Fuse or Circuit Breaker for a 1500 watt inverter

Opti
Opti Registered Users Posts: 10 ✭✭
in Caravan, Recreational Vehicle, and Marine Power Systems #1
I'm putting together a 12v solar battery system using a 100AH AGM battery, 1500 watt inverter, 20A charge controller with a couple 100 watt solar panels to provide power to a box trailer used for tools and such.

I know I should protect my components with fuses or circuit breakers but I'm trying to do it without adding a lot of cost to the budget.  Fuses are the cheapest option but I'd prefer a circuit breaker solution if possible but the costs go up dramatically from what I can find.

To protect the 1500w inverter I'm told that I need to add a 225 to 250 Amp circuit breaker between the inverter and battery.  One solution I found that works for a truck winch is this option 
which is quite reasonably priced but I'm in need of some expert advice to know if it would be applicable to putting such a breaker inline with my 1500w inverter system or are there other issues to consider with this type of breaker and I should use a simple 300A fuse instead?
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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #2
    ARGHH !!! looks like a batch of parallel breakers on a buss bar
    Our host site has a store with a lot of breakers
     https://www.solar-electric.com/marine-rv/circuit-protection/circuit-breakers.html?limit=40&nav_breaker_type=DC+Breakers


    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

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  • Opti
    Opti Registered Users Posts: 10 ✭✭
    #3
    mike95490 said:
    ARGHH !!! looks like a batch of parallel breakers on a buss bar...
    Wouldn't I be paralleling breakers too if I bought say 3x 80Amp panel mount type breakers used in an enclosure? Besides a nice finished look and protective cover do panel mount breakers do any better job of protecting against short circuit compared to 5x 50A circuit breakers on a buss bar?
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  • Lumisol
    Lumisol Registered Users Posts: 374 ✭✭✭
    edited May 2017 #4
    250 amp breakers for 12 volt DC are commonly used in car audio applications, you might find a better solution looking there.
    I personally used marine type, but they don't seem to have a 250 amp version and are 4 times as costly.

    https://www.delcity.net/store/EATON-Marine-Breakers-!--Hi!Amp/p_795454.h_795461
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  • mvas
    mvas Registered Users Posts: 395 ✭✭✭
    edited May 2017 #5
    Opti said:
    I'm putting together a 12v solar battery system using a 100AH AGM battery, 1500 watt inverter, 20A charge controller with a couple 100 watt solar panels to provide power to a box trailer used for tools and such.

    I know I should protect my components with fuses or circuit breakers but I'm trying to do it without adding a lot of cost to the budget.  Fuses are the cheapest option but I'd prefer a circuit breaker solution if possible but the costs go up dramatically from what I can find.

    To protect the 1500w inverter I'm told that I need to add a 225 to 250 Amp circuit breaker between the inverter and battery.  One solution I found that works for a truck winch is this option 

    which is quite reasonably priced but I'm in need of some expert advice to know if it would be applicable to putting such a breaker inline with my 1500w inverter system or are there other issues to consider with this type of breaker and I should use a simple 300A fuse instead?
    Are you sure you want an Auto-Reset Breaker ?
    If there is a short circuit ...
    Step #1) I will clear the short, then and only then ...
    Step #2) I will manually reset the breaker

    example: A 200 Amp 30 Volt DC Breaker with 3,000 Amp Interrupt Rating
    https://www.grainger.com/product/GRAINGER-APPROVED-5RLT-Series-Automotive-Circuit-5RLT1

    You need a very high Interrupt Rating because ...
    If the contacts in your Circuit Breaker ever fuse/weld together then you have zero protection.
    Mount your C.B. ( or fuse )  near the Battery Terminal.
    Also, insulate / cover the Battery Terminals to prevent accidental shorting

    Won't your 1,500 Watt Inverter, at full load, drain your battery down to 50% ( ~dead ) in just 20 minutes ???

    Fuses are cheap - how many times in your life do you expect to blow a 200 amp fuse?
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  • Opti
    Opti Registered Users Posts: 10 ✭✭
    #6
    With cost being one of my prime factors a fuse then appears to be the best and least expensive option.  Thanks for the help and input from everyone, it led me to a better answer!
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  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    #7
    Don't forget to have a couple or more spares on hand.... don't ask :(
     
    KID #51B  4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
    CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM 
    Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
    2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
    Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
    West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
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  • daklein
    daklein Registered Users Posts: 15 ✭✭
    #8
    Yikes, the nice exposed 12v bus bar in this install photo looks like trouble.
    https://www.etrailer.com/static/images/pics/S/W/SW90-22147_2014~Ram~2500_4_1000.jpg
    4.7 kW rooftop grid-tied Enphase M190s (1/21 surviving, have replaced and re-replaced the rest), 21x SolarWorld 225W
    2.6 kW ground mount AC coupled to SMA SI6048 x2 & 1080Ah 48v Exide FLA forklift bank, 10x Talesun 265W (a DC Solar trailer), Enphase m210/M210IG
    3.7 kw  rooftop 12x Astronergy 305W,  9 panels DC coupled w/ Midnite 250-CP CC,  3 panels AC coupled Enphase M210IG
    (sold) 480 W camper system, 2x Panasonic 240W HIT, Midnite Kid CC w/ Whizbang Jr, 2x 6v GC2 FLA 230Ah
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  • daklein
    daklein Registered Users Posts: 15 ✭✭
    #9
    You want something like this:  https://www.solar-electric.com/mr60ampdccib.html      Choose the size of wire you're using from the battery to the inverter, and the breaker needs to be at the battery end.   It is protecting the wire from burning if there is a short anywhere downstream, in the cable or the inverter.      A breaker also functions as a manual disconnect.
    4.7 kW rooftop grid-tied Enphase M190s (1/21 surviving, have replaced and re-replaced the rest), 21x SolarWorld 225W
    2.6 kW ground mount AC coupled to SMA SI6048 x2 & 1080Ah 48v Exide FLA forklift bank, 10x Talesun 265W (a DC Solar trailer), Enphase m210/M210IG
    3.7 kw  rooftop 12x Astronergy 305W,  9 panels DC coupled w/ Midnite 250-CP CC,  3 panels AC coupled Enphase M210IG
    (sold) 480 W camper system, 2x Panasonic 240W HIT, Midnite Kid CC w/ Whizbang Jr, 2x 6v GC2 FLA 230Ah
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