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(More customer reviews)This review is in response to some comments regarding wire and fuse size selections for this inverter and others like it.
In response to other review quoting a table from the National Electric Code (NEC). While the table that was posted is correct for 115VAC (household voltage) is does not translate directly to 12VDC (automotive voltage). When dealing with a 12 volt system there is less concern with wires overheating, at least in the way that the NEC considers it, and far more concern with voltage drop. When running wiring a reasonable distance (a couple hundred feet or so) there is little concern with voltage drop with AC power. But when dealing with DC, simply increasing your wiring distance 5-10' can have a drastic effect on voltage drop. That is why this inverter should be wired with, at the very least, #4 wire and really should be installed with #2 or thicker, especially if you need to run wire 15 or 20 feet or more.
The purpose of a fuse in a DC system is to protect the rest of your electrical system in the event of a short. That is why you always want to install your fuse as close to the battery as possible (no more then 3' if you can help it). As far as the amperage goes, there is a really good quick reference chart for automotive wire size that can be found at Tessco's web site here:[Turns out I can't link to an outside page so I'll paste the contents of the table at the bottom]. But to boil it down, you can safely fuse a 12VDC circuit at 150, or 200 amps, or more on #4, #2 or #0 wire.
Now this unit at full load is something like 85% efficient. So if you do the math -- 1500 Watts / 12 Volts / .85 efficiency = ~147 amps, A 150 AMP FUSE IS REQUIRED. If you take peak power into account you would need to double that to a 300 amp fuse, but because the inverter cannot run at peak power for more then a moment, a slow-blow 150amp fuse may work just fine, or perhaps you could step up a 200amp. I wouldn't go all the way to a 300 amp fuse unless you really found that you needed it and had the inverted is wired in such a way that it could handle that level current (read: installed using very heavy gauge wire). Now if your vehicle is running while your inverter is working the amperage will be a little lower because your dealing with 14.4 VDC rather then 12 volts (watts = volts x amps -or- amps = watts / volts). But at the very least, a 150 amp ANL fuse is very good idea and not at all over sized.
Just a FYI on fuses, most car stereos are installed with AGU style fuses, but they only go up to 100 amps.
You will need an ANL style fuse to get one rated at 150 amps or more. See these links for examples:
Kicker 09ANL150 150 Amp ROHS Compliant ANL Fuse - Package of 2
Scosche EWFH Single ANL Fuse Holder
Wire Gauge Selection Table 12 Volt Circuit
Wire Distance
AMPS 3' 5' 7' 10' 15' 20' 25'
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Click Here to see more reviews about: Cobra CPI 1575 1500 Watt 12 Volt DC to 120 Volt AC Power Inverter
This inverter provides household power on the go. It converts battery power to 120 V AC household power, allowing you to power up office equipment and household appliances from your vehicle. This unit is ideal for such appliances as microwave ovens (1000 watts or less), coffeemakers, laptops, TVs, video game consoles, CD and DVD players, cell phone chargers, and more.
How The Cobra Power Inverter Works The Cobra power inverter is an electronic product that has been designed and built to take low-voltage DC (Direct Current) power from your automobile or other low-voltage power supplies and convert it to standard 115 volt AC (Alternating Current) power like the current you have in your home. This conversion process thereby allows you to use many of your household appliances and electronic products in automobiles, RVs, boats, tractors, trucks, and virtually anywhere else.
Cobra 1500 Watt Output Waveform Some very sensitive electronic equipment might not operate satisfactorily on "square wave" or "modified sine wave" power. The output waveform of the Cobra Inverter is a "square wave" or "modified sine wave." It is a stepped waveform designed to have characteristics similar to the sine wave shape of utility power. A waveform of this nature is suitable for most AC loads, including linear and switching power suppliers used in electronic equipment, transformers, and motors.
AC receptacles With three ground AC receptacles, you can connect and power multiple devices at once.
USB Output The 5-Volt USB output allows charging and operation of modern portable devices, such as iPods, BlackBerrys, and cell phones.
Remote On/Off Switch Capable An optional Remote On/Off Switch can be connected to the Remote Jack, allowing you to turn the Cobra power inverter on or off from a convenient location when the inverter is installed out of reach.
Safety Features The CPI 1575 will notify you with a flashing meter and alarm sound when there is a power problem, and will shut down for protection in the following situations:
Current Overload Protection--If the inverter is overloaded, it will shut down to protect itself.
Short Circuit Protection--If the AC output of the inverter is short-circuited for one second or more, it will shut down to protect itself.
Low Voltage Protection--If the input voltage drops to 10.0V or less, the inverter will shut down to protect itself.
High Voltage Protection--If the DC input voltage rises above 15.0V, the inverter will shut down to protect itself.
Over Temperature Protection--If the internal temperature rises to 40 degrees C (104 degrees F), the inverter will shut down to protect itself.
What's in the Box CPI 1575 DC to AC Power Inverter, instruction manual
