16' Series Inverter advice

[Redbarn]

Hi All

Is it difficult to connect all of the 240v outlets in the van to an inverter? Or can you only connect one outlet? Is it a case of getting an electrician to wire the inverter outlet into the Setec directly? If anyone can give me some pointers and a recommendation on where I can get this done in Brisbane, I would appreciate it.

I have a 16:49:3 OB with 100AH battery.

Regards
Rob

 

[boots33]

Hey Rob

Probably a question that should be answered by a 240v sparky but I will tell you some of the ways i have seen others do it. I have seen on a couple of vans they have wired the inverter directly to an external power socket mounted next to the power inlet of the van, they then just use a power lead to connect the two together. Another one had the inverter wired to some type of isolation switch that disconnected the external power inlet socket and connected the power from the inverter to the van outlets at the same time. It is very important that you do not let live power back to the inlet socket! I have seen one guy that used a lead with male plugs on both ends and just plugged the inverter into one of his power points.... needless to say very dangerous and very illegal for sure, don't even consider that. Again you would need to see a 240v sparky to check the best/legal way for it to be done. May I ask is there a special reason you need to run an inverter, while many people do have them you will find they can be very heavy power users. If you intend to do a lot of off grid camping you will usually find it much better to source a 12v alternative if you can.

Shane

 

[Redbarn]

Thanks for the information Shane. My wife and I use the van to access remote and regional communities. I am a Professor at the faculty of health & MD at a pediatric medical device company that spun out of the university based on a pediatric burns treatment that I and my team developed, my wife is an Occupational Therapist and travels with me. We spend as much time as possible at the "point of need" rolling out the technology and training practitioners on the new therapy, as such we find ourselves in some pretty remote areas. The inverter is used to run the washing machine (water access is usually available close by) our medical devices & our satellite comms gear, everything else is 12v. We spend weeks on end completely off the grid in remote areas with no issues, we also have to suffer in places like the Whitsundays and Noosa!. I have an inverter wired for the washing machine and had read some people on here powering all of the points and sounded easier than plugging and unplugging.

Does it make sense to run 2 smaller inverters to 2 points?

We are also considering a move to a Starcraft 20:62-2 Outback as it is now looking like we will need to spend an extended period in remote areas across the country.

Regards
Rob

 

[millers]

Rob,
It should not be dificult to connect all 240V outlets in the van to an inverter. The difficult is determining the injection point, circuit breaker protection, RCD protection and isolation from internal and external 240V circuits / supply.

As an example you could run the outlet of the inverter (240V) to the external 240V connector and power everything in the van. In this case you would need to be very careful as to what you can run so as not to overload the inverter or drain the battery. You would also need to turn the Setec 240V supply off so that it will not drain the battery. If setting up a system this way I would also add a DC switch to allow the inverter to be turned on and off.

The other end of the spectrum is to have specific outlets soureced by either automatically, which would need specialised equipment.

And then there is the option of putting in seperate power points so that you have to move the plugs as required and install 240V circuit breakers and RCD devices.

The real questions that you need to answer are:

1. Where do I need power points active and what am I going to run?

2. What effort do I want to have each time I want to switch between battery power and external? How often you switch amy have a bearing on this.

3. And the big one how much money do I want to spend to get what I want?

4. And the big one what are the alternatives to supply problems? (example is we use a 12V TV, have 12V to USB to charge phones etc and you can get 12V adapters for computers etc). This may influence question 1.

Once you have these questions answered you can find some one qualified to modify the van to get what you need. People that have done it on this forum will be able to also help with what they have done.

Hopefully a simple explaination of issues mentioned above.

Circuit Protection.
Circuit breakers (fuses) are need for all wiring (both AC and DC).

RCD protection.
RCD protection required for AC power if not protected by existing RCD to help prevent electricution.

Isolation.
It is essential to have external 240V isolated from the inverter 240V for 2 reasons;
a) they will not be compatible and will short out with each other at best tripping circuit breakers at worst burning out wires and equipment.
b) Making external 240V connectors life and have the potential to electricute.

Note there are specialised inverters that can be connected to external 240V (used in grid connected solar systems with battery backup, however they still address items a & b above).

Damn I wish I could write short answers.

My implementation would be a single inverter and power point for the micro-wave locating the inverter near the battery and using an extension cord with a 10amp fuse and RCD built in to run up to the microwave. I would add a DC fuse for the inverter.

 

[millers]

Rob, just read your reply to boots33. Would seem to me this would be a great opportunity to get one of the 12V specialists involved and "sponsor" you.

 

[Glen Bundesen]

Hi All

Is it difficult to connect all of the 240v outlets in the van to an inverter? Or can you only connect one outlet? Is it a case of getting an electrician to wire the inverter outlet into the Setec directly? If anyone can give me some pointers and a recommendation on where I can get this done in Brisbane, I would appreciate it.

