Installation Manual

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Page 12

Installation

2.4 DC Wiring

This section describes the inverter’s required DC wire sizes, the recommended disconnect/

overcurrent protection, and how to make the DC connections to the inverter and the battery bank.

Refer to Figure 2-5 when connecting the DC wires.

WARNING: Even though DC voltage is “low voltage”, signiﬁ cant hazards may be

present, particularly from short circuits of the battery system.

CAUTION: The inverter is NOT reverse polarity protected, which means that if the

negative and positive battery voltage is connected backwards to the inverter, the

inverter will likely be damaged. You should verify the correct voltage polarity using

a voltmeter BEFORE connecting the DC wires. Color code the DC cables/wires with

colored tape or heat shrink tubing: RED for positive (+), WHITE for negative (–), and

GREEN (or bare copper) for DC ground to avoid polarity problems.

CAUTION: To remove battery power from the inverter, disconnect the battery positive

connection before the negative connection. This requirement can prevent damage to

the inverter and/or to an accessory connected to the inverter.

Note: When an accessory that is not powered by an inverter (e.g., ME-AGS-N and ME-

BMK) is installed and connected to the inverter (via a network communication cable ),

the battery negative connection of the inverter and each accessory must be at the same

potential (i.e., electrically common with each other) until the positive connection of

each device is removed. This prevents a high impedance path developing between the

connected devices (i.e., inverter and accessories), which can cause the network cable

to become the DC return path to the battery—possibly resulting in permanent damage

to all connected devices on the network. This can be prevented if the battery negative

connection of each device is always connected before connecting/disconnecting any

battery positive.

CAUTION: Before wiring the DC cables, review the safety information at the beginning

of this manual and the instructions below to ensure a safe and long-lived system.

• The DC positive and negative cables connected to the inverter from the battery bank should

be tied together with wire ties or electrical tape approximately every 6 inches (153 mm). This

helps improve the surge capability and reduces the effects of inductance, which improves the

inverter waveform and reduces the wear of the inverter’s ﬁ lter capacitors.

• Crimped and sealed copper ring terminal lugs with a 5/16” hole should be used to connect the

DC wires to the inverter’s DC terminals.

• The battery bank voltage MUST match the DC voltage required by the inverter (i.e., 12-volt

battery bank for a 12-volt inverter), or the inverter may be damaged.

• To ensure the maximum performance from the inverter, all connections from the battery bank

to the inverter should be minimized. The exceptions are the DC overcurrent disconnect in the

positive line, and a shunt in the negative line. Any other additional connection will contribute

to additional voltage drops and these extra connection points may loosen during use.

• All wiring to the battery terminals should be checked periodically (once a month) for

proper tightness. The torque requirement for the DC terminals is between 10 to 12 lbf-ft

(13.6 to 16.3 N-m). If you don’t have a torque wrench, ensure all DC terminals are tight and

cannot move.

• Be aware that overtightening or misthreading the nuts on the DC terminals can cause the

bolts to strip and snap/break off.

• Make sure cables have a smooth bend radius and do not become kinked. Long cable runs

should follow existing wire runs if possible.

• A brief spark or arc may occur when connecting the battery cables to the inverter DC terminals;

this is normal and due to the inverter’s internal capacitors being charged.