Wiring inverter

Andrew,
I am running a 600w inverter from the second battery to run a laptop and also charge camera batteries while driving. To date no problems. The only other thing I did was to run two 150amp cables from the second battery direct to the inverter(one to + the other to -)
The ARB solenoid should cope with the power draw.

Wayne

Andrew,

Either battery will work fine with those loads but key thing is adequate cable size to handle the starting and running currents of the inverter. The std cables that usually come with the inverter assume very short cable lengths to the battery. If you are going a couple of metres you will need heavier cable minimise voltage drop.

JohnS

G'day Andrew,

Just be careful that if you have your inverter wired through the key switched and a relay you could cause a problem. I wondered why my inverter would not work after it was switched on with the ignition key. Like a lot of electronic things of required switching off and losing a charge for 5 seconds after it had been switched off the first time as I went to start. The other option is to build in a delay switch.

If it is on, then switched off, then on within 5 seconds it just sounds like it is working but no 240v output is available, so no charging.

I have my wiring to the inverter from the second battery as above, but certaily not 150 amp cables!! Was 4mm or 6mm and not sure which, but through a relay just the same.

goodday all
just a question about the invertors is it possible to mount them beside the battery and run a 240v lead into the car of choice ??????

steve

Thanks guys,

I think I will run from the aux battery after all. The laptop won't be drawing that much power anyway. I bought 50 amp cable to run. I have learnt it is better to run large cable when playing with DC current.

Thanks again. It good hear of others experiences.