I used to be a truck driver and used a power inertor in my truck to power my TV. Took it with me when I left. Came across it the other day and decided to install it in my 08 Accent. This will be a great addition for tailgating.
I already have a 8 gauge power wire running to the cargo area to power an amp for my subs. I went ahead and loosened the screw on the amp that holds the power wire down, stripped the wire from the invertor power wire, stuck it in the amp and tightened the screw back down. I then stripped the end of the invertor's ground wire and grounded it at a child restraint hold down. I then screwed the invertor down on top of the sub box.
On to the pics. Let me know if you have any questions.

-Mike

 

Hello,

That should work well.
400Watt Inverter should draw around 35 to 40 Amp (not 100% efficient)
and as per http://www.the12volt.com/info/recwirsz.asp
Gauge 8 Wire for 400W could be as long as 8 foots.

Don't forget a utility running, it will discharge your battery fast!

Regards,

Jonathan

 

Thanks. I have never come across that chart before. I knew a 8 guage would be pushing it because I am running a 600 watt amp off the same cable too. Total 1000 watts. Plus the invertor can surge up to 875 watts, iirc. SO that would make 1475 watts on about 9 feet of 8 gauge. I have only tested the invertor so far, the rest of the time it has been switched off. I was planning on rewiring with 4 gauge soon anyways.

 

You should never consider surge power when calculating cable size...
you cable will heat due to the RMS (average) current draw...

So if you draw 400W at your inverter at the Max... + the audio Power Amp full volume... at the same time...
your cable will overheat and can melt and shortcut to the frame ground...

Be careful.

chiao