Installed 2/0 battery cables

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by tdf-texas

Changing the battery cables from 4 gauge to 2 gauge wouldn't be worth the effort. For the inverter to be able to reliably run a microwave, the battery cables need to be at least 2/0.

Tom: Confusing that the GoPower manual lists 2AWG for their 1500W inverter and that matches the size I come up with if I use a wire chart for 125A, 3% voltage drop with max 10’ circuit length. The rest of their inverters seem to follow same pattern as well. How is one supposed to know to go bigger when everything is telling them it should be fine?

[John in Santa Cruz]

voltage drop is a function of current and resistance, and the resistance of a given piece of wire depends on both its gauge AND its length..

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

Tom: Confusing that the GoPower manual lists 2AWG for their 1500W inverter and that matches the size I come up with if I use a wire chart for 125A, 3% voltage drop with max 10’ circuit length. The rest of their inverters seem to follow same pattern as well. How is one supposed to know to go bigger when everything is telling them it should be fine?

3% voltage drop is too much - I use 1% for inverter wire size calc. 3% voltage drop is about 0.48 volts. That takes a charged battery voltage of 12.7 down to 12.22. A battery that is at 50% charge battery voltage of 12.25 drops down to below the inverter cutoff voltage.

GoPower says 2 awg because that is the smallest wire gauge to use such that the inverter will operate as spec'd. But let the batteries get low of charge using 2 awg and the inverter trips on low voltage.

[Jill]

OK we are finally getting around to installing the new cables and didn't take a picture first. We are in a 2015 Escape 21. Our Samlex 1500 is on its side, with what looks like the red cable on the bottom and the black one on top. Problem is that my husband could swear they were the opposite of that. Is he just remembering wrong that the red cable goes on top? No one wants to make a mistake here and thus the rather dumb question!!

[RangerMan]

Originally Posted by Jill

OK we are finally getting around to installing the new cables and didn't take a picture first. We are in a 2015 Escape 21. Our Samlex 1500 is on its side, with what looks like the red cable on the bottom and the black one on top. Problem is that my husband could swear they were the opposite of that. Is he just remembering wrong that the red cable goes on top? No one wants to make a mistake here and thus the rather dumb question!!

Tops and bottoms don't matter. Observe polarity ( Neg or Pos) ( + or -). Red = Pos, Black = Neg. Hopefully! Check the battery post

[alanmalk]

Originally Posted by Jill

...
No one wants to make a mistake here and thus the rather dumb question!!
...

Absolutely not a dumb question. A mistake could cost you your trailer, or worse.

Looking closely at the photo: On the battery I see the word "POS" next to the red cable. Perfect, that's what you want.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by Jill

OK we are finally getting around to installing the new cables and didn't take a picture first. We are in a 2015 Escape 21. Our Samlex 1500 is on its side, with what looks like the red cable on the bottom and the black one on top. Problem is that my husband could swear they were the opposite of that. Is he just remembering wrong that the red cable goes on top? No one wants to make a mistake here and thus the rather dumb question!!

If you have the Samlex SSW-1500 then in your orientation the negative (black) would be on top and positive (red) on bottom. They should be labeled. The negative should also have an earth ground symbol next to the connection.

[RangerMan]

Originally Posted by Jill

OK we are finally getting around to installing the new cables and didn't take a picture first. We are in a 2015 Escape 21. Our Samlex 1500 is on its side, with what looks like the red cable on the bottom and the black one on top. Problem is that my husband could swear they were the opposite of that. Is he just remembering wrong that the red cable goes on top? No one wants to make a mistake here and thus the rather dumb question!!

You have a fuse attached to the Pos terminal of your battery. You should consider moving the fuse to a fuse holder. These fuses should not be attached directly to the battery posts.

[NEWYORKHILLBILLY]

maybe this will help

[Jill]

Thank you for the help. We got it wired and tried the microwave and it lasted for only 17 seconds before the inverter alarm sounded. Tightened the connections again and got a minute out of it. Yay!! I think we are good now.

Thanks again for all the great (and fast!!) help!

[Jill]

Originally Posted by RangerMan

You have a fuse attached to the Pos terminal of your battery. You should consider moving the fuse to a fuse holder. These fuses should not be attached directly to the battery posts.

Are you thinking something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/VOODOO-Brushe...9918403&sr=8-4

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

If you have the Samlex SSW-1500 then in your orientation the negative (black) would be on top and positive (red) on bottom. They should be labeled. The negative should also have an earth ground symbol next to the connection.

That seems right, and turned out to be right... and for future reference I'll note that the plastic around the base of the inverter terminal posts is colour-coded, red on the bottom one - likely for positive. But as Dave said, always check for labels.

[RangerMan]

Originally Posted by Jill

Are you thinking something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/VOODOO-Brushe...9918403&sr=8-4

Here is a thread: that will help
https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...les-19164.html

and here is the fuse holder he used
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Jill]

Originally Posted by RangerMan

Here is a thread: that will help
https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...les-19164.html

and here is the fuse holder he used
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks - that's exactly what I needed

[tdf-texas]

I should not have used a Mega fuse holder for the inverter cables. Please do not do the same as I had done. Here is a thread where I explain more.

https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...ses-21488.html

[CharlesinGA]

Originally Posted by Jill

OK we are finally getting around to installing the new cables and didn't take a picture first. We are in a 2015 Escape 21. Our Samlex 1500 is on its side, with what looks like the red cable on the bottom and the black one on top. Problem is that my husband could swear they were the opposite of that. Is he just remembering wrong that the red cable goes on top? No one wants to make a mistake here and thus the rather dumb question!!

Judging from the size of the black S cable that ties the two batteries together, that is your weak link. You should have a large one made also.

Charles

[tdf-texas]

Just an update:

Since I have 2 6v lead acid batteries, ANL fuses meet the interrupt rating needed. So out went the Mega fuse holder and in goes the ANL fuse holder. I used this ANL fuse holder with a Blue Seas ANL fuse.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XW27WMD...roduct_details
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MYS4T4Y...roduct_details

First pic is of the Mega fuse holder beside the ANL fuse holder. Great! The height of both are close enough match for a direct swap.

Second pic is the installed ANL fuse.