Where would you site your inverter? (2 Viewers)

[Purrfecttune]

Swift 674 Escape 2020 on Fiat base
No rear garage, just a long, narrow access hatch to under rear seats

Buying the Victron Energy Phoenix Inverter 12/1200 which is a bit larger than I imagined (14.25” x 9.13” x 4.6”)

Looking around the ‘van it looks like the only possibles are: under the front passenger seat or inside the seat storage space immediately behind the drivers seat (where the pump is sited).

Anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks

 

[Diabalo]

As close to the batteries as possible

 

[Gaston aires]

Ditto as above. Shortest leads possible. Ours is next to the battery.
Phil

 

[Purrfecttune]

Hi

Yes, following my extensive research on the internet, I understand that it needs to be as close to the batteries as possible and the reasons why. Our hab battery is under the drivers seat, the vehicle battery under the passenger footwell floor, so both my above suggestions appear to be good.

Upgrading our 80Ah lead acid to a 280Ah Lithium which will unlikely leave enough room under the drivers seat unfortunately, which I would prefer

 

[The Wino]

Hi

Yes, following my extensive research on the internet, I understand that it needs to be as close to the batteries as possible and the reasons why. Our hab battery is under the drivers seat, the vehicle battery under the passenger footwell floor, so both my above suggestions appear to be good.

Upgrading our 80Ah lead acid to a 280Ah Lithium which will unlikely leave enough room under the drivers seat unfortunately, which I would prefer

I think as others have said as close as possible but if there's a similar distance I'd go for the one not near the water pump just in case of a leak.

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[Jabstatt]

And ensure there is free ventilation. They do generate heat.

Tony

 

[tonka]

Check how it can be mounted.. some can only / should be placed vertical..

 

[Lenny HB]

You don't have to mount it close to the battery you just need to size the cable accordingly, my inverter has a 4 m cable run to the batteries but it did cost me £100 in cable.

 

[Purrfecttune]

You don't have to mount it close to the battery you just need to size the cable accordingly, my inverter has a 4 m cable run to the batteries but it did cost me £100 in cable.

Thanks Lenny, that’s helpful. That would add the possibility of the rear, offside seat locker next the consumer unit.

 

[Purrfecttune]

Check how it can be mounted.. some can only / should be placed vertical..

This one is recommended to be placed vertical but also says that it can be placed flat with minor loss of performance.

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[Lenny HB]

Thanks Lenny, that’s helpful. That would add the possibility of the rear, offside seat locker next the consumer unit.

If the cable run is 4m you would need at least 50 mm2 cable.

 

[pappajohn]

Thanks Lenny, that’s helpful. That would add the possibility of the rear, offside seat locker next the consumer unit.

Thats going to need heavy cables due to the length of the run.
50mm or heavier.

Lenny beat me to it.

 

[Purrfecttune]

The distance is more like 2 - 2.5m but it still sounds like really heavy cable.

Think I’ll stick to my first two suggestions!

Thanks both

 

[Jabstatt]

So that’s five metres.

Look at an online calculator.

Tony

 

[Lenny HB]

The distance is more like 2 - 2.5m but it still sounds like really heavy cable.

Think I’ll stick to my first two suggestions!

Thanks both

Only 35 mm2 providing you are not running the inverter at max for long periods.

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[Mleabon]

I moved the leisure battery to under the passenger seat leaving more room under the drivers seat. I have 2 leisure batteries under passenger seat. I made a mounting plate to put them on. I then made a mounting plate from 2mm galvanised steel to mount the electrical items on under the drivers seat. I have 2 levels to mount stuff on . The existing cab floor plate and the plate i made which is a few inches above the floor. It's a Ducato.

 

[Purrfecttune]

I moved the leisure battery to under the passenger seat leaving more room under the drivers seat. I have 2 leisure batteries under passenger seat. I made a mounting plate to put them on. I then made a mounting plate from 2mm galvanised steel to mount the electrical items on under the drivers seat. I have 2 levels to mount stuff on . The existing cab floor plate and the plate i made which is a few inches above the floor. It's a Ducato.

