Samlex DC-2000-KIT-XL Inverter Install Kit, 2/0 Cable + 200A Fuse

The Samlex DC-2000-KIT-XL is the DC-side install kit that takes the guesswork out of wiring a mid-size inverter. Everything you need to connect the inverter to the battery bank the right way, in one box. Two 15-foot 2/0 AWG cables, a 200 amp fuse block with the fuse already in it, cable clamps, tie wraps, and the mounting hardware. It's sized for a 12 volt inverter in the 1000 to 1700 watt range, or a 24 volt inverter from 2000 all the way up to 3400 watts.

Here's why this matters. The DC side of an inverter install is where people get into trouble. Undersized cable heats up and drops voltage. A missing or wrong-rated fuse turns a shorted cable into a fire. We've seen plenty of boats and rigs where somebody ran an inverter off whatever wire was in the parts bin, and it either browned out under load or scared them the first time a lug got warm. This kit takes that out of the equation. The 2/0 cable is properly sized for the current these inverters pull, and the 200 amp fuse protects the run the way ABYC wants it protected.

The 15-foot cable length gives you real flexibility on where the inverter lives. You can mount the inverter away from the battery bank, in a drier, more accessible spot, and still make a clean run. That said, on a 12 volt system pushing past about 1500 watts continuous, 15 feet of 2/0 will show some voltage drop. If your run is long and your load is high, keep the inverter as close to the batteries as the layout allows, or step up to a heavier cable. On 24 volt systems the drop is a non-issue across the board, which is one more reason 24 volt inverters are easier to wire at higher wattages.

The fuse block mounts easily near the battery, and the included 200 amp fuse is the correct value for the cable and inverter range. One tip from the field: hit the fuse block terminals and the fuse with a little dielectric grease, especially if it's living anywhere near a bilge or a damp locker. Bare terminals corrode, and a corroded connection is a resistance problem you'll chase for a season. Torque the 2/0 lugs down properly too, around 15 ft-lb, or vibration will loosen them over time.

The six cable clamps and 11-1/2 inch tie wraps secure the run so it isn't flopping around under way. On a full 15-foot run you may want a few extra clamps to hit every bulkhead and stringer, six doesn't always cover a long path. And the #8 pan head screws hold fine in solid backing, but if you're screwing into thin fiberglass or a hollow panel, add a backing plate or a rivnut so the screw has something to bite. A cable this heavy deserves a mount that won't pull loose.

Buying these pieces one at a time adds up, and it's easy to end up with a fuse block rated for the wrong current or cable that's a size too small. Getting it all matched in one Samlex kit means the fuse, the cable gauge, and the inverter range all line up the way the engineers intended. That's the whole point of a DC install kit. No mismatched parts, no second trip to the marine store mid-project.

Who's this for? Anybody installing a Samlex 12 volt inverter up to 1700 watts or a 24 volt inverter up to 3400 watts and wanting the DC wiring done to spec the first time. Liveaboards running a coffee maker and a microwave, weekend anglers powering tools and chargers, RV owners feeding a household outlet. It's not the kit for a small 300 watt inverter, that's overkill, and it isn't sized for a 12 volt 3000 watt monster either. Match the kit to the inverter and it's exactly what you need. Wire it once, wire it right, and forget about it.