What is involved in going down the Inverter route? (1 Viewer)

[Emmit]

Hi All,

I know that there are some knowledgable types on here that have not only done the research but have actually performed the task.

What is involved in, say, having an Inverter with the guts to do most reasonable things to allow one to go 'Off Line'. One that is plumbed in (to mix my power sources) to take over when the leccky from the tap is not available.
I appreciate the need for sufficient battery banks and the solar to go with that but, how much is actually involved in providing the various conections to enable an on board Inverter to allow one to stay away from the mains.
Is it a big job with many hours of work ( I couldn't envisage doing it myself) so Hrs. Means £'s.

Any workings out on the back of a fag packet, gratefully received.

 

[Lenny HB]

In the resources section there is an article by @Techno describing how to wire an inverter with auto mains switching. I did something similar myself and if did take a considerable time I wouldn't wanted to be paying someone to do it. The amount of labour involved with depends how easy it is to get as existing wiring and how the van has been wired. In my case I could only wire 2 of the 4 sockets to change over but I did add a couple of sockets in the garage for charging the bikes.

 

[eddie]

For a good quality 2000 watt modified sine wave inverter fitted, adjacent to your batteries, with good quality Mega fuses installed on decent quality, correctly made battery cables, remote switched on and off, with automatic safety switching between incoming mains and inverted 220vac, wired with an RCD on the inverted output to all of your 13 amp sockets, you should be looking at £799 installed, with 13 amp sockets available when the inverter is switched on

Of course, should you choose an installation Company that gives Funsters a discount you could save 10% on that

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Techno]

Any workings out on the back of a fag packet, gratefully received.

 

[Techno]

 

[funflair]

I would think that Eddies offer is pretty good as there is a fair bit of messing about and Knowledge involved, you would have to be a die hard DIY'r to do it yourself. I would be careful to make sure that the Modified sine wave inverter will run everything you want as ours did'nt but there again ours was rubbish and Eddie did say "a good quality".

Martin

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[eddie]

On our "installed" prices we take an average installation time, add up the SSP of the components and arrive at a "fitted" price

In this case we calculate that it is two installers about four hours, with the longest bit establishing which sockets are on which wires ensuring that other 220VAC appliances such as charging units, water heaters, heating and fridges are not on the Inverted AC supply

 

[ianthebuilder]

You lost me at. Hi all !!!

 

[Boringfrog]

For a good quality 2000 watt modified sine wave inverter fitted, adjacent to your batteries, with good quality Mega fuses installed on decent quality, correctly made battery cables, remote switched on and off, with automatic safety switching between incoming mains and inverted 220vac, wired with an RCD on the inverted output to all of your 13 amp sockets, you should be looking at £799 installed, with 13 amp sockets available when the inverter is switched on

Of course, should you choose an installation Company that gives Funsters a discount you could save 10% on that

Any links to the mega fuses? Thanks.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Techno]

I use the blue sea brand fuse carrier and this price is cheap believe me


EDIT anything with nuts or bolts is far better than screws

 

[Emmit]

I've actually seen the technology in the garage of Andy's van.
Saw a similar setup once on an episode of Star Trek. Only on the TV that one wasn't as complex.
Oh! and thanks for the fag packet.

 

[Lenny HB]

On our "installed" prices we take an average installation time, add up the SSP of the components and arrive at a "fitted" price

In this case we calculate that it is two installers about four hours, with the longest bit establishing which sockets are on which wires ensuring that other 220VAC appliances such as charging units, water heaters, heating and fridges are not on the Inverted AC supply

Seems a very reasonable price when I remember the time it took to trace and rewire the mains in my van.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Reallyretired]

This is the type of fuse you need. I have a double fuse box but can't find one for sale anywhere now.

Don't forget you will need a big fuse like this between the batteries as well, I only have two batteries with a 300A fuse one the inverter side and a 150A fuse between the two batteries.

You can simplify the wiring for the automatic changeover by using a combined charger and inverter like this inexpensive one,, and simply turn off your inbuilt charger. This will charge your batteries when you have mains and automatically switch to inverter if the mains fails or is not connected.

 

[colmorangie]

I cut the wire 6" in from the EHU entry and put a single socket on the EHU side and a plug on the other end. Then ran a small extension from the inventor which is under the same seat to the socket.
So if we're on EHU (rarely) you plug it in to that, if your not and you want 240v plug it in the inventor this would power up every thing however for the sake of the batteries I make sure the electric heater, water, fridge and charger are off or on gas so it only makes the microwave, and sockets live.
I also purchased a socket night light and plugged it in to a obviouse socket so when it's switched on the light lights up. As on as the second time we used it we forgot to switch it off and the inventor flattened the battery.
This was cheap and quick 1 hour work and the invertor from the old van o and 70p for the plug light thing...
So am I missing something or am I set up in a dangerous way ?