How to Avoid Inverter Spark During Hookup

this is how I avoid the spark while hooking up an inverter.

[@fkdeazevedo]

Thanks Kevin! Great tip!

[@WiSeNhEiMeR-1369]

THANKS COOP ...

[@cyberpunk004]

lowest cost fix for this i found thats often in your house for free is a old school filament bulb and use as the resistor. it glows for a few seconds, and same effect. also many times found already in the house in the spare bulb bin!

[@BigDandthegirls]

Nice, thx dude

[@docwilson5384]

Thank you...Peace

[@rockon1122]

100w resistor work aswell? I have 48v inverter

[@HaskaTice]

Can you tell me where you got that resistor? I like that it's solid. The cheap ones, the leads eventfully break off.

[@kevin83FL]

No problem, I got the 50W-10R here but I don't think it matters which one really, just so there is some kind of in-rush current resistance. Good luck a.aliexpress.com/_mMrIVPU The reason I purchased this one was because I was actually going to permanently mount it to my battery box that I built and put a momentary push button switch (like a horn switch or something) so I could precharge my inverter if I needed to remove the batteries for any reason. So far I haven't needed to remove them, and I don't see any reason why I would have to.

[@ChicksThatFix]

Thanks for showing us how to do it. I’ve heard people say to use a radiator but not show how

[@tupchurch]

pretty cool, just hold phone sideways next time to fit TV dimensions

[@kevin83FL]

Yeah, I don't know why I didn't because it irritates me to watch videos with this format also. I need to get a little camera holder that I can use because usually I decide to make videos at the spur of the moment, and not prepare at all (which im sure is obvious). I could probably make some videos that are watchable with a good light and camera/phone mount. I will be more aware from here on out.

[@joemacch6284]

Thanks I use a 50 watt 25 ohm resistor. They are cheap. Funny thing I have no pencils laying around. The sparking thing is a problem even when connecting a charger to the battery. It’s the same issue.

[@tomandkaren157]

Can’t you solve this problem by connecting the inverter when it’s power button is off? Then after connected you can turn it on?

[@kevin83FL]

Unfortunately not because if you have it disconnected for more than a few minutes, the capacitors inside the inverter are depleted, and will suck up an in-rush of current to charge themselves since they are before the power switch in the circuit.

[@danielelise7348]

They are not a dollar, they are anywhere between $5-$9 depending on where you are in the world.

[@kevin83FL]

Less than $2 on Ali express. They ship wherever you are in the world.

[@Kivivideos]

If the connection is meant to be disconnected/connected multiple times, state of the art would be to use a uController to close relays, 1 for precharge, one for positive terminal on your load, you can then set the timings right for your application

[@kevin83FL]

I agree, but more simply I would use a momentary on switch (like a horn switch) and just wire it up permanently. I will have to make a new video of the box I put together for my portable solar setup.

[@modut6258]

An anderson connector for a 3000w inverter? Geez I hope you're not running a 12 volt system!

[@kevin83FL]

It's a 175a connector lol, and two of them are capable of flowing 350a... the inverter is 12v, so it is absolutely a 12v system. I don't see an issue and it has been working fine with the temperatures staying cool... please let me know if I am missing something.

[@modut6258]

@@kevin83FL Is it an SB50? They're rated for 50amps (disconnect, though I think they'll pass more than that). Also your cable size looks way too small to be passing that much current to the inverter. I've got a 2000w inverter, and it's using AWG1 cables, very thick! I'm not an expert in this stuff though, have been building for a few months and learning as I go.

[@kevin83FL]

@@modut6258 ahh! My bad, in this video I was just trying to show how to eliminate the spark, that connector is the SB50, and you are right, it is only rated at 50a continuous, it is the cable I use to hook to my solar array for charging haha, my bad. I also use that same connector to hook to a water heater element to heat water for a kiddie pool for my smallest kid, so I typically leave it hooked to the bank. Let me see if I can find a link to another video where I have the 175a connectors, I swear I am not running those connectors to power the inverter lol

[@kevin83FL]

OK, so I don't have any videos with my other connectors, but I do have them, I am currently on vacation in California, making a gigantic trip around the U.S. in a travel trailer, but will be home in a few weeks and I will make a small follow-up video. The wires on the 50a connector are 6awg, but my main ones I use are 2ga for each connector, so I have two 2ga wires for pos and two for neg.

[@modut6258]

@@kevin83FL LOL that would explain it. Good video btw, it was useful for me!

[@laryangel4082]

Tt

[@jimmysmith5201]

Here's what I did to avoid the spark/melting; Hook both ground wires with the same gauge wire together and then both positives on a switch that could handle the load.