inverter (1 Viewer)

ukbill

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question for all you technical minded folks
i am going to fit a inverter to my mh which will be fitted direct to my inward mains so that when needed the sockets of my mh will be live of course i will put a switch to close the inverter down when not in use or when on ehu please tell me the best way to do this and also the best type of inverter ie:1000w 2000w etc sine wave pure sine wave i have 1 leisure batt but will be putting another in so will have 2 leisures at least 110mh each
thanks in advance
 

Geo

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Tell us what you plan to use this sytem for and we can advise better you do/will have a very limited amount of power for such big inverters.
I do like your idea of feeding it in through the hook up point as it will prevent you hooking up and using the inverter at the same time it is a simple solution but fool proof
G
 

funflair

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I don't know how it does it but our battery charger is the only thing that is not powered by 240volts when the inverter is running, it has an auto changeover relay thing.

As Geo says what you want to run will dictate the inverter type, but I would say what the heck go for pure sine straight off you are then future proof, the size will be dictated by the toys you want to run but again 1500 or 2000 watts should cover most things and would be all 2x110ah would want to run even for short periods, and you will need solar to charge back up.

Martin
 
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ukbill

ukbill

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yes i realise maybe solar as well but i think i can sort that at a l8er date as for what will be running it will be upto around 700 to 800 watt max but i thought maybe a larger unit better than a smaller 1 for my use i also doubt if i would use it that much but i want it so that i can if need be i dont understand about turning the charger off ?
 

Techno

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Your batteries will be supplying 230 volts via the inverter so if plugged into your hook up inlet it will power your battery charger and fridge just like you were on mains

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ukbill

ukbill

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ok but i can manully put my fridge back to gas ? and im assuming then by turning my main switch off this is more of a power save reg charger and fridge ?
 
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ukbill

ukbill

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thx for the pics but i can build you a hse if ya want and i can plumb anything ya need but leci is sometimes beyond me lol

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Techno

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If you turn your main switch off you'll have no power at all.
You need to avoid discharging your batteries by allowing them to try recharge themselves with the inverter lol
 

Techno

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What you intend will work if you're methodical in turning off the charger and the fridge 230
 
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You could just fit a relay so it only feeds your sockets
Broken Link Removed

Hi Techno, I was looking at your changeover relay and trying to work out if this isolates the power-in plug outside the van when you're running your inverter.

Tim

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funflair

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Hi Bill

I think you need someone to wire in one of them changeover relay things for you as having to remember to turn of the battery charger all the time would be a PITA. We switch the fridge over to gas when we put the inverter on or if there is loads of sun ex might just leave it on but at least with it being indoors you can see what it is running on a battery charger tends to be hidden away.

Martin
 
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Thought so but just wanted to be sure. I need to draw out a diagram I think just to get it right in my head.

Thanks

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Techno

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Thought so but just wanted to be sure. I need to draw out a diagram I think just to get it right in my head.

Thanks
CA_09061318572565-L.jpg

Without mains the inverter feeds the sockets. With mains the coil energises and throws the contacts so sockets are fed from distribution board
 

funflair

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2 hours use at 800W would take your batteries down to 50%, the figure you should not go below.

Normally you would use an inverter at 800 or 1000 watt level for only a few minutes, microwave, coffee machine hair dryer etc, if just charging batteries for mobiles or lap top the power draw would be much less and then possibly two hours would be OK.

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ukbill

ukbill

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i would only get a large inveter because i think better to have more than less doubt i would ever use the full [power and if i did it would be just for a few mins
 

eddie

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Fridges, freezers, hot water heaters, electric elements in heating systems and chargers are all things that would have a huge and detrimental demand on batteries if used on an inverter.

Depending on use there can be an argument to be able to use a fridge on inverter for shorter periods, such as a channel crossing for example when medicines are stored at a critical temperature.

Simply isolate the 13 amp socket (s) best and easiest way is at your distribution board.

With the wires "cut" you'll have a "supply" (wire "from" the distribution board) and a "load" (wires "to" the 13amp sockets) (when you cut a wire in half you end up with two ends ;-)

Don't worry if you have more than one wire, it was done for ease of installation not because of power loading as after all the whole van runs off of one "extension lead" (hook up lead :) so you can join them together with a suitable connector.

If your inverter has a built in transfer switch, connect simply connect the "supply" wire(s) to the IN on the Inverter, and the "load" wire(s) to the OUT

If the inverter doesn't have a built in Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) you can easily buy one, or use a double pole 220 VAC relay and use the diagram above or use Techno's example, it's very simple if you follow the instructions. They last for years, I was using them in the early Nineties, for built in generator switches, and Dometic still use the same relays today!

You will have no protection from electrocution if you do not fit an additional RCCB, as the one fitted in the Motorhome is on the incoming main, so before the inverter.

So the "load" (the wires going "to" the 13amp sockets) should have an RCCB
Device inserted in series.

In essence, the wire on the output of the ATS should be connected to the IN on your chosen RCCB and the OUT on the RCCB should be connected to the "load" (sockets)

Imagine it like water! It flows from your distribution board, into the inverter ATS, out of the ATS, into a new RCCB, and then flows out of the RCCB down to your sockets.

To anyone that doesn't think that you should use an additional RCCB on. The output of an inverter, just imagine knocking or dropping a kettle or hair dryer into a bowl of water! With no Earth leakage device fitted!

If any one doesn't fully understand the concept of what their doing fitting a largish inverter into their electrical system, you really shouldn't be doing it to be honest, it can be very dangerous.

A properly installed inverter, with a suitable bank of batteries it is great. I know Techno's well catered for, personally I have a huge bank of batteries, so can use my inverter system without undue worry of power requirements.

I have 3 X 130 watts of solar power to keep the batteries topped up (circa 800Ah) along with a very high output alternator for on road charging, and a 100 Ah multistage mains charger, when we use the built in generator.
 
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ukbill

ukbill

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its so all my sockets are live even when not on ehu so instead of charging things either as i drive or when stopped i dont have to use the cig lighter i can use the sockets and also fans in the van etc its more for convenience really
 
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ukbill

ukbill

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ok i have now ordered me batteries 2x 110amp i have also got a bid in for a pure sine wave inveter 1500wat peak 1000wat continuous i am now looking at a solar panel will 100watt be enough for my needs ?

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ukbill

ukbill

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techno can you give me a link as to where i would get that rel;ay from please i have now got a 1500w inverter managed to get it on auction for 58 quid inc p&p well happy with that so all i need now is the relay and the next stage will be solar :)
 
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ukbill

ukbill

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i have managed to find a 5 pin relay but not the 1 you described
 
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I used this relay
to switch my 1500W pure sine inverter.

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ukbill

ukbill

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thanks but not sure how to wire that 1 in the 1 techno used he also put a wiring diagram with it
 

Wickolad

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Hi,
To be honest, I would be looking at sorting the Solar charging side of things before installing the inverter. The thing is, an inverter can very quickly run down your battery. When not on hookup, ( why else would you need an inverter?) you need to be able to replace that power.
For info, I installed one of these 1500w pure sine. Never had a problem with it and also operates ghd straighteners which seem to be very hit and miss with some inverters.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=331112350094&alt=web

A bit expensive but not in comparison to some other brand pure sine. :)
Lance ;-)
 

Techno

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The relay I used is supplied by RS components and I believe the link will be in my auto changeover thread

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