Battery box to inverter...how?

**GEK064** · 29th August 2011, 07:41 PM

Hi all, just bought a camper trailer and currently fitting it out and have one of those ark battery boxes that chargers*the battery via the anderson plug from the car. Now I have an inverter and bought two 240v outlets to suit. I'd like to consider adding another battery... So my questions are:

1. How do I connect the ark battery box to the inverter?
2. How do I *go from the inverter to the 240v outlets?
3. How do I connect another battery to the system?
4. How do I connect 12v lights.......... directly to the battery or via....?
5. What size wires/cables do I use?
6. Do I need fuses?
7. Anything else to watch out for?

I'd rather do the work myself rather than using a auto electrician.

Any help would be great and diagrams would be ideal.

**harlie** · 30th August 2011, 08:55 AM

First Q. Are the 240v outlets you have Duel Pole Switching? This is a legal requirement for "RV" installation; all items must switch off both active and neutral including the PCD (safety switch).

I’m not sure why you would use an Ark Battery box, why not just sit the battery on a tray (or in a standard box) and hook on to the terminals.

My opinion.

Positive lead from the battery to a 70amp circuit breaker with 13mm2 wire. Everything then feeds off the cold terminal of the breaker. Everything is now behind this breaker including the wire to the car.
13mm2 from Breaker to the Andersen plug
6 (or8)mm2 from Breaker to a switch panel with fuses (or push button breakers). (marine type from Whittworths or the like, about $20-30)
Set it up so there is a switch and fuse for each circuit – use different circuit for different mediums/application/accessory. My camper has circuit for each of
- Lights / 12v outlets (light wire)
- Heavy 12v outlet for fridge (4mm2 wire)
- Water pump
- Built in smart charger
- Inverter

240v outlets use 4mm twin&earth – this is not my area and actually the only thing I had a pro do for me for the entire camper build…

I have a battery compartment that has room for 2 batteries, switch panel and the charger. It is water proof and vented through the floor. To connect a 2nd battery just link the terminals with 13mm2 cable, I have left the Earth and + connections on the original battery to make it easy to configure for 1 or 2 batts.
I have a hand drawn diagram somewhere I used for mine

**GEK064** · 30th August 2011, 07:49 PM

Thanks Harlie, I got the ark battery box eith th trailer and figured it was a good pruduct given it has an isolator swith and can came with a charger. It's ailitybto condition a battery also seemed good. Given i'm more a visual person can I ask for a copy of that diagram? As to the 240v they came with the ark box set up and are appear to be designed for the rv application.

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Battery box to inverter...how?

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