I don’t see the advantage for me to move the position of the battery from under the drivers seat, but your design of the space under the other seat sounds good

 

[Gaston aires]

Swift 674 Escape 2020 on Fiat base
No rear garage, just a long, narrow access hatch to under rear seats

Buying the Victron Energy Phoenix Inverter 12/1200 which is a bit larger than I imagined (14.25” x 9.13” x 4.6”)

Looking around the ‘van it looks like the only possibles are: under the front passenger seat or inside the seat storage space immediately behind the drivers seat (where the pump is sited).

Anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks

Fogstar make an underseat 230 AH battery specifically for the Fiat. We fitted one almost a year ago and it’s been great ever since. Never dropping below 150 AH. We are moderate users, kettle, toaster, mini air fryer and spend most of our travels without EHU. We have around 300 watts of solar shared between 2 panels.
You should definitely consider this and it fits perfectly.
Phil

 

[Nigel Crompton]

To slightly hijack this thread (sorry)

For me it's either inverter (Renogy 2kw) or 200ah lithium under what would be the LHD driver's seat.
The installer wants to put the inverter under the seat whereas I want the battery there, if it fits ...
The only reason I can give is that the inverter's AC sockets may be more accessible if it's not under the seat.
Given the choice, what've folk done ?

 

[The joker]

Hi

Yes, following my extensive research on the internet, I understand that it needs to be as close to the batteries as possible and the reasons why. Our hab battery is under the drivers seat, the vehicle battery under the passenger footwell floor, so both my above suggestions appear to be good.

Upgrading our 80Ah lead acid to a 280Ah Lithium which will unlikely leave enough room under the drivers seat unfortunately, which I would prefer

What battery make are you upgrading to just out of interest?

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[Lenny HB]

To slightly hijack this thread (sorry)

For me it's either inverter (Renogy 2kw) or 200ah lithium under what would be the LHD driver's seat.
The installer wants to put the inverter under the seat whereas I want the battery there, if it fits ...
The only reason I can give is that the inverter's AC sockets may be more accessible if it's not under the seat.
Given the choice, what've folk done ?

Rewired the sockets so they can be switched between incoming mains or inverter.

 

[suavecarve]

Hi

Yes, following my extensive research on the internet, I understand that it needs to be as close to the batteries as possible and the reasons why. Our hab battery is under the drivers seat, the vehicle battery under the passenger footwell floor, so both my above suggestions appear to be good.

Upgrading our 80Ah lead acid to a 280Ah Lithium which will unlikely leave enough room under the drivers seat unfortunately, which I would prefer

Just put the fogstar 280 under our fiat seat.
Inverter sits next to well by drivers seat in an A class with ho offside drivers door.

 

[Howard B]

Our Hab battery is under the drivers seat, the inverter is bolted to the rear of of the seatbase.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Behind drivers seat, with batteries under the seat will look like this.
PS, you'll need to fabricate your own vented backing plate to mount it on.

 

[Bessy765]

That’s our cable size

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[Purrfecttune]

What battery make are you upgrading to just out of interest?

Fogstar 280

 

[Purrfecttune]

Behind drivers seat, with batteries under the seat will look like this.
PS, you'll need to fabricate your own vented backing plate to mount it on.



View attachment 945417

That looks promising

 

[Wanders from Glos]

Really interesting chat with some good advice. When we get back from Spain/Portugal we are putting in Litium so we don't need the electric so much. Just contemplating an inverter too. I don't feel I know enough about it to do it myself so will pay someone but the info is still useful. I will make sure I discuss where it will go (bearing in mind heat) and the size of cable being used.

 

[Shrimp]

Our inverter (secondhand from LennyHB) is sited under passenger seat and up against the second battery that lives under there, perfect.

 

[Wanders from Glos]

Our inverter (secondhand from LennyHB) is sited under passenger seat and up against the second battery that lives under there, perfect.

That seems the perfect spot to me. Does it get too hot and is that okay for the battery?

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