I have a 16:49:3 OB with 100AH battery.

Regards
Rob

Gday Rob

I'd agree with having a sparky look at your requirements and options.
I looked for a inverter which has a remote On/Off switch to save having to get under the seats each time I want to use it. Found one which also has LED indicators if the battery is running low. In my setup we had an external outlet placed near the inverter - straight thru the external wall, and then I run a jumper lead from it to the normal 240v inlet. Also had another GPO added inside which is only powered by the inverter - saves having to have the jumper lead on the outside.

 

[boots33]

Rob I have found the simplest way is usually the best way. Running two inverters could get a bit messy i think. The way Glen has suggested is probably how i would go if i was putting an inverter in our van. It gives you quick access to power in the van via an internal point and for a longer stay just a quick hookup with an extension lead outside to give power to all the other points. You will have to unplug the setec from the 240v as the Millers have said when you are powering the whole van. As to who to get to do the work I would ring a few of your local van dealers and see if they will give you the name of the electrician they use. Although the work can be done by any 240v sparky i would prefer to use someone who is used to working on vans.

 

[Glen Bundesen]

Rob I have found the simplest way is usually the best way. Running two inverters could get a bit messy i think. The way Glen has suggested is probably how i would go if i was putting an inverter in our van. It gives you quick access to power in the van via an internal point and for a longer stay just a quick hookup with an extension lead outside to give power to all the other points. You will have to unplug the setec from the 240v as the Millers have said when you are powering the whole van. As to who to get to do the work I would ring a few of your local van dealers and see if they will give you the name of the electrician they use. Although the work can be done by any 240v sparky i would prefer to use someone who is used to working on vans.

Gday boots33
Hadn't thought about the Setec. On the 16.49.3 is the Setec plugged into the 240v under the seats or where? I've only used the Inverter for the microwave on or last trip.
Thanks
Glen

 

[boots33]

not sure where it is on the 16. on our 14 it is in the cupboard and uses the same point the fridge plugs into. it will be somewhere close to the setec though as the power lead is not all that long.

 

[Redbarn]

Thanks for the information Gents. I will look at these options and decide what I need, Glen's way looks like a nice way to go.

Glen, out of interest, what sized inverter do you use for the microwave?

Cheers
Rob

 

[Ligedy]

Yep get electrician to do 240v work... There are soooo many options and ways to setup... Talk to a good 12v power shop (sorry but can't help with contacts in BNE).

I installed a Projecta IP2000 inverter for the option to run it through all GPOs on a van - one of many features it has is auto sensing to switch between 240v and 12v power supplies. I.e. It can be wired inline on the main incomer for direct pass-thru on 240v (it automatically switches to mains / pass-thru when when it detects 240v). When off the grid then flick the on button (from the remote control panel...) and it will draw 12v power then pump 240v inverted power down the vans power cables to get to all GPOs (you will need to disconnect the Seteks charging circuit tho). This brand and model of inverter specifies a Type A RCD be used in line - get a sparky to check the if existing RCD has a Type A profile and you'll have RC protection (I didn't bother pulling mine out but it looks like a std size RCD so changing it would be a piece a don't be rude...).

A) I didn't do the above because it was a PITA to pick up the main incoming 240v cable and run cables to the inverter which is mounted under the dinette seat... Jayco wiring is so tight to get into. And because I couldn't see the real need to run power thru to all sockets.

I like to control the power being drawn from the batteries when off the grid and running on solar - so I wired to only one GPO under the dinette and use an extension lead to the device (nespresso machine gets a work out). I don't have to worry about the setek as mines not wired to the whole 240v circuit.

Ligedy's 17.56-2 OB

Good luck with your solution, cheers ligedy.

 

[Redbarn]

Thanks for all your help guys, it has been appreciated.

 

[Glen Bundesen]

G

Thanks for the information Gents. I will look at these options and decide what I need, Glen's way looks like a nice way to go.

Glen, out of interest, what sized inverter do you use for the microwave?

Cheers
Rob

Gday Rob

I have a 3000w/6000w pure sine inverter with 2 100w GEL batteries, as we like to freecamp as much as possible. The rooftop solar panels normally keep the batteries charged, and I have a 120w portable set to chase the sun if reqd.

Glen

 

[Redbarn]

G

Gday Rob

I have a 3000w/6000w pure sine inverter with 2 100w GEL batteries, as we like to freecamp as much as possible. The rooftop solar panels normally keep the batteries charged, and I have a 120w portable set to chase the sun if reqd.

Glen

Thanks Glen

 

[Redbarn]

All, thanks for the help. I have ordered a 2014 Starcraft 20.62.2 OB, getting a Projecta 200w installed with auto sensing and wired to all points.

Cheers
Rob