I've Installed It Under The Hot Seat (the Inverter)

[Lenny HB]

Finally finished my inverter installation, the boss should now have a heated seat when it's running. Also fitted a changeover relay so that 2 of the sockets in the van & the 2 I fitted in the garage auto switch when mains plugged in.

One quandary I have is if it is best to wire the changeover relay so it is energised from the mains or the inverter.
At the moment I have wired the N.O. contacts to the mains and the relay energised by mains as we rarely use EHU but that may change as we are already booked to spend a month on a site in the Algarve with my mate next winter, so the relay would be constantly energised.
I'm thinking now perhaps should wire the mains to N.C. and have the relay energised by the inverter, only problem with that is if will take about 1 amp at 12v, not a lot but more power out of the leisure batteries not good when off grid.

Inverter under the passenger seat.

My bodge wiring.

This looks a bit better.

A couple of Schuko sockets in the garage for charging the bikes.

 

[Techno]

When I used the relay method it was energised on hook up but also the relay had different current ratings on the NO & NC contacts being 30 & 10 respectively so I used the 10 amp NC for the inverter.

EDIT Personally I would keep it the way you have done it.

 

[Lenny HB]

Same as I wired mine, all the contacts on mine are 30 amp rated, the most powerful thing I'm ever likely to plug in will be the e-bike charger's, max rating is 1.5 amp but both will probably be on at the same time.

 

[Techno]

I have used this on the inverter output Lenny
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[tonyidle]

I'd to it that way too. If the inverter is left on the sockets will still move over to the EHU supply. The other way round you'd never know whether the sockets were on mains or inverter without checking the inverter switch.

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[Lenny HB]

I have used this on the inverter output Lenny
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I considered an RCD on the output of the inverter, it is a much debated subject as the inverter has an isolated output and I not been able to reach a conclusion if it would work reliably. Decided not to bother in the end, also anything I'm likely to plug in when the inverter is on is double insulated.

 

[Lenny HB]

I'd to it that way too. If the inverter is left on the sockets will still move over to the EHU supply. The other way round you'd never know whether the sockets were on mains or inverter without checking the inverter switch.

I can see your point but wouldn't be much of a problem for us, only used a EHU for one night in the last 4 years, normally not a EHU within 20 miles of where we camp.

 

[Techno]

I've been trying to find another UPS inverter like the one I was lucky to get for about £216 from German ebay.
The only one I can find via google is €699 plus shipping
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[Lenny HB]

I've been trying to find another UPS inverter like the one I was lucky to get for about £216 from German ebay.
The only one I can find via google is €699 plus shipping
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Nice but Ouch!

 

[Techno]

It wasn't ouch at £216

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[Techno]

Anyway you've done a great job and clearly know what you are doing.
Edit and thanks for sharing

 

[Judge Mental]

I have a 300 watt pure sine wave inverter that I've never used....coming back from Spain this week though I would try it. but twin banner batterys under the passenger seat has no headroom to get to terminals to connect crocodile clips?

how can I connect it please

 

[Techno]

I would hard wire off the terminal posts to an external connector for easy access
This is know as an Anderson connector

 

[Judge Mental]

I would hard wire off the terminal posts to an external connector for easy access
This is know as an Anderson connector

thanks..but do I have to remove seat to get to terminals.

 

[Techno]

As you can see the situation and I can't then you are in a better position to decide but I would say yes unless you're Dynamo

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[Lenny HB]

Anyway you've done a great job and clearly know what you are doing.
Edit and thanks for sharing

Thanks for the kind words.