Inverter Wiring

**MoniraInc** · 06-25-2004, 05:48 PM

Hi,
I don't know much about power and what not so this might sound like a stupid questoin. I bought a power inverter (lack of funds to buy anthing better), and it came with 12 Gauge wire to hook up to the battery, but the problem is that the wire they gave me was about 1 1/2 ft long. So i went to radio shack got some 20 FT 12 guage wiring and wired it up. I later talked to my friend who said that I should have gone with a higher gauge wiring because after 15ft or so it loses power or something of that nature. But I want to check with you guys first before going out and redoing everything. What gauge of wiring should I get? I'm running it about 20 ft from the battery to my trunk and how big of a fuse should I get? It's a 400 Watt Coleman Power Inveter.
Thanks!

**no1knows** · 06-25-2004, 06:13 PM

400W, 400/12 = 33A.
I'd say u need fatter than 12 gauge, quite a bit fatter.
As for a fuse, anything above 33A will be fine, go for a 40 to allow for spikes.

depending on its max wattage of course. if its 400 steady then the above is fine. It also depends on your load if your only using 100W (make adjustments for innacuracy) then 12gauge will be fine.

HTH

**MoniraInc** · 06-25-2004, 07:15 PM

Hi,
What gauge do you suggest getting then? How do I figure out my load?

**Optikal** · 06-25-2004, 07:16 PM

What are you going to use the inverter to power?

**MoniraInc** · 06-25-2004, 07:22 PM

Just a standard desktop computer and an X10 camera.

**Optikal** · 06-25-2004, 07:32 PM

depending on what components are in your computer, you will probably be drawing no more than 250W. If thats the case then you can probably get by with 12 gauge, but you might want to go with 8 gauge just to be sure.