Can I add an inverter to my RV Installation Kit?

Yes, you can add an inverter to your RV80 or RV60 system. When adding an inverter to your system, you should take the following factors into consideration:

Cable Size and Fusing

Most inverter related problems are the direct result of running cables and fusing that are too small. Because inverters are such a heavy load on your system they need to be installed as close to your RV board as possible and need to have large diameter cables. For more information on how to choose an appropriate cable and fuse size for your inverter, click here.

Cable connections

If you add an inverter to your RV80 or RV60 system, you will need to ensure that the cables are run to the correct places. It is critical that the inverter negative is connected to the "SYSTEM" side of the Battery Monitor shunt (see example below). Failure to connect the inverter to the "SYSTEM" side will result in the battery monitor being unable to read the flow of current to the inverter and will cause the state of charge reading to be incorrect. It is also likely that your inverter negative cable will be the heaviest cable connected to the shunt, and therefore it should be at the bottom of the shunt if you plan to stack multiple lugs on the same post.  Your inverter positive cable should be protected by a fuse or circuit breaker and can be connected directly to the battery. You should also ensure that this connection is tight and that there are no lugs or spaces between the cables.

Battery Size

An inverter represents a heavy load on your electrical system and you will need an appropriate sized battery bank in order to run it. Lithium batteries excel at maintaining voltage under load, which makes them ideal for running inverters. You will need to ensure that the current draw of your inverter does not exceed the maximum allowable current draw of your batteries. More information on choosing suitable batteries for your inverter can be found here.