Strip lights on hookup only. Can I use inverter? (1 Viewer)

[Dazzlin]

Our dethleffs has some great flourescent strip lights which are sort of behind the facia, above the wall units. One in dining area and two in bedroom, really effective but they only run when on hookup.

We have only used hookup twice in the last four months on the road!

I was going to try and rig something up through my little 300w inverter but the two feeds from the mains box are "sockets" - good, I want to include those, and the other is labelled "fridge, charger and lights" and there are only two cables from that part before they dissappear into the floor.
I tried connecting to one but it did the charger and lights so they must be connected at that end. I guess the charger is incorporated into the electroblok.
I also wondered if I feed the 230v sockets from the inverter and tap off the same cable to the light switch am I going pop something?
With basic elec knowledge is this possible, or do I have to see an auto electrician?
Any suggestions or advice please?
We are not back in uk til july and I am itching to have a play before then.

 

[Reallyretired]

It would be a bit unwise to wire your inverter so that it was powering your charger.
I can't see the sense of having lights that only work on EHU, and if I had them I would remove and replace with LED strips which would run from the leisure batteries.

 

[pappajohn]

could be wrong but i think florescent lights will only work properly off a pure sinewave inverter.

To prevent backfeeding the system the feed to the lights would need isolating and directly connecting to the inverter.

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[Dazzlin]

Yes I dont want to run the charger!
Hard to get to the lights as behind pelmet. Also wired thru 230v supply. Would take a bit of fiddling about with wiring and switches.

 

[Dazzlin]

could be wrong but i think florescent lights will only work properly off a pure sinewave inverter.

To prevent backfeeding the system the feed to the lights would need isolating and directly connecting to the inverter.

Thats the problem. Tracking down the light feed and isolating it.
I have a pure sine wave inverter and it worked but knocked hell out of the batteries for the 5 mins it was on as it was running the charger!
I will have to have another look at it.
Thanks

 

[Wildman]

why bother just add some LED strip lights

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[pappajohn]

i assume the lights are switched at the light and not remotely ?

 

[Dazzlin]

i assume the lights are switched at the light and not remotely ?

No.
Both switches one side of kitchen, light opposite in diner and in two in bedroom above each bed!

 

[pappajohn]

No.
Both switches one side of kitchen, light opposite in diner and in two in bedroom above each bed!

ok. if you can trace the wiring to the switch and disconnect there then wire in the inverter supply to the switch.
Even easier.....the lights are probably on their own 5a breaker at the mains fuse box.
Disconnect from the breaker and move outside the fusebox (you cant have 12vdc and 230vac in the same enclosure) then wire in the inverter to the removed wires.

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