Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:29:02 -0400
Reply-To: David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: Inverter Questions
In-Reply-To: <fa0982d70807241146y250cd9b5l4e30e5693bb6c20d@mail.gmail.co m>
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At 12:46 PM 7/24/2008 -0600, Paul Connelly wrote:
>"no-no". Does anyone see any problems with setting the inverter up this way?
Yes!
>against the "wall" between it and the lower closet. I have run 10awg cables
>behind the cabinetry to the auxiliary battery (Optima D34/78 run with the
>"stock relay" setup).
If they want 100 amps fusing then you'd better run wiring that can
carry 100 amps. That would be 3 AWG if you can get it, otherwise 2
AWG. Or to use 10 AWG, fuse for 30 amps.
> Not great ventilation in that location, but reasonable
>volume of air, and the inverter has an internal fan.
I'd expect it to overheat on continuous high-draw use without
additional ventilation.
> Its only a 500 Watt
>unit with a no load draw of 0.3 Amps.
Heh. "Small" to me is a 50 watt unit, not 500. 500 is well up in
the serious class.
> The installation guide recommends a
>100 Amp Fuse or circuit breaker close to the +ve battery connection and I
>was going to put in a switch to eliminate the no load draw when not in use.
Have you got a switch that can carry 100 amps? Let alone switch
it... Better to bring the panel switch out on leads to an accessible location.
>I was going to then take the output (2 x 240V standard outlet plugs) and
>wire them into the little distribution box with the circuit breaker below
>the power outlets. However the installation instructions say that's a "no-no."
Believe them! I can't tell what you're planning without more info,
but whatever it is the answer is "don't even think about it." Even
if you mean completely removing the external power connection there
could still be a serious, maybe even spectacular issue with
grounds. Talk to the mfr for advice if necessary.
>(Or any better ideas - I don't plan a lot of 240V use but would be nice for
>the laptop or DVD player etc).
How about get a nice little 100-watt unit that will stick on the
cabinet aft of the driver's seat with velcro? And runs without a
fan, and draws 75 ma on standby. Although if you're talking about
running AC-powered hi-fi equipment, you probably need a sine-wave
unit to eliminate hum, so that puts you back in 500 watt territory
probably. Incidentally, I presume you're actually talking about 110
VAC, not 240.
--
David Beierl - Providence RI USA -- http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage," '85 GL "Poor Relation"
