HD(i)-24V-GD-0111-EN
6
Figure 3 : Installation schema
3.4
Ground
The inverter has a lug on the rear panel that must be connected, using a #8 AWG copper cable, to the chassis of your vehicle or to
a metallic panel connected to the chassis. This grounding procedure conforms to most electrical codes that require to derived AC
sources to ground in case of malfunctioning. To make sure that you found a good grounding point, run a 24 volt test light from the
positive terminal of your battery to your grounding point. If the light comes on, your installation is more than likely OK.
WARNING!
Do not operate the inverter if the ground screw of the inverter is not properly connected to the chassis
of your vehicle, it may result in electrical shock hazard.
3.5
Battery cables
Proper wiring is very important for safe and proper operation of the inverter (see 3.1). Since the inverter has a low voltage (24
volts) and a high current input, low resistance wiring and connections between the batteries and the inverter is essential in order to
deliver the maximum amount of usable energy to your load. Don’t waste the investment you have made in a highly efficient
inverter by using cheap and undersized cables!
Use only covered, flexible, copper wires capable of withstanding temperatures in excess of 215° Fahrenheit. As included in our
CM series kits, we recommend welding cables as the best size & type for connection between the batteries and your inverter. Keep
the cable length as short as possible, no longer than 12 feet. This will ensure that the overall system efficiency is as high as
possible, and will keep the voltage drop between the batteries and the inverter to a minimum. If the voltage drop is too excessive,
the inverter may shut down.
3.5.1
Preparation of the cable connected to the “positive” end
Measure and cut the length of cable necessary to connect the positive (+) end of the battery to that of the inverter, not forgetting
the length needed to allow movement due to the suspension of the cabin. The cable must be cut in two pieces, of which the small
part must be six inches (Figure 5).
Strip a half-inch off each of the four cable ends, insert the longer section of the cable in a PVC strain relief, and intall good quality
tin plated terminal lugs on the bare wires. Crimp the terminals with a hand held crimping tool (the use of locked pliers (
Vice-Grip
)
is not recommended), until the entire cable is crimped, and then cover each section of bared wire with good quality RED
shrinkable tubing (Figure 4).
CAUTION!
Do not solder the terminal lugs to cables. Solid and low resistance connections to the DC power
source is essential in order to properly operate the inverter. The solderings cannot provide such
connections.
