Making inverter more accessible

Submitted: Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 16:50
ThreadID: 60103 Views:3387 Replies:10 FollowUps:9
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Hi everyone, this is for the techies.

I have a 300w pure sine wave inverter with alligator clips. I can only use it when the bonnet is up and I have access to a battery.

I'd like to be able to use it at a 12v point in the CT or vehicle.

What do I need to buy and do to get rid of the clips and install a 12v pointy bit instead. Pls keep it simple!

All the best, RayJen
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Reply By: Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 17:45

Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 17:45
Anderson plugs and 6 B&S cable. Keep the cable runs as short as possible.

Regards

Derek.

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Follow Up By: Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 17:48

Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 17:48


Sorry forgot to include this picture.
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Follow Up By: Nomadic Navara - Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 19:43

Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 19:43
Derek

You are giving cable in bloody Yankee sizes. What is the cable size in accordance with Australian standards?

PeterD
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Follow Up By: Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 20:01

Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 20:01
Sorry.

Here Cable-link
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Follow Up By: Member - ed G (VIC) - Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 13:08

Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 13:08
g'day Derek, i am based in Melbourne and am looking for someone down here in bleak city who can supply & install a deep cell sealed battery and an inverter in the 3rd seat storage well of my 2006 Pajero wagon and also a solar panel on the windcheater roof rack. I will be running a 60/70 litre fridge. would you or other members know somewhere reliable that i can get this done - including the roof rack - with a side awning ?? regards Ed.
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Follow Up By: Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 13:32

Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 13:32
I asked Andrew this a few months back and this is his reply as I don't know anyone there personally.

I am really in Adelaide, but there is really only one Vic businesses I have dealt with happily:

Darren McRae. ATS 4X4 90 Fyans St Geelong Sth 3220



Although he is mainly into tyres and suspension.



A mate of mine deals with CJ 4WD at Ferntree Gully – 0419 008 009



And another



With Opposite lock at or near Preston.

Regards

Derek.
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Reply By: Barry - Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 17:51

Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 17:51
I have mine mounted under the front passenger seat, connected direct to the auxillary battery via heavy, heavy cables and a heavy duty fuse. I plug in a 4-port power board and then can charge phones, laptops, etc from there.
Good luck.
AnswerID: 316961

Reply By: Mainey (wa) - Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 18:07

Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 18:07
RayJen
You post ""What do I need to buy and do to get rid of the clips and install a 12v pointy bit instead. ** Please keep it simple ** ""

I think you need an Auto Electrician !

Remember what your PLAYING with here is 240 Volts

It's the same 240 Volts you have in your home & it KILLS instantly !!

Mainey . . .
AnswerID: 316968

Follow Up By: Member - Kiwi Kia - Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 18:31

Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 18:31
Mainey, I don't think you got what he was getting at. It's the 12 volt side he wants help with not the 230 volt. If it was 230 volts then an auto electrician (although knowledgeable) is probably not certified to rearrange 230 volts anyway.

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Follow Up By: Mainey (wa) - Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 18:35

Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 18:35
true... the 12v cable section is going through the firewall, that is the part installed by the auto electricion.
I should have made it clearer that only the Inverter output is 240v

Mainey . . .
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Follow Up By: Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 18:47

Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 18:47
Ray can't take his car to an Auto Electrician for every 12V cable he wants to install in his car or camper trailer be it through the firewall, along the chassis or in the trailer. The firewall is the easy one to do.

I think you just misread his question and answered incorrectly the first time.
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Follow Up By: Nomadic Navara - Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 19:50

Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 19:50
Mainey

He is not "PLAYING with here is 240 Volts" He is installing 12 V wiring. The 240 V side of things comes out of a socket on the inverter, he will use commercially made leads from that point.

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Reply By: Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 18:40

Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 18:40
Hi Ray

Look here...

Inverter-wiring

Not my work but a good DIY link.

Regards

Derek.
AnswerID: 316973

Reply By: Member RayJen Paj05 (NSW) - Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 19:32

Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 19:32
Thankyou guys for this info that even I can understand.

Much appreciated, Ray
AnswerID: 316983

Reply By: Rock Ape - Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 20:20

Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 20:20
One of the most forgotten things when screwing with 12volts is.

It is only 12volts who cares, please just remember it has a battery hanging off it that can deliver up to around 900amps depending on the battery, we can weld off a battery at less than 80amps so I would take the advice of Dereck from ABR on the size of cable and the fuse. He gives quality advice freely which I find very AUSTRALIAN. If you go trough bulkheads make sure nothing can rub through the insulation.

Have a good one.
AnswerID: 317002

Reply By: Member -Signman - Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 10:00

Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 10:00
I dont know about the cable requirements- I'll leave that to the experts..
I have my inverter cable-tied to the cargo barrier. It's up out of any drowning problems, and accessible.

AnswerID: 317116

Reply By: Mainey (wa) - Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 10:20

Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 10:20
RayJen,
I don't know what model Inverter you have, however my 300 watt inverter has this warning very clearly displayed in it's 'user manual'


"Warning!
Operation of the inverter without a proper ground connection may result in an electrical safety hazard"


I assure you they are not referring to 12 Volt but to a 240 Volt electrical safety hazard, as I have said above 240 Volts will kill you instantly.

Does your Inverter 'user manual' specify any preferred method of earthing the unit?

Mainey . . .
AnswerID: 317118

Reply By: neil&brenda - Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 21:15

Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 21:15
All good advise. Contact an auto elec. get the proper cable dimensions. Follow normal safety precautions (earth etc.) for the inverter. Allow 9 amps (dc draw) per 100 watts ac output. You should enjoy the benefits.
Cheers
AnswerID: 317243

Reply By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Kath - Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 21:34

Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 21:34
G'day RayJen, pleased you got home after crossing the desert with THAT crew.

I have my inverter mounted on it's side along the side of my _Affordable_Storage_Drawers.aspx so that the sockets and switch are visible only when a seat is forward along the drivers side.

I used 4.5m of 8mm dual core up through the floor passed through a grommet.
AnswerID: 317247

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