I use the hand controller from the recliner, We have an Ibis 3.

If you get your A/C put to a 240V point you can then get a remote control power board. My TV, sound system, WD media box etc in the bedroom are in the remote plug board. If I leave all devices on idle in the bedroom it is lit up like Luna Park. Gives me the ability to switch all off and not have their standby lights glowing.

aussie_paul wrote:

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I am wanting to have the aircon wired via a switch that I can reach from my van recliner. It appears that the aircon is wired directly to the AC power. I think the van AC is a plug and play system with CMS components.

Suggestions please.

Aussie Paul. 

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Depends on current draw  of the Air con

; what is it,s current rating??

There are a number  of remote controlled POWER boards 10A rated with short cord & those should be DP switched to have an Australian approval

 A plug in adapter type is also available but  I doubt that it would be double pole switched, as it is not required for fixed wiring in houses etc

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Friday 19th of January 2018 12:34:29 AM

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Friday 19th of January 2018 12:51:27 AM

aussie_paul wrote:

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oldtrack123 wrote:

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Depends on current draw  of the Air con

; what is it,s current rating??

There are a number  of remote controlled POWER boards 10A rated with short cord & those should be DP switched to have an Australian approval

 A plug in adapter type is also available but  I doubt that it would be double pole switched, as it is not required for fixed wiring in houses etc

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Friday 19th of January 2018 12:34:29 AM

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Friday 19th of January 2018 12:51:27 AM

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Ralph, ours is a Coleman Mach, Airxcel 9000 series unit. Nowhere in the documentation I have does it tell me the Watts or current draw. I would assume (dangerous I know) 10 amp at 240v. It must be wired directly to the plug and play system through the ceiling. No seperate switch or fuse.

Aussie Paul. 

 

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 Hi Paul

Am I correct in thinking that the unit has no plug & socket  ,Just a cable gong through the wall

Surely ,No one would have done that????

That is playing the plug & play system to the Extreme.!!! It should have terminated with a switched plug & socket[which are available for the system]

Is there access to the connection within the wall?

Does it have any flexible cable accessible?

Kambrook used to make a powerpoint controller with wireless remote from the green shed, but don't see it listed anymore so you could try one of these from evilbay www.ebay.com.au/itm/Wireless-Remote-Control-Power-Point-Plug-Controller-Outlet-Remote-Control-HOT-/263407879459

Just had a new unit installed at the house and the sparky told us that although it's not illegal to have a powerpoint type plug in if that plug came with the unit, but it is not legal to add a plug in lead to an air con unit. If it is not a plug in type then it must have an isolation switch near the outside unit if a split system or a separate circuit breaker supplying only that circuit if it is an all in one unit.
The wiring laws just seem to get stranger and stranger the further technology advances. Not very long ago no one would have dreamed of a plug in wiring harness but it is very common practice now with double adapter plugs into other double adapter plugs all sealed up inside the wall cavity, just about all room sized air con units plugged in to a power point but now there are laws to say if it didn't come with a lead you can't add on, it must be hard wired.
As for the double pole switch, have a close look at the switch wiring shown in the last photo, sure doesn't look like a double pole switch but rather a neutral wire designed to light up the switch in the one position.

T1 Terry

oldtrack123 wrote:

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 Hi Terry 

Still have not got the latest rules

But I think the situation would be that the ones sold without extension lead & plug have load currents in excess of 10A & therefore would require a 15A socket OR  be hardwired .

If Hardwired, obviously Shall have an isolating switch in close proximity & easily accessible , in accordance with the Standards for many years

However ,Hard wired mean exactly that:Fixed hard wiring  , using approved cables ,all the way into the appliance. Not every day  3 core flexible cable part of the way

Regarding the multi plug sockets & plugs  in the system,THEY are NOT every day plugs & sockets .

They are specially designed  & approved plugs & sockets with safety features built in for that type of  situation

Designed & approved to a specific standards which would cover, pull out , short term overload capacity,

By the apparent size of the flex from the aircon  It would seem to be not 10A cable, Air co max RATED current in excess of 10A.

I agree that Switch??? certainly does not appear to be a  DP  Switch IF it is not DP, the situation should be reported to the local Electrical Safety office for   Recall of ALL vans so wired!!!

Paul 

Heaving seen more of the wiring & before any more advice can be given regarding remote control .we really need to know the rated current draw of the air con  .

if it no more than 10A, there are some reasonably easy changes that a competent electrician could  make to give you your remote control

If it is in excess of 10A  It become a little more complicated, but I believe  doable.

It also comes down to $$$

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-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Saturday 20th of January 2018 03:47:25 PM

An interesting question arises, if a single pole remote switch is plugged into a double pole switched powerpoint, where have the standards been breached? Clearly the air con unit pictured previously only has a single pole switch so the plug in appliance rule seems to apply there, so why would it not apply to the remote switching device plugged into the double pole powerpoint?

