Trace Engineering DR Series Owner’s Manual - Version 3.2 - 9/7/98 - Page 26
DC Wiring
Safety Instructions
THIS INVERTER IS NOT REVERSE POLARITY PROTECTED! If the positive terminal of the battery
is connected to the negative terminal of the inverter and vice versa, the probable result is failure of
every power FET. To compound your misfortune, this type of failure is very obvious, and is not
covered under the warranty, so pay close attention and double-check when making the battery
connections.
The inverter’s maximum peak current requirements are high. If battery cables are too small and/or
connections are loose, efficiency and maximum output power are degraded. Small cables or loose
connections can also cause dangerous overheating of the wire and/or terminals.
Use the largest gauge wire for the battery cables and keep them as short as possible. Tape the battery
cables together every few inches with electrical tape. This reduces the inductance of the wire resulting
in a better waveform and less current in the inverter’s filter capacitors. This directly relates to
efficiency.
Code your battery cables with colored tape or heat shrink tubing.
Cable ends must have crimped and soldered copper ring terminals.
DC Disconnect
In order to comply with the UL 1741 safety standard (residential installations) a UL approved form of
battery disconnect is required. These installation parts are not supplied by Trace Engineering as part
of the inverter.
Trace Engineering offers a DC rated disconnect designed specifically for the DR series inverters. This
disconnect is available in 175 amp (Trace #DC175) or 250 amp (Trace #DC250) size with single or
dual pole breakers. See the options section at the end of this manual or the latest Trace Engineering
price list for more information.
DC Fusing
The National Electric Code requires that the cables be protected by a fuse or breaker rated to
match the cables ampacity at 75 degrees Celsius. Rounding up to the next fuse size is allowed.
Locate the fuse as close as possible to the battery without it being in the battery enclosure.
(Unless sealed batteries are used.)
Table 6, Fuse or Breaker Size Required vs. Cable Size
Cable Size Rating in
Conduit
Fuse Size(Amps)
(Trace Part #)
Rating in Free
Air
Fuse Size (Amps)
(Trace Part #)
#2 AWG 115 amps max TFB110 170 amps max TFB200
00 AWG 175 amps max TFB200 265 amps max TFB300
0000 AWG 250 amps max TFB300 360 amps max TFB400
Note: The term in free air is defined by the NEC as not encased in conduit or raceway.
WARNING!! Battery cables that are very small will melt and burn the first time the inverter is
asked to produce high power.
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