There's no need to switch the power wire feeding the inverter. Every inverter I've installed has a simple "ON/OFF" toggle mounted on it and all you need to do is remove the cover to the inverter, access the red and black wires coming off the back of the toggle switch, and tap into those wires with an ignition-switched relay or a dash mounted toggle, depending on whether or not you want it to work only with the key. With my wife's DD, a minivan, I was concerned about the inverter being left ON so I went the relay route. In the cargo area, however, I installed a Dayton spring-wound 30-minute timer next to the outlet and ran the wires from that up to the connections I made with the relay. Now, 99% of the time the inverter works only with the key but when we go camping and I want access to 110vac without digging for my keys I simply give the timer a quick spin and I have 30-minutes of use without worry that if I walk away my battery will be drained.

 

Thank you for the how to!

 

Nice looking job. Clean wiring and I like what you did with the ac plugs. One thing though Vector recommends #3 size wire for 700W inverters that are 10 ft from the battery. I'm guessing the wire you used was THHN and was also wondering how hard it was to work with, very stiff?

 

Do you need a heavy duty battery? How long does the battery last for smaller appliances like maybe a space heater? Totally new to this but am considering the idea of an inverter in my TJ. Thanks for the write up!!
:2thumbsup:

 

just got a laptop, been using an inverter for a bit (cig lighter plug). is an inverter pron to power surg or is it all good? does the plug for a laptop work as a surg protector?

 

You might want to re think your set up. Watts / volts = amps so 750/120= 6.25 amps output, so how is a 80 amp fuse going to protect your setup? What is the input rating in amps? That will determine the wire size and fuse required. I don't think your going to have any where near 80 amps input. More like 15 or 20 amps with a #14 or 12 gage wire is all you'll need.

 

I am fairly sure the OP discussed the 12 volt supply fuse at 80 Amps. 750/12=approx 63 amps. Assuming a little in-efficiency, 80 Amp 12 volt fuse seems right. Since he named an ANL fuse from a car stereo store, I'm even more certain.

 

one tip... go to a welding supply store for your wire... it's more malleable and offers less resistance... it usually has 75-100 small strands inside so it has fewer gaps between the strands... granted it's only available in black, but you can buy crimp on lugs for it at the same place and put red heat shrink over it... and you can crimp them on w/ a center punch for a good solid crimp, compared to just smashing it flat w/ a hammer...

 

I am thinking about doing something similar to my ZJ... I did hardwire an inverter in my truck (04 Silverado) to be able to charge my laptop or drill batteries. Since my truck has the same fuse block as the diesel version, there is a empty fuse spot for the glow plugs or something... So i just wired my inverter to that. Factory style fuse, and it comes right off the battery!

 

One thing to remember is a battery wont last long running an inverter without runing the engine at the same time.....

So a little trick I do is to use a constant duty solenoid in the power wire to the inverter after the inline fuse controlled by a toggle switch getting its power from the ignition (not accy) run position because in this position the engine us usually running.

this way when you turn the toggle switch on to turn the power on to the constant duty solenoid and thus the inverter you in essence turn on the inverter too and dont need to find the little switch on the inverter (just leave it in the on position) and the toggle switch wont do anything unless the key is in the run position (presumably with the engine running) and the engine / alternator is charging the battery as you use the inverter.

THis way when you use the inverter you shouldnt drain your battery.

Of course you can use it with the engine off too but common sense would suggest not doing so unless you dont care if your battery goes dead in the process.

CB