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06-25-2004, 05:48 PM
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#1
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Newbie
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 19
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Inverter Wiring
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!
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06-25-2004, 06:13 PM
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#2
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Variable Bitrate
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Guildford, Surrey, UK
Posts: 293
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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
__________________
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Sound: Pioneer 7400 HU & 6x9's,12" Vibe Sub,600W Kenwood amp.
CarPC: MicroATX, Inverter, WinTV, Lilliput 7", USB GPS
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06-25-2004, 07:15 PM
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#3
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Newbie
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 19
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Hi,
What gauge do you suggest getting then? How do I figure out my load?
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06-25-2004, 07:16 PM
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#4
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Newbie
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Winnipeg, Canada
Posts: 42
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What are you going to use the inverter to power?
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06-25-2004, 07:22 PM
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#5
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Newbie
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 19
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Just a standard desktop computer and an X10 camera.
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06-25-2004, 07:32 PM
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#6
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Newbie
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Winnipeg, Canada
Posts: 42
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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.
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06-25-2004, 07:34 PM
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#7
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Newbie
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 19
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Yeah, I think i'll go with 8 just to be sure, i wanted to rewire things anyways.
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06-25-2004, 08:03 PM
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#8
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Newbie
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 19
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Would I need a higher fuse. Following the math that no1knows. 400/8 = 50?
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06-25-2004, 08:16 PM
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#9
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Top Ramen
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Spokane, WA, US
Posts: 984
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Watts / Volts = Amps
Not Watts / Wire = Amps 
Make sure the fuse is less than 18 inches from the battery.
__________________
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Computer AMD 2400+ XP, 1 GB DDR RAM, Orbit Micro 250W DC-DC PSU
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Quote:
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06-25-2004, 08:17 PM
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#10
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Newbie
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 19
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So 50A fuse would work...?
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06-25-2004, 09:23 PM
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#11
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FLAC
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Massachusetts, US
Posts: 957
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as would anything above 33A. as LBGR pointed out, the formula mentioned wass 400 / 12 as in 400 watts devided by 12 volts gives you ~33 amps.
__________________
Use the source, Luke.
car computer rev 3: 8" lilliput and usual suspects
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