Xantrex 1000W inverter connections

[Scott B]

I've been racking my brain on this one for a couple of weeks and the simple "I just need an invertor for the laptop" is taking up way too much thought process.I bought a Xantrex XPower Inverter 1000 on sale at Canadian Tire for $85 and with Canadian Tire money ( they give you % of cash purchases in Can. tire money to spend on more stuff) cost me $50, same one as the Costco deal in the US.The manual calls for min. No. 2 AWG wire, but the connections on the inverter are M6 studs or slightly less than 1/4". On top of that they recommend installing a disconnect switch and a fuse. The Blue Sea fuse holder for that size of fuse ( 80 amps) or the Blue Sea circuit breaker ( 80 amps) have 1/4" studs. Batteries have 5/16" studs, which leaves me with custom fabricating wires and connectors?? That'll mean buying a $60 heavy duty crimper? My simple bargain purchase will end up costing me $200 in additional materials by the time I get it installed. My brain hurts too much on this one. I just want to go sailing and the boats now in the water, rigged and ready to go. ;D

 

[Captphil2412382]

Make this easy

You will need lugs that fit #2 wire, but if your crimper will not fit the lug (I don't have a lug in front of me right now), then solder the lug to the wire. On a boat, a solder connection is better anyway. You will be able to find lugs that fit the #2 wire and have different sized bolt sizes. You might just buy a smaller inverter.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

alternative

some people have a convulsion whenever anyone suggests soldering vs. crimping so I'll leave this alone except to say if done properly, either will work. However, properly soldering such heavy cable on such large lugs requires some experience and the right tools.I'm having trouble understanding your problem so this may not help but it sounds like you could simply drill larger holes in the #2 connectors to fit the lugs you have.The more fundamental issue is why do you even want to install the inverter permanently with the separate switch and fuse if all you plan to use it for is a laptop? Seems like over-kill to me.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Plan Ahead

usually helps. #2 wire isn't that big and there are various sized lugs that will fit your application. 5/16 on the batteries are only for negatives, the positives are 3/8 inch.This is a link to a crimper: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/17802/377%20710%201627/0/Electrical%20Tools/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710%201627&Ne=0&Ntt=Electrical%20Tools&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&page=CategoryDisplayLevel1&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=5002&subdeptNum=9&classNum=238It's $85! Yikes! Don't buy one IF this is ALL you're ever gonna do, borrow one or go to an electrical store or a West Marine and use theirs. I find ours (bought years ago) comes in very handy for battery wiring for a number of uses.I agree it's overkill, but to buy something less you probably wouldn't have the cost advantage you have now. Option is to return it and save the $$ on the wiring and accessories and just buy a cigarette lighter connector type inverter - assuming you have a cigarette lighter plug on your boat! If not, you'll have wire one of those puppies.

 

[Bay Sailor]

You don't need a crimper

Just hammer the lug down with the wire in it, heat it up with a propane torch and fill it up with solder. Then get some of that shrink tubing with the vulcanizing rubber on the inside and seal the connection; again using the torch. Or if that's to much trouble take it back to Canadian Tire. I know my Dad takes almost everything he buys back. I think he just likes to go to Canadian Tire.

 

[Scott B]

thanks for the ideas

I'm probably trying to over plan this and keep the costs down, which usually ends up costing way more in time spent. I was thinking I could just go to an Automotive supplier and buy premade cables..... but they're all 3/8". It's probably more frustrating trying to figure this out with the boat 2 hrs. away and the closest marine chandlery's are 1 1/2 and 2 hrs. away, which only leaves weekends to work when I'd rather be sailing.I'll probably search out somewhere that has a crimper ( I'll check with WM up near the boat) and go from there.I tried the smaller inverter, but would not power the laptop. This one does work when using spring clamps, but the wires were too small gauge ( same withe the cig. lighter adapter) and I wanted a more permanent connection. Found this thermal circuit breaker that would work as switch and fuse which runs $ 60 or so. http://bluesea.com/category/3/10/productline/overview/150

 

[Scott B]

thanks anyways Nick

not sure how soon I'll get at this, but I keep trying to figure it out.My son and I polished and waxed the topsides a few weeks ago in under 4 hours. I didn't use the compound on the new hull. Last year I used the Maguirs equivalent to Finesse It and wax, this year I used Maguiers Show Car Glaze polish and then wax. Looks great.Scott

