inverter question

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infinitefoamies

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I'm along for the trip, not the destination.
I am hardwiring an inverter in my truck, i am mounting it under the rear seat and would like to move the controls to under the dash using cat5e cable and rj45 connectors(i have a lot of the cable and this would meazn i could also move the controls to my slide in camper).

What i would like to know is if the higher awg wire that cat5e is, would it handle the amperage needed for the control panel(led, on/off switch, and battery level monitor)
 
If the control panel connects via Cat5, it isn't carrying any significant amperage. It's not a power cable - just digital signals.  The on/off switch undoubtedly just triggers a relay, even if the present set-up doesn't use Cat5 connections.
I once moved the controls for an inverter using simple 22 gauge wire to extend the connection wires, but you need to examine just how your particular inverter model is wired.
 
Sam's Club or Costco for 6V golf cart batteries. Those are the best in terms of durability and cost/amp-hour.

Many independent battery supply houses will offer a relatively inexpensive 12v AGM battery too, perhaps half the price of a Trojan or Lifeline.
 
Cat5 cable should work fine.  You're not going to melt anything - like Gary said, it's only carrying low current logic signals.

One caveat is that the thinner wires in the Cat5 cable will have more series resistance than the 16 gauge it's replacing.  If you don't need all 4 pairs you can double up on the ones you're using instead of letting the extra pairs stay unused.  I'd start with the one used for on-off control.
 
If your remote hooks up with RJ-45 connectors the current flowing is measured in millamps, not amps, so yes, Cat 5 will take it,, Mine uses Telephone modular cable if I'm not mistaken,  (What is that, RJ-11) not the wider RG-45 Lan type.

IN fact that would be my only caution,  make sure you have the right RJ #, You may only need modular telephone cable, not the more expensive computer cable.

 
John From Detroit said:
If your remote hooks up with RJ-45 connectors the current flowing is measured in millamps, not amps, so yes, Cat 5 will take it,, Mine uses Telephone modular cable if I'm not mistaken,  (What is that, RJ-11) not the wider RG-45 Lan type.

IN fact that would be my only caution,  make sure you have the right RJ #, You may only need modular telephone cable, not the more expensive computer cable.
it doesnt have a remote controler built in. i am removing the controls and making it removable. i need all 8 of the cat5 and have an abundence of it anyway.
 
If you are "Remoting" it, then how much current depends on the switch.. Generally small panel switches do not haul a whole lot of current, the big load in an Inverter is dealt with by one type of relay or another..

But if the wires goign to the switch are BIG.. Well cat-whatever may not take the load.

(Big would be like 14ga or bigger) if that is the case, a simple relay will fix you up good.

For a simple toggle switch, feed 12 vdc to the switch, return it to the relay, do not forget to put  a suppressor diode across the relay coil (That is a reversed diode, arrow points toward POSITIVE lead from switch)
 
infinitefoamies said:
than you, the wires going to the switch are roughly 18awg so i think i should be good. cat5e is 22awg i believe
18awg can handle 2.3 amps for power transmission, 22awg can handle 0.92. 
 

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