Is My Inverter Installed Correctly?

[Madifonzo]

When I purchased my boat 2 seasons ago it already had an inverter installed. My question is about the installation. The positive and negative cables are directly run to one of the batteries. Is this an OK way to do it? Someone mentioned to me that there may be grounding issues. The unit works fine and I assume the battery is part of the overall grounding system on the boat...so is the unit also grounded?

Thanks!

 

[CliffA]

When I purchased my boat 2 seasons ago it already had an inverter installed. My question is about the installation. The positive and negative cables are directly run to one of the batteries. Is this an OK way to do it? Someone mentioned to me that there may be grounding issues. The unit works fine and I assume the battery is part of the overall grounding system on the boat...so is the unit also grounded?

Thanks!

that is the correct way to wire the inverter, directly to a battery....be sure the correct size of cable was used and an inline fuse close to the battery is also installed on the positive cable....the size of the cable is dependent on the distance the inverter is from the battery and the size of the inverter....

this is the way the manufacturer of the inverter i had on a previous boat advised it be installed....

cliff

 

[Bob & Sue]

that is the correct way to wire the inverter, directly to a battery....be sure the correct size of cable was used and an inline fuse close to the battery is also installed on the positive cable....the size of the cable is dependent on the distance the inverter is from the battery and the size of the inverter....

this is the way the manufacturer of the inverter i had on a previous boat advised it be installed....

cliff

+1
You are talking about a 12 volt DC to 120 volt AC correct? If so you need to find out from the manufacturer what size inline fuse you need on the + side. I also have an on/off switch before the inline fuse plus the on/off switch on the inverter so I can make sure there is no current draw while the boat is in the slip. I made a Starboard plate to mount the switch and fuse on it is mounted just above the deep cycle battery.

 

[bajturner]

And if it's in the bilge, make sure it ignition protected. Most aren't...

 

[Ike]

On the 12V side your inverter is grounded through the negative side of the battery. Your negative side of the battery is connected to the engine block which provides the ground. On the 110 V (AC) side it is grounded through the green grounding wire and the white neutral wire inside the inverter. Yes it is wired correctly.

 

[Madifonzo]

Thanks all. Just needed that affirmation.

 

[Creekwood]

I don't know if this helps, but here is my install:

The power feeds run straight from the golf cart battery bank (2 6vs in series in the box) through a high amp fuse block (250amp fuse I think). I believe it was 00 gauge wire I used. The heaviest they had at West Marine.

I mounted the inverter on a marine plywood mounting stand I made with a rotary switch (hard to see, but its at the back). Then the whole thing is in the storage compartment above the batteries to avoid a long wire run and keep it out of the bilge. I have not had the 110/120 feed run directly to the pane yet (I will get the marine electrician to do that this year), so my improvised 110 cord shown is used to patch into a short shore power cable to feed the 110 into the systems.

 

[Bob & Sue]

I don't know if this helps, but here is my install:

The power feeds run straight from the golf cart battery bank (2 6vs in series in the box) through a high amp fuse block (250amp fuse I think). I believe it was 00 gauge wire I used. The heaviest they had at West Marine.

I mounted the inverter on a marine plywood mounting stand I made with a rotary switch (hard to see, but its at the back). Then the whole thing is in the storage compartment above the batteries to avoid a long wire run and keep it out of the bilge. I have not had the 110/120 feed run directly to the pane yet (I will get the marine electrician to do that this year), so my improvised 110 cord shown is used to patch into a short shore power cable to feed the 110 into the systems.

That is the same way I have mine installed except I use a Marinco 15 Amp Male plug with a 30 Amp Female 2' Cord to plug into the boat shore power plug, only disadvantage is it's only 15 Amps. My run to the battery is less than 3'. It runs what we need, most of the time we're at a marina with shore power.

I used a 25' Marinco shore power cord that had a badly pitted and corroded male plug on it to make the 2' cord, then made an 18' shore power cord with a new 30 Amp male plug that's the perfect length for our boat house.

 

[Madifonzo]

Hmmm. Didn't realize you could feed this into the 110 system. Meow many watts are these inverters?

 

[Creekwood]

Hmmm. Didn't realize you could feed this into the 110 system. Meow many watts are these inverters?

The Xantrex I have is not very powerful, but it is an autoswitching inverter. If you run the shorepower through it (110 from shore power into a 110/120 "in" on the inverter, then out to the panel, it will automatically pass through the shore power, or, if no shore power, uses the 12v converter to supply the 120v. A lot of the better ones also do that. I understand that its a simple thing to wire, but I don't like to do 120v on the boat. At home, no problem, but 120 and fuel I leave to the pros.

 

[Bob & Sue]

Hmmm. Didn't realize you could feed this into the 110 system. Meow many watts are these inverters?

Mine is a Promariner Truepower Inverter 1500watts continues 3000watts surge, it will run the microwave 1200watts or just the stove top burner 1500watts. Mine also does the AC auto switch if hardwired to the 120 volt side by a marine electrician.

I don't do 120 volt marine wiring either, the cost to wire it in for the amount of use it gets isn't worth it.

I'm thinking in the future of getting a new Promariner Charger/Inverter TruePower CombiQS 2500QS 110 VAC / 12 VDC 2500 watts continues 5000 watts surge, thru Promariners loyalty program and have it installed & hard wired by a Marine electrician.

I understand the basics of marine power but will not put the safety of anyone on our boat at risk or the risk of power leakage around the boat possibly killing someone in the water.