will.i.am
Member Since: 05 May 2016
Location: hertfordshire
Posts: 250
  
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hi, i am going to be installing a 3000w inverter in the back of my discovery and i was wondering has anyone got any suggestions on how they have run a feed from the battery to the back or is there a high power pick up i can get from the back existing wiring?
Be glad of any ideas!
many thnaks
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 6th Jun 2020 5:44 pm |
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Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10684
 
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There is a 30A towbar feed on the left side.
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| 6th Jun 2020 5:59 pm |
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highlands
Member Since: 10 Jan 2010
Location: NW Highlands
Posts: 5103
 
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3000W is 250A before conversion losses. That'd be seriously chunky cable.
You might be better off doing the conversion at the front, establishing a good earth connection so you just need +ve supply cable from the battery itself to the inverter and running 240V flex if temporary or armoured cable if permanent. Black 05 TDV6 HSE Auto
Grey 05 TDV6 HSE Auto (Gone)
54 TDV6 SE Man (killed by me  )
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| 6th Jun 2020 6:04 pm |
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highlands
Member Since: 10 Jan 2010
Location: NW Highlands
Posts: 5103
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Bear in mind 3000W will overwhelm your alternator and/or drain a normal D3 battery in about 15mins. Black 05 TDV6 HSE Auto
Grey 05 TDV6 HSE Auto (Gone)
54 TDV6 SE Man (killed by me )
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| 6th Jun 2020 6:06 pm |
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will.i.am
Member Since: 05 May 2016
Location: hertfordshire
Posts: 250
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ok maybe i should have explained a bit more. i will mostly use it for charging tools, running a cement mixer using 240 equipment when camping or the occasion use - the reason i have gone for 3000v is that if i ever need to use a welder or say a grinder/snip off saw etc it is then possible to use the inverter.
i used to have a 1500w one in my defender but this couldnt be used a couple of times so 3000w just gives me that extra degree of flexibilty.
thanks for he suggestion of the +ve from the front and find a good earth. do you know what routes people use most ? - under the body and come in at the back or would you route internally?
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| 6th Jun 2020 6:46 pm |
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will.i.am
Member Since: 05 May 2016
Location: hertfordshire
Posts: 250
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highlands wrote:3000W is 250A before conversion losses. That'd be seriously chunky cable.
You might be better off doing the conversion at the front, establishing a good earth connection so you just need +ve supply cable from the battery itself to the inverter and running 240V flex if temporary or armoured cable if permanent.
can i ask what conversion you are reffering to?
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| 6th Jun 2020 6:48 pm |
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highlands
Member Since: 10 Jan 2010
Location: NW Highlands
Posts: 5103
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If you have a 3000W load, the supply will be over 3000W as converting 12V DC to 240V AC involves losses. Black 05 TDV6 HSE Auto
Grey 05 TDV6 HSE Auto (Gone)
54 TDV6 SE Man (killed by me )
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| 6th Jun 2020 7:24 pm |
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aja4x4
Member Since: 14 Apr 2019
Location: Westbury
Posts: 2463
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Dont stick 3000w up your rear or your get a warm bum 
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| 6th Jun 2020 7:26 pm |
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JackNorris
Member Since: 06 Jul 2012
Location: Beds/Bucks Border
Posts: 1879
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How much is a 3000W inverter and cables? Surely you'd be better with a gene? MY2023 Discovery 5 R-Dynamic 3.0
MY2020 Discovery 5 Landmark 3.0 - SOLD
MY2005 Discovery 3 V8 4.4 HSE - SOLD
MY2019 Discovery 5 SE 3.0 - LR Replaced !
MY2005 Discovery 3 S 2.7 - SOLD
MY2016 Discovery 4 Graphite - SOLD
MY2015 Discovery 4 SE Tech - SOLD
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| 6th Jun 2020 7:37 pm |
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waterbuoy
Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: Argyll
Posts: 2922
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Even with 850AH deep cycle batteries in our boats and 150A alternators we still limit the inverters we use to 1600W and, as Highlands says, have to use seriously chunky cable at that.
