Freedom 20 Inverter Installation: Two (Similar) Approaches

Freedom 20 Inverter Installation

By Gerald Misener

The following describes a Freedom 20, 2000 watt inverter installation, mounted under the nav station. It is connected to two 8D gelcell batteries located under the starboard settee which I converted to a battery compartment after removing the existing water tank. To make the connection I used the recommended 2-0 cable which I had made up at a local battery shop and I purchased the 300 amp fuse for safety. The fuse is mounted on the inside wall of the combination settee/nav seat. Being located there, it is easy to string the wires from the Freedom-20 back through the power panel compartment and down behind the settee to the fuse. The 2-0 wires from the batteries are taken to a battery switch mounted on the aisle side of the old battery box (just in front of the sink/water heater area). Two cables (+ & -) are then brought out the bottom of the battery box/settee to the same area via the bilge.

For backup, I also added a battery and fiberglassed shelf behind the engine next to the muffler to hold an additional Group 24 gelcell battery. This is my emergency starting battery and is hooked to the #2 side of the battery selector switch in the nav station. The other battery Switch wires are connected to the #1 position.

When I use heavy loads like a microwave (mounted under the sink) or a toaster (what a luxury!) I tend to run the engine with it's 124 amp Ample alternator. I do not like to discharge the batteries below the 50% mark. I like the gelcells as I do not have to equalize them like the wet cells.