Inverter Installation

[MSam]

Question for all those who have installed inverters -

My boat is a center cockpit sloop. The engine is located directly below the cockpit and the battery compartment just forward of the engine (essentially, the engine compartment is directly aft and below the battery compartment). My electrical pannel is located along the starboard bulkhead. Without going into a long description, the only way to wire to the pannel from the batteries is running wire aft until I can get physical access to the starboard bulkhead, and then run wire forward. All in all, it''s probably a 15 foot run.

My problem is I''m not sure where to mount the inverter. I have heard the inverter must be located as close as possible to the battery banks (although not in the same compartment - due to risk of explosion from battery gas ignition) and in a cool dry place. If I need to mount the inverter close to the battery banks but not in the battery compartment, I''m thinking of mounting it to the underside of the battery compartment floor (which, as described above, is in my engine compartment). The problem is that the compartment temperature will be very high after running the engine and this may adversely effect the inverter performance (if not damage the inverter itself). Am I wrong and is it possible to mount the inverter in the battery compartment? Also, I think mounting the inverter over by the electrical pannel on the starboard bulkhead is out due to the long wire run, am I right?

Can anyone offer me any advice on how to approach this problem?

Thanks

MS

[SHIMSHON]

I installed a TRACE 2500 Inverter in my engine compartment above the engine on a customized stainless steel bracket. The engine is a Perkins 4-236 and puts out a fair amount of heat. This installation has worked fine for over four years without any problems due to heat etc. There is plenty of air flow around the inverter but the compartment is rather small. I also have a refrigerator (Norcold AC/DC) which also dumps its heat into this compartment. So heat build up can become substantial over time and to date without any negative results. The Trace does have a fairly large heat sink on it but I believe the Heart and Prosine are designed similarly. Talk to the manufacture''s tech people and see what they have to say.

[fer@fer]

MSam
The reccomendations to install the inverter as close to the battery bank, aims at keeping the lowest gauge possible in the wires
I´ve installed a Statpower inverter (2,500w) almost 12 feet from the battery bank.WHich is the closest I afforded (The cable is 30 mm2 -30 squared milimeters- which I don`t recall what size of gauge is) It keeps running for the last 6 years. I would prefer larger wire than having the inverter cooked.


By the way, can you pass your wires below the floors?