Advice Re Linking Inverter To The 240v Ring

[PJGWiltshire]

I have now installed a 1500w inverter which I presently run an extension lead from. No problem but it would be much neater if I could link it upto the 240v ring in the motorhome when not on EHU. Can any of you wise ones point me in the right direction.

 

[vwalan]

becareful . i have known folk wire them into the ring then use ehu and blow the inverter. i prefer a extension lead system at least it seams safer.
i,m sure there possibly is a gadget of some sort to over come this . but extension lead as worked for 13 yrs in mine no probs .

 

[mitzimad]

it can be done automatically using relays or manually using a change over switch but the simplist way ive seen is a plug before the consumer unit and two sockets one fed from the invertor one from the ehu

 

[Jim]

I'm about to wire one in to the RV. Remote control and I'm not clever enough to make an auto switchover but it will use the same socket as the regular hookup. So impossible to have both hooked up at the same time, I'll need to remove the inverter plug to be able to hookup to the mains. This way the inverter will make all my sockets live and run my fridge etc

 

[Daifuse]

Don't be tempted to connect two plugs to a piece of wire and plug the inverter output into an existing socket as I've seen done before. A cable with a plug on each end is known as a 'Widowmaker'!

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[jollyrodger]

I have installed a dedicated mini ring to run from the inverter completely separate works well twin 110amph batteries & 220w of solar

 

[funflair]

I'm about to wire one in to the RV. Remote control and I'm not clever enough to make an auto switchover but it will use the same socket as the regular hookup. So impossible to have both hooked up at the same time, I'll need to remove the inverter plug to be able to hookup to the mains. This way the inverter will make all my sockets live and run my fridge etc

Hi Jim, dont forget to switch off the battery charger as I am told that perpetual motion still does not exist.

 

[Techno]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331117046146?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[funflair]

I changed the Inverter in ours to a pure sine but all the wiring was there for the auto changeover so I just did a quick swap that way it by passes the battery charger so I dont need to keep switching it off when on Inverter but everything else runs as if on EHU. The switch should prioritise EHU but not been brave enough to try it in anger.

 

[Lenny HB]

Just fitting an inverter at the moment, I want to wire mine in so it auto switches. Worked how to do to 2 of the vans sockets, the way Hymer have wired the van doesn't help, one feed supplies the Electroblock & 2 sockets the other the Fridge & 2 sockets. Now that I have got the floor up in one of the wardrobes found some connectors but they are strange ones not been able to source them anywhere, was hoping to do the mods so that I could just plug it back as it was if I decide to take it out when selling the van. Looks like I'll be cutting the cables.

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[Techno]

http://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/auto-changeover-relay-for-inverter.55467/

For those inferring that vans have ring mains
They do not
Power circuits are radials and the sockets may be on one or more radials, mine has one down each side of the van

 

[scotjimland]

it will use the same socket as the regular hookup. So impossible to have both hooked up at the same time, I'll need to remove the inverter plug to be able to hookup to the mains.

simple and fool-proof.. KISS

 

[Reallyretired]

I found my socket for the microwave is on the same radial circuit as the fridge, so rather than get complicated, I just plug the microwave into an extension from the inverter when we need to use it. Not a very elegant solution but it's not as if we use the microwave much. On ehu it just works in its own socket as originally designed.

 

[mjltigger]

I'm about to wire one in to the RV. Remote control and I'm not clever enough to make an auto switchover but it will use the same socket as the regular hookup. So impossible to have both hooked up at the same time, I'll need to remove the inverter plug to be able to hookup to the mains. This way the inverter will make all my sockets live and run my fridge etc

I was planning to do the same but haven't worked out how to turn off the battery charger automatically and I will forget if I have to do it manually.

I considered removing all the wiring from the hook up so that on hook up all I'm powering is the battery charger then everything else off the inverter all the time. Seems the simplest option I think..

 

[Steve]

I'm about to wire one in to the RV. Remote control and I'm not clever enough to make an auto switchover but it will use the same socket as the regular hookup. So impossible to have both hooked up at the same time, I'll need to remove the inverter plug to be able to hookup to the mains. This way the inverter will make all my sockets live and run my fridge etc

I think this is by far the simplest and safest way and costs very little, you may well already have the cable. As already said Keep It Simple
I like simple.....

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[PeteH]

Yeah; Kiss works for me too. However I got carried away and used a 40A Changeover switch with a centre NULL. No chance of both being live together the charger unit was wired between the EHU and the C/O Switch (no EHU. No Charger)

Pete