltage as that is more damaging than a square wave invertor to electronics.
BPofMD - 10 amp for 1200w sounds a little low? Most invertors are not very efficiant so have a notable power loss in the conversion. anyway, This one is actually a 2000w surge with 1200w continuous. Recommends "00" cablings for my length for 80 amp draw. I will run #2 wire ($$$) along with a 3farad power cap at the back seat to reduce surge hits. I fuse at the battery for 80 amps. but have never blown a fuse. It runs quite a number of power tools from time to time so does get loaded. I run power to avoid low voltage as that is more damaging than a square wave invertor to electronics.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Blue Hill Township
1200 = 12 x Amps
1200/12 = Amps
100 = Amps
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,604
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From: Claremore, OK
Where is the fuse going to be? Your limiting the safe amount of amperage you can run through the wiring by under-sizing it. Yes, 00 wire is expensive...but these trucks aren't cheap either. Too each there own, but if was me...I'd bit the bullet and put the right sized cable in the first time & be done with it.
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FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Millersville, MD
Thanks guys, figured it was simple. The drivers side battery is much easier and shorter to run so was hoping for your good news...
BPofMD - 10 amp for 1200w sounds a little low? Most invertors are not very efficiant so have a notable power loss in the conversion. anyway, This one is actually a 2000w surge with 1200w continuous. Recommends "00" cablings for my length for 80 amp draw. I will run #2 wire ($$$) along with a 3farad power cap at the back seat to reduce surge hits. I fuse at the battery for 80 amps. but have never blown a fuse. It runs quite a number of power tools from time to time so does get loaded. I run power to avoid low voltage as that is more damaging than a square wave invertor to electronics.
BPofMD - 10 amp for 1200w sounds a little low? Most invertors are not very efficiant so have a notable power loss in the conversion. anyway, This one is actually a 2000w surge with 1200w continuous. Recommends "00" cablings for my length for 80 amp draw. I will run #2 wire ($$$) along with a 3farad power cap at the back seat to reduce surge hits. I fuse at the battery for 80 amps. but have never blown a fuse. It runs quite a number of power tools from time to time so does get loaded. I run power to avoid low voltage as that is more damaging than a square wave invertor to electronics.
An INVERTER changes DC to AC. If you are using it to power an 110 volt AC product, that IS about a max draw of 10 amps.
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Elder User
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From: Olathe, KS
BP. Not sure why you are set on 10amps. The math below is accurate power calc (minus circuit loss), unless you are speaking to the 110v side which is about 7amps as I recall. Be aware cheaper circuit designs trade substantial losses for cost.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o
></o>
<o></o>
May have to consider 00. and maybe that is what I have from the last install. Need to look in the box. Ground may have been the #2? Or my tie off to the amps. Anyway, having the cap does allow a smaller power wire for most of the duty it sees. On a side note - I do have a concern of yanking that much amperage out the truck for any extended duration. Would not make my day to burn out my electrical system. (fry Alt, or Alt wiring etc...) High power stuff is only when the genset is not handy usually a angle grinder. <o></o>
The advice is greatly appreciated. Always good to be pushed to do it right over lazy. Esp when I know better too.
Oh, I am fusing at the battery.
fficeffice" /><o></o><o
></o>May have to consider 00. and maybe that is what I have from the last install. Need to look in the box. Ground may have been the #2? Or my tie off to the amps. Anyway, having the cap does allow a smaller power wire for most of the duty it sees. On a side note - I do have a concern of yanking that much amperage out the truck for any extended duration. Would not make my day to burn out my electrical system. (fry Alt, or Alt wiring etc...) High power stuff is only when the genset is not handy usually a angle grinder. <o
></o>The advice is greatly appreciated. Always good to be pushed to do it right over lazy. Esp when I know better too.
Oh, I am fusing at the battery.
Logistics Pro
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From: Claremore, OK
Wiser by FTE
Joined: Jan 2010
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get welding cable if possible, it is very flexible, maybe have a shop crimp on good lugs. Ive load tested 1200-2500 watt inverters & the current draw can & will be over 100 amps on the 12 volt side with a large load. 1/0 copper is 150 amps, 2/0 175 amp & 3/0 200 amps, good luck
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 599
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From: Bakersfield
get welding cable if possible, it is very flexible, maybe have a shop crimp on good lugs. Ive load tested 1200-2500 watt inverters & the current draw can & will be over 100 amps on the 12 volt side with a large load. 1/0 copper is 150 amps, 2/0 175 amp & 3/0 200 amps, good luck
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Elder User
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From: Olathe, KS
Yeah, I run the welding cable. Far easier to work with and very rugged. I usually crimp and then solder my connections. I get supplies like heat shrink from a local electronics supply house. Have not found the fuse link I want to run yet. I like having a fuse block under the hood that I can tap off for other things. Might consider a breaker, in my use most I find are auto reseting, if I blow it I want to know why before re-energizing. Having a short that cycles an auto reset breaker is ugly. Had not thought about ebay, will check that out.