GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I'm new to this forum sop please take it easy on me. I have an 04 vibe. I just recently bought a 1kWatt inverter online and I'm trying to run a 0 awg wire from the + terminal on the battery to the inside of the car what is the best way to do this? Also, should I put a fuse within the first 18 inches of wire from the battery? I was looking behind the glove box tonight by the air filter to see if there where any spots I could run a wire that big from the battery but it was to dark and my flashlight was to dim. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Yes, place the fuse as close as possible to the power source (battery).

What are you going to use the inverter for? That thing will pull 85 amps from your battery at full load if the engine isn't running. Even with the engine running it will exceed the capacity of the alternator in the long run.

You will need to find your own safe path for the wiring. Using an existing hole is easiest but make certain the wires go through a grommet. In case you don't know, the ground wire must be the same size as the positive.

So does anyone know a good place to run the wire?

The main wiring harness boot on base vibe, driver side on firewall just below hood line. it is a double layer boot. use a small Phillips screwdriver to poke the initial hole, and use larger Phillips screwdrivers until you are to the size of your wire. Trim the end of the wire to "point" then spray the first 6" with WD-40 (to help wire slide it through the wiring boot). Push the wire from the engine compartment toward the interior of the car (this keeps the boot intact, pushing it from the inside to engine compartment will separate the boot).

Check the following video, toward the end it shows the wiring boot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeuqGP3hgE0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Take care not to let any of the wire chafe on anything metal, as this will cause a short to ground very easily! This is why there is a fuse..

Have you considered getting a deep cycle battery? Automotive batteries are not designed for deep charge cycles. Don't forget also that most alternators are 100-120 amps, which should power the inverter ok, but running it at max output will shorten the lifespan of the alternator. I don't fancy going somewheres and having the alternator quit! lol I also believe you lose 30-40 percent of the power taken out of the 12 volt 100 amps as inverters soak up alot of juice to make the AC power.

How about a generator? lol