Could be a clicking / tapping solenoid

[Dorset Diver]

Moved the MH to the starting block this morning. We are off for a few days tomorrow. Once repositioned I reconnected the EHU. A little later I noticed what sounded like a woodpecker at work in the distance. On closer inspection the noise seemed to be coming from the 1800W Waeco Invertor which is under the upper floor (nightmare access). After some trial and error I found that disconnecting the EHU stops the noise and reconnecting it starts it again. The noise is not constant more as I said above a burst of clicking / tapping for a second or two then a second or twos' pause and repeat. I have checked the operation of the invertor and it is working, supplying 240v. Any advice or ideas how to silence the unit whilst we are on EHU as I see it causing sleepless nights? Also any other advice will be much appreciated.

 

[pappajohn]

Assuming the inverter feeds ALL 230v sockets It should have an auto changeover solinoid unless the inverter has one built in.
The hookup will be on different parts of the sine wave and out of phase with each other
You could fit a manual switch in the positive feed TO the inverter and switch off when on hookup.
If the inverter only feeds dedicated socket/s then ignore the above.

 

[Dorset Diver]

Assuming the inverter feeds ALL 230v sockets It should have an auto changeover solinoid unless the inverter has one built in.
The hookup will be on different parts of the sine wave and out of phase with each other
You could fit a manual switch in the positive feed TO the inverter and switch off when on hookup.
If the inverter only feeds dedicated socket/s then ignore the above.

Thanks pappajohn. But I have now found something else strange. The EHU supply and cable are good. Power is getting to the battery charger and other circuits but not to the 230v sockets. Even the fridge is working from mains. I have plugged in a circuit tester and nothing. I have checked the box with the trips. They are all on and all work except the for the mains circuits (230v sockets). I have pressed the trip test for the mains circuits and it does nothing. The others trip as they should. Is there a hidden fuse / trip somewhere for that circuit that I'm missing?

Edit: I suspect that if I can restore power to the 230v socket circuits all will be well. Fingers crossed but just what is wrong I can't figure.

Lenny HB. Any ideas Lenny?

 

[Dorset Diver]

The more I think about it I may have caused the problem when I started the van this morning. Initially I forgot to disconnect the EHU and only did so when the alarm sounded. Could I have tripped something that could be reset?

 

[gus-lopez]

It all points to the inverter.

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[Figaro]

Doubtful, the ehu and 12 volts starting circuits are completely separate

 

[Pausim]

Assuming the inverter feeds ALL 230v sockets It should have an auto changeover solinoid unless the inverter has one built in.
The hookup will be on different parts of the sine wave and out of phase with each other
You could fit a manual switch in the positive feed TO the inverter and switch off when on hookup.
If the inverter only feeds dedicated socket/s then ignore the above. out of phase supplies sounds a bit nasty

2 out of phase supplies sounds nasty. Could this lead to voltages exceeding the 230V the equipment is designed to handle?

 

[TheBig1]

The changeover relay in the inverter has gone faulty as they do. It detects hookup and switches the socket supply to mains rather than ibverter

 

[Dorset Diver]

The changeover relay in the inverter has gone faulty as they do. It detects hookup and switches the socket supply to mains rather than ibverter

That does make a lot of sense. The big problem will be accessing the inverter as it is located where only a very small, super bendy, agile person with super strength can get at it...and that's not me.

 

[TinaLes]

Sounds like TheBig1 is on the correct wavelength with the changeover relay.
You may be lucky and find its fitted near the consumer unit or where the EHU cables connect into the consumer unit, which is the normal place to install it. The 12V supply cables will run from the leisure batteries to the Inverter, then 240volt supply cables from the inverter to the changeover Relay to feed the 240V sockets in the van, when the EHU cable is not hooked up.
If the clicking noise is the changeover Relay, then that might help find its position.
Good Luck to the OP, apologies if this is already known to you, just checking things off the fault finding list.
I will keep my ears open for you.
Les

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[Dorset Diver]

Thanks for that TinaL. I have more or less isolated the sound to the inverter unit itself which for this set up makes reasonable sense. As I said above the difficulty is getting at it. It has an on/off switch at one end. In the interim I am sort of hoping that if I can reach it and turn it off the mains may revert to EHU. We can live without the inverter but not entirely without EHU. I can relatively easily access the remote control panel which is above the hab door along with the main van control and the Alde panel.

 

[TheBig1]

If you can't reach the power switch, pull the fuse out of the 12v supply cable to the inverter That removes power to the relay in the inverter.

 

[Dorset Diver]

If you can't reach the power switch, pull the fuse out of the 12v supply cable to the inverter That removes power to the relay in the inverter.

Thanks. If I can work out which fuse it is I will give it a try.