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06-13-2012, 03:59 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: New Bedford, MA
Posts: 167
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Inverter
This is a long story and one thing led to another but here goes. The instructions for my new Black & Decker Inverter stated to install it as close as possible to a 12 volt power supply. Having a cabinet next to the converter I drilled a hole in the wall inside the cabinet to run wires and mounted the inverter on the floor. Now I have the inverter 10-12 inches from 12 volt power supply (converter).
Next, I take the front off the converter and to my surprise there is a extra fuse, at the bottom of the row with nothing connected to it, excellent. I cut the battery clips off the wires Black & Decker suppled and connect to the extra fuse. (It wasn't easy to get that large wire into the terminals but I did). Pulled out the 15 amp fuse that was there and put in a 30 amp, done, not yet.
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06-13-2012, 04:10 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: New Bedford, MA
Posts: 167
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My plan was to run a extension cord from the inverter to the TV when needed, but while I have the converter open I'm looking at the 110 volt side thinking why not power-up the TV outlet (receptacle) from here.
I get a 2 switch box and 2 switches. Not sure what the switches are called but one is a wall light switch when there are more than one switch for the same lite, is it a 2 way switch? Anyway I pulled the black wire off the breaker for outlets and connect to one side of the switch and the black wire off the Black & Decker to the other side of switch and the feed of the switch back to the breaker. Now the power for all the outlets in the trailer are live from the 110v land line or the inverter. The other switch is a double trow that I connected one side to the white power and the other to the ground off the inverter. I'm not sure why but I believe in a house the white wire and the ground wire are the same but in the trailer they are not so had to keep them separated.
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06-13-2012, 04:18 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: New Bedford, MA
Posts: 167
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Like I said, long story but it works excellent. Now all the outlets are live so can use them for charging cell phone, lap top, any low amp device. Only problem is that the refrigerator is also on that bank of outlets so have to remember to switch it to gas only. It is on gas only all the time when we are dry camping anyway.
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06-13-2012, 06:58 AM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Venice
Posts: 5,346
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By as close as possible to 12v power supply B&D means the battery. You did not say what size inverter you have but the wire size feeding that circuit may not be large enough for the distance to the battery and the draw that you intend to put on it. I am no expert but what you have done sounds like a fire waiting to happen. JM2¢, Hank
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Hank & Lynn
2007 Cougar 290RKS, E-Z Flex, 16" XPS RIBs ( SOLD .. Gonna miss her ... looking for new 5r)
2004.5 Dodge 2500 QC, LB, 5.9HO, WestTach gauges, Ride-Rite
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06-13-2012, 07:16 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: WESTERN,CT
Posts: 2,095
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Have to agree with hank pulling a 15amp fuze out and putting in athirty amp sorry that's crazy :eek if there was a 15 amp fuse in there it is because the wireing and the electronics are only designrd for 15 amps not thirty. i would rethink your installation carefuly or have a fire extinguisher ready.
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BARNEY AND CHRISTINE
2010 MONTANA 3750FL
2005 DODGE 3500 DUALLY TD
2 RESCUE PUPS: SUSITNA AND CRYSTAL. RIP ALYESKA!
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06-13-2012, 07:30 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Elkhart, Indiana
Posts: 420
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X3 on the fire hazard! Anytime you direct wire an inverter to the power source it should be straight to the battery and as close as possible with the proper size wire & a proper size fuse/breaker should be used.
Inverter Size
< 3 ft
3ft - 6ft
6ft < 10ft
400 Watts (40amp fuse/breaker)
8
6
4
750 Watts (75amp fuse/breaker)
6
4
2
1000 Watts (100amp fuse/breaker)
4
2
1/0
1500 Watts (150amp fuse/breaker)
2
1
3/0
2000 Watts (200amp fuse/breaker)
1/0
2/0
250
2500 Watts (250amp fuse/breaker)
1/0
3/0
350
3000 Watts (300amp fuse/breaker)
3/0
4/0
500
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Phil & Janine & Lady
2004.5 Chevy 2500HD Duramax LLY CC LB 4X4
2009 Keystone Sprinter 272RLS
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06-13-2012, 12:46 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: New Bedford, MA
Posts: 167
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SAABDOCTOR
Have to agree with hank pulling a 15amp fuze out and putting in athirty amp sorry that's crazy :eek if there was a 15 amp fuse in there it is because the wireing and the electronics are only designrd for 15 amps not thirty. i would rethink your installation carefuly or have a fire extinguisher ready.
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What makes you think the converter can't handle a 30amp fuse. It is full of 15 amp fuses because they are all for lights and things that only need a 15 amp. I've had 40's in my last trailer and poped them without any fires crazy.
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06-13-2012, 12:38 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: New Bedford, MA
Posts: 167
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hankpage
By as close as possible to 12v power supply B&D means the battery. You did not say what size inverter you have but the wire size feeding that circuit may not be large enough for the distance to the battery and the draw that you intend to put on it. I am no expert but what you have done sounds like a fire waiting to happen. JM2¢, Hank
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Thanks for the advise and don't lose any sleep over me having a fire. I installed a inverter in my last trailer the same way with no problems in 9 years.
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