xguard
Senior Member
- Location
- Baton Rouge, LA
Looking at a 3000 Watt inverter that's to be installed in a home, not hardwired to receptacles or power panels. Just to run a few fans, tv, maybe coffee maker, etc. when power is out. What wire type is typically used between the battery and inverter? Or better yet what is required? I see many of these kits are sold with what looks like a automotive battery cable, not something typically installed in a building.
Question Deux. The instructions say to size the conductors from the battery to the inverter based on the inverter size, efficiency, and voltage. Using the example they provided I'd have:
(3000 W / (12 V x 0.9 eff)) x 1.25 = 347 amps.
That's a really big wire using the charts I typically use (310.15(B)(16). Since this isn't in conduit is the conductor allowed to be smaller than those installed in conduit (is this a free air situation?)?
One manufacturer sells 4/0 cable, and says it's "Typically used between the battery bank and a 2000 W or larger inverter." That doesn't make sense to me. They don't state the wire type or provide an ampacity..
Thanks for any help.
Question Deux. The instructions say to size the conductors from the battery to the inverter based on the inverter size, efficiency, and voltage. Using the example they provided I'd have:
(3000 W / (12 V x 0.9 eff)) x 1.25 = 347 amps.
That's a really big wire using the charts I typically use (310.15(B)(16). Since this isn't in conduit is the conductor allowed to be smaller than those installed in conduit (is this a free air situation?)?
One manufacturer sells 4/0 cable, and says it's "Typically used between the battery bank and a 2000 W or larger inverter." That doesn't make sense to me. They don't state the wire type or provide an ampacity..
Thanks for any help.