Question about adding aux. power to the 80 (1 Viewer)

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NLXTACY

Wits' End
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I am in the middle of adding dual batteries, three aux. fuse panels (one in engine bay, one under pass. seat, one rear of vehicle) and two inverters (one for the front console and one for the rear).

Now, what I WANT to do is just bring in 0/2 (pos/neg) from the aux battery to a single junction point (5/16" lug), one for pos and one for neg, under the center console. From there just attach smaller gauge lugged 8AWG cables to the front inverter, 6AWG to the rear inverter, and then 10AWG to the fuse panels. The problem is I am unsure about placement of the circuit breakers/fuses. The inverters "recommend" that the fuse/circuit breaker be 75A and as close to the pos terminal of the battery as possible. This means I will need to run two of them not to mention the ones for the fuse panels.

So is it ok to run the fuse/circuit breakers right after the junction point OR is it better to run individual cable? The next worry of course is that IF I have to run individual cable, it will be WAAAAAY too thick for the Driver's Side access point. Any other suggestions?

Yes I AM going for overkill. But I have to because I will be adding a decent stereo system, lights, fridge, rack, etc etc.

I can finish a bunch of loose end projects with just this information. I also have several FAQs in the works all waiting on this. :bang:
 
By the way here's a teaser:
12v_and_110v.jpg
 
I have not wired an inverter so this is not an experienced opinion.

If it were mine, I would run the HD cable from the battery to the junction points (Pos & Neg). There would be a HD (e.g. Bussman style) fuse at the +12v terminal on the battery. The fuse size would be based on the HD wire size to the junction/fuse panel. In your example it looks like a 75amp fuse but I would go higher if I planned to add other circuits to that junction point. The 2/0 cable should handle 150amps easy but check the wire size charts to be sure.

I would run appropriate sized wire from the junction to the inverter and put a 75amp (per inverter specs) fuse at the junction point.

-B-
 
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Nice photoshop. I think..
I've pondered the same thing many times. Its up to you. Its convienence. If one inverter shorts out, it'll short out the other one too, so it would be nice to keep them separate.
Your plan looks cool, though. Something I've been meaning to do. I've ventured into center console land many a-times..
 
Oh no Photoshop there...although I am pretty good at it ;)

Here's another teaser:
backside.jpg
 
Hmm yeah it would suck to have everything go down if one thing went down. So what about like a 250A at the battery then 0/2 to the junction stud in the console. Then several circuit breakers from there?

I am also weary about having everything is one long chain. If the first aux fuse panel drew too much current then it could turn off all the aux. stuff. No likey.
 
You should separate the breakers by things you need and don't need. A dvd player isn't need, but something like an fridge or lights could be need. Go by, if this breaker went while I was screamin down the highway no big deal until the next rest stop.
Definitely try to draw it out! It made my somewhat dual battery install easier. It makes you think more clearly. Use Pencil and paper.
 
Red Beard said:
You should separate the breakers by things you need and don't need. A dvd player isn't need, but something like an fridge or lights could be need. Go by, if this breaker went while I was screamin down the highway no big deal until the next rest stop.
Definitely try to draw it out! It made my somewhat dual battery install easier. It makes you think more clearly. Use Pencil and paper.
Click to expand...

Ok so this brings me back to the question. Can I just use a large amp breaker at the battery, bring 0AWG cable to the center console to a junction block, tee off to smaller circuit breakers to the fuse panels, inverters, etal?
 
Now that i think of it, its probably fine. That huge breaker isn't going to break unless that wire shorts out. It'll provide plenty of power to all the things you need. One huge cable, WOULD be easier to run rather than a couple smaller wires.
Just make sure all your fuseboxes are easy to get to, which from the sound of it, they are. I put one under the center console, bad idea. :D
can't wait for the install to be done!
 
Ok here is what I am thinking. 250A circuit breaker off the battery. This should be plenty to handle all the loads. Junction for pos and neg (as required for inverter). Then main cables off the junction will each be individually fused.

Again, my worry is that for some of the fuses I am not close enough to the battery as required by the inverters. BUT I am fused, albeit at 250A at the battery.

So you electrical experts out there, is this a fire waiting to happen or am I on the right track?
wiring-set-up.jpg
 
You mentioned circuit breakers, but only show fuses in your diagram.


The fuses before the inverters seem to be a little small. Not 100% sure if the rating on the inverter is output power (I suspect it is), and what the losses are. Assuming 25% loss that would give you 1875W peak input power draw (~156A @12V) on the 1500W and 1000W (~83A @12V) on the 800W. Is this correct?

Of course this assumes your wire gauge is large enough. Your fuse size should be smaller than the current rating of the wire based on gauge and length.

Let us know how it works out. I am interested in doing the same thing.
 
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Ok sorry, the smaller inverter is actually 400W with 800W peak. The larger inverter is 1000W with 1500W peak. The fuse/circuit breaker selected is based on the manufacturer's recommendation. <!--EDIT: woops, just noticed I had 100A instead of 150A to the larger inverter-->

Here is a new schematic with the appropriate symbols and the wire gauge. I could not find a 250A circuit breaker so I am going with a MAXI fuse for that.

Again, if anyone sees anything that does not look right, let me know. I have all of the hardware already set up and mounted. I already have all the cabling and circuit breakers. Everything is installed expect the actual cabling because I wanted to make sure its correct.
wiring-set-up2.jpg
 
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Not that it makes much of a difference but here is the power and ground distribution posts I wanted to use
77131N14.gif
77037P02_795.JPG
 
Those are pretty nice looking junction blocks. Source? I am doing much the same thing in my cruiser. I used 1/0 wire. It's already all run. I just need to start adding things to it.
 
i want what you got...
buy two of everything and tell me how much I owe ya.

sweet setup. that console install is sano.
But what about heat?
 
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