Wiring inverter through switch pod?

[stevet47]

I need a little wiring 101 assistance.
I have (had, read on...) a 1500w inverter that I want to control with my VOswitch (knock-off Spod). Each switched circuit on the VOswitch is rated at 30A, so I can't run the inverter power through it, I need to connect the inverter direct to the battery and simply utilize the VOswitch to turn the inverter on/off.
Here's were it went wrong... I wired the inverter direct to the battery, and thinking the VOswitch is essentially just a relay, I simply removed the integrated on/off switch from the inverter, grounded one side, and ran the other to a switched circuit on the VOswitch. The second I hooked it up, I let the smoke out of the inverter. Whoops!
Now that I think about it, I believe this was because the inverter's on/off switch gets it power from the inverter being wired to the battery; running the on/off switch through the VOswitch, I shorted something in the inverted by essentially connecting it to power twice.

Someone with more knowledge than me could fix the inverter, it still powers on, it just constantly beeps and wont put out any power. Luckily this was a 14yr old modified sine wave inverter, so this gives me a great excuse to upgrade to pure sine wave, I just need to get this wiring figured out first!

Any help would be appreciated!
PS- Luckily the VOswitch came out unscathed!

 

[BorealOverland]

Can"t help you with the inverter.. it's probably toast..

But why don't you just power a simple external relais via the VOswith..
Put a 200A relais (1500W at 12V= 125A) between the battery and the inverter,
let the VOswitch power the relais (smaller contacts) and your done..



Its about the same way as i did with my self build Lithium powerbank: From the + busbar to relais, from relais to 125A Anderson connector to the 1500W (external) inverter i have..

I don't know if every inverter can be switched like that.. and some inverters with the option for a remote switch don't like external power or power at all on these "remote switch" contacts.. they just need to "see" a closed contact or bridge between the 2 contacts which is basiclly what a switch does..

How this helps a bit.. I am no expert.. so someone with more knowledge about this subject might have a better solution!

 

[BorealOverland]

Most easy and foolproof is use that VO thing to energise a small relay. That relays contacts take the place of your inverter on-off switch.

Yes, even more simple! And simple is better most of the time..

 

[stevet47]

Thanks, that makes perfect sense. I'll pick up a relay (and new inverter) and give that a whirl.