GTS225 wrote:dbhosttexas wrote:My question comes in the form of getting power OUT of the battery. I have a group 65 AGM battery in a frame mounted box under the truck cab. I need to figure out. I assume I connect the charger, the wiring for the 12v outlets, and the output to the Bestek 500w pure sine inverter to the lugs on the battery as well. Or is there some way I should electrically separate these connections?
Well yes, but I'd advise a master disconnect switch first thing. That way, you can completely shut down the 12vdc system when not needed.
Fuse the wiring for the 12v outlets, as close to the battery or disconect as possible.
But this sentence bothers me; "and the output to the Bestek 500w pure sine inverter to the lugs on the battery as well." Let's clarify......you said "the
output to" the inverter. Maybe I'm interpretting your words wrong, but the inverter's output terminals should never be connected to a power
source. (That includes a 120 v source, like your generator.)
However, you should fuse the 12v feed to the input terminals of the inverter as well. (Again, as close to the battery as possible.)
Roger
You misread what I wrote. The INPUT on the Bestek would come FROM the battery, thus the OUTPUT from the battery to the input side of the inverter. Sorry I thought that was forehead slapping obvious.
I.E. Output TO meaning output FROM the battery, TO the input on the inverter.
And yes, I will be parting out a battery box / power station I had built previously. It will have 2 12V outlets, 4 USB charging outlets with voltage meters, and 2 separate marine rocker switches.
My plan for housing them is to design and 3D print enclosures, so I will have 12V outlets on each side of the cap at the cab end. PLUS I need to run a 12V extension outlet into the cab that will be powered on 24x7 while in use / camper mode to run the fridge which will live in the back seat of my extended cab pickup truck.
Fused close to the battery is both a good, and a terrible idea. Good as it reduces any potential harm from a short, terrible as it is going to be under the cab of the truck. It is messy and mucky down there... However if I can fit it all in enclosed in the battery box and reasonably weather and road / off road gunk protected then absolutely will put inline fuse holders right by the battery...
My plan for off use stowage for the 12V DC is to simply disconnect the positive on the house battery. Although I do not foresee too much down time with this setup. Remote work allows me to not be in the office, so as long as I have 4G or 5G service, and sufficient hotspot bandwidth available I don't see why my office can't be on the bed platform with a folding table looking out the window at the Gulf of Mexico... or the closest mountains as long as I am back in town for any needed in person meetings.