 

[Bay Sailor]

An easier solution

You don't have to plug your laptop into 120 V. The wall-wart that charges the laptop probably puts out 9-12 V. If you know someone who is handy with electronics maybe you can get an adapter made to power the laptop directly off your boat batteries. A low dropout regulator on a small heatsink would do the trick. You can get all the parts at Radio Shack. BTW: Beautiful area Georgian Bay. My brother owned Head Island until recently and I spent a lot of time up there. You have to be a careful sailor up there. Running aground can be a real disaster.

 

[Seadaddler]

Collinite's 920

As a matter a fact I did not buy the compound yetbecause I am thinking of using collinite 920 which isfiberglass boat cleaner that will remove any mild ozidation any other dirt of any kind and prepares the gelcoat for polishingand waxing.Nick

 

[Fred Ficarra7897]

Here ya go Scott. I just bought this Monday.

http://store.l-f-l.com/cgi-bin/cp-app.cgi?pg=prod&ref=DC-DC-90WIt'll run most any laptop off of a car outlet without an inverter. The output voltage is variable to match the brick on your laptop. This one is for drag racing my Camaro, and I have one on the boat too. Of course I could have just used inverters for both setups but that goes against my soul. Changing DC to AC to DC just AIN'T RIGHT!

 

[Benny17441]

Scott B, it is pretty simple. Locate the inverter

close enough to the batteries to be able to use the included harness. With the addition of a fuse, fuse holder, a switch and a short automobile battery wire as a pig tail you should be able to come in at under $100 includying the cost of the inverter. What more do you you want, when the average inverter installation will cost you over $500? The use of #2 gauge wire is recommended when the installation will require a run longer than 5'. When you are going "cheap" you need to make certain accomodations.

 

[Scott B]

Was having trouble getting in last couple of days

sorry couldn't get back sooner.Benny, I intend to locate it close to the battery, there wasn't any cable supplied with this one like they do with the smaller ones. I'm not trying to do this "cheap" but inexpensive, however do it right. The issue has been that battery connections are 3/8" & 5/16" and the inverter M6 and switches 1/4", I was hoping to buy premade cables and connect everything. Now I'll have to make up some cables and that means tracking down a crimper.Fred, good idea, although my laptop is 18.5V, 65W. The other solution is an HP cig. lighter power supply but they're over $ 100 as well.Bay Sailor, sounds even more complicated than I want to get into. Where is Head Island. We're at the south end at Penetang / Midland.I was intending to use this for other small things besides the laptop, thats why the inverter. I found an 80 amp Blue Sea switch/circuit breaker for $45 and will probably source out a crimper from one of the stores.

 

[Benny17441]

Scott, did not mean any put down about going cheap.

I bought two of these X-Power 1000 from Costco at $49 each and they both brought a harness about 3' long. Check the cardboard insert in the box if you have not thrown it away or inquire at the store as the harness is part of the product description by Xantrex. If not, you are right about the terminal sizes and will have to fabricate some connectors. You may still be able to use ready made automobile cables by just changing the connectors on the ends that go to the inverter. Have you inquired about borrowing a crimper from an auto parts store, they usally lend tools out for a refundable deposit. Good luck.

 

[Scott B]

non taken

no offense Benny. The inverter came in blister pack and no cables.

 

[Bay Sailor]

The HP adapter might be your best option

It's way over priced but guaranteed to work. And that allows you to charge the laptop in a lot of other places. The Head Island group is between Point au Baril and Brit Inlet. Going North you leave it to starboard, unless you are in a canoe. It used to be called Skull Island because it was the site of an indian battle.

 

[Fred Ficarra7897]

Scott, agree, an inverter is handy. Wasn't trying to talk you out of it.

Just for info; On the boat, the Sony laptop seen in the photos on my web site, has a 19vdc output brick. I wired it directly to the house power supply. (12 volts, no brick) It works but the screen flickers. And at house voltage, it draws one amp DC. With the transformer supplying power it draws 2 amps. My point is, a half amp difference between bricks and a transformer makes absolutely NO difference. Just for information.