I can't help but think that trying to run a welder of the car electrics is only going to end in (expensive) tears. Currently 2009 Disco 3 SE, 2013 MY D4 HSE and 2016 D4 SE
Previously:
TD5 Defender 110 CSW (230k miles)
300TDi Disco 1 (289k)
4 RR Classics (300-350k each, 2 manual, 2 auto)
110 V8 CSW (220k)
S3 109 hi cap pickup (ex RN)
S2A 88 Safari SW with lpg conversion (bloody lethal)
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| 6th Jun 2020 7:54 pm |
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pwheeldon
Member Since: 14 Jan 2020
Location: West Yorks
Posts: 1505
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Hi,
I am happy to be corrected here, but the 3kw is at 220-230v, so you're looking at about 13A. I would be dubious about running a welder from it as in my experience they are rated a lot high than they can actually be run at. A lot will say 3kw max for a limited time and the usual running load would be 1.5kw.
Do you have a link for the inverter you're looking at? it should have tech specs including the max 12v load in amps, this will then tell you want size cable you need and how long your battery will last running it.
If youre set on doing this I would definitely be looking at using an auxiliary battery to power the inverter, or a decent generator. I had a 1500w inverter that couldn't cope with continuous loads of around 400-600w.
Hope that gives you a bit of help.
Cheers
Paul Discovery 4 GS 2009 Auto Stornoway Grey
Discovery 3 s 2005 Auto Bonatti Grey Gone
Discovery 3 SE 2005 Manual Zambezi Silver Gone
Range Rover Sport HSE 2006 Black
Aston Martin DB7 VV
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| 6th Jun 2020 11:38 pm |
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will.i.am
Member Since: 05 May 2016
Location: hertfordshire
Posts: 250
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thanks for the advice chaps - prehaps it will be better if i stick a 1500w in there then and then use a small quiet gene for the welding or higher wattage tools. TBH i have used a welder on a 3000w I'ta before you just have to stop/start weld rather than keep it going continiously but i dont really want to  up the battery or alternator.
Again thanks for your advice!
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| 7th Jun 2020 3:47 am |
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aja4x4
Member Since: 14 Apr 2019
Location: Westbury
Posts: 2463
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Be warned most inverters are rated at there peak output not continuous output.
Most 3000w are acutually 1500w continuous inverters. there is also the type of power to consider from true signwave to modified signwave, you also cant connect just anything to an inverter they dont like things with windings such as battery chargers or things with capacitor start that can draw tripple the power when starting.
I modify vehicles for a living and have fitted a lot of inverters, they work very well if you have the right inverter for the job i get mine from Power solve
https://powersolve.co.uk/product-category/...inverters/
I have just built a Camper van and have fitted a 1500w inverter charger that acts as an inverter but also charges the battery when connected to the mains. It has a continuos output of 1200w.
https://powersolve.co.uk/product/eps-serie...y-charger/
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| 7th Jun 2020 7:44 am |
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waterbuoy
Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: Argyll
Posts: 2922
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pwheeldon wrote:I am happy to be corrected here, but the 3kw is at 220-230v, so you're looking at about 13A. I would be dubious about running a welder from it as in my experience they are rated a lot high than they can actually be run at. A lot will say 3kw max for a limited time and the usual running load would be 1.5kw.
You are correct with regard to current 'downstream' of the inverter. However, the OP stated that the intention was to position the inverter in the rear of the vehicle. This means that the 'upstream' supply cables from the engine bay (assuming that is the primary source) would have to be able to deal with much higher currents as stated by Highlands and others, requiring much larger cable sections. Currently 2009 Disco 3 SE, 2013 MY D4 HSE and 2016 D4 SE
Previously:
TD5 Defender 110 CSW (230k miles)
300TDi Disco 1 (289k)
4 RR Classics (300-350k each, 2 manual, 2 auto)
110 V8 CSW (220k)
S3 109 hi cap pickup (ex RN)
S2A 88 Safari SW with lpg conversion (bloody lethal)
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| 7th Jun 2020 10:04 am |
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aja4x4
Member Since: 14 Apr 2019
Location: Westbury
Posts: 2463
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I have run the power cables underneath on my D4 to power the winch on my trailer.
You could also put the inverter where the second battery would fit under the bonnet and keep the primary wiring short but i personally wouldnt want to run an inverter off the main battery
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| 7th Jun 2020 11:06 am |
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