T1 Terry

T1 Terry wrote:

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An interesting question arises, if a single pole remote switch is plugged into a double pole switched powerpoint, where have the standards been breached? Clearly the air con unit pictured previously only has a single pole switch so the plug in appliance rule seems to apply there, so why would it not apply to the remote switching device plugged into the double pole powerpoint?

T1 Terry

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Not sure what you men by a single pole remote switch, but if you mean the remote control supplied with the aircon & switching the air con internally ,it does not need to be double pole as even if it is not switched on ,there would still be some live wiring inside the aircon ,reason an external switch is always required

Note; it applies to all device with remote on /off controls ,this something many are not aware of ,yet can be a source of failure & possibly fire if loss of insulation occurs between active & earth anywhere within the appliance  . TVs. air cons ,anything that has a remote power control.

Now if you mean a remote controlled  outlet permanently wired into mains supply,house etc, it only needs to be single  pole because the electrician installing should check that He has not got the polarity wrong

But that is the reason such are not approved for vans etc  [connected by plug & socket to the supply

Now back to Air cons in Vans etc :

They must always have & have always required a double pole isolating switch, even if fixed wired & of course if plug & socket connected the outlet will/must be /SHALL be DP switched

Portable remote  controlled outlet boards plugged into any outlet socket will be /must be/SHALL be double pole switched in all situations

Think of this : someone decides to play around inside their air con & for safety decide to switch off  the single pole switch only, either manual or remote controlled,

What could be the consequences????

All the varying requirements of the Standards make sense if one looks @ the total picture

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Sunday 21st of January 2018 04:23:06 PM

T1 Terry wrote:

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An interesting question arises, if a single pole remote switch is plugged into a double pole switched powerpoint, where have the standards been breached? Clearly the air con unit pictured previously only has a single pole switch so the plug in appliance rule seems to apply there, so why would it not apply to the remote switching device plugged into the double pole powerpoint?

T1 Terry

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Not sure what you men by a single pole remote switch, but if you mean the remote control supplied with the aircon & switching the air con internally ,it does not need to be double pole as even if it is not switched on ,there would still be some live wiring inside the aircon ,reason an external switch is always required

Note; it applies to all device with remote on /off controls ,this something many are not aware of ,yet can be a source of failure & possibly fire if loss of insulation occurs between active & earth anywhere within the appliance  . TVs. air cons ,anything that has a remote power control.

Now if you mean a remote controlled  outlet permanently wired into mains supply,house etc, it only needs to be single  pole because the electrician installing should check that He has not got the polarity wrong

But that is the reason such are not approved for vans etc  [connected by plug & socket to the supply

Now back to Air cons in Vans etc :

They must always have & have always required a double pole isolating switch, even if fixed wired & of course if plug & socket connected the outlet will/must be /SHALL be DP switched

All the varying requirements of the Standards make sense if one looks @ the total picture

Portable remote  controlled outlet boards plugged into an outlet socket will be /must be/SHALL be double pole switched in all situations

Now IF As we suspect that is a single pole isolating switch  in Paul's pic  I would be very worried

It is absolutely NON compliant & should /would make one  concerned  as to what other non compliances exist

I repeat IF that IS a  Single pole switch for ANY 240V switching ,it is a potential death trap for all owners of vans who have similar wiring

It should be reported immediately to the nearest electrical safety office for recall action & further investigation as to;

[a] who  carried out such work or supervised it

[b ] who  Tested the finished  installation

T1 Terry wrote:

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Ummm....... Peter, check out any van that has both 12v light switches and 240v light switches located close to each other, the wiring is not double insulated or separated by the required distance, yet this has been the norm for ever. The electrical safety mob know full well this is standard practice along with the one visual inspection covers every van/RV made by that manufacturer and have no interest in policing any of it.

T1 Terry

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 HI Terry

RE""The electrical safety mob know full well this is standard practice along with the one visual inspection covers every van/RV made by that manufacturer and have no interest in policing any of it""

I think you should say   that only seems to apply to Victorian makers in Vic 

Wa ,Qld  & I believe now NSW , All now clearly stating  that van 240V wiring is licensed electrical work

Not sure about SA

But even  Vic would take action against such a blatant  disregard for the regs  as  using SP switching

The only hope is to keep pressure on the Vics to comply with the Standards & report such situations

 

RE " just about all room sized air con units plugged in to a power point but now there are laws to say if it didn't come with a lead you can't add on, it must be hard wired.""

 I think your electrician may not clearly understand  the rules

If the Air con does not come with a correctly  attached  flexible cable & Plug  ,only a LICENSED Electrician can fit a flex  cable & plug Ensuring that the cable is fitted & restrained in an approved manner to the air con 

A rule/ Regulation that has existed for a loooooong time

Other the years, I have found too many electricians who cherry pick clauses or do not read/understand the rules in their entirety

Some seems to be only  able to read one sentence & not retain other requirements pertaining to the same  rule

My son has just such a young expert on every thing, working under him

Last week he had another instant to send him back to do a simple job properly

He had the job of testing insulation resistance, circuit loop impedance & earth continuity on  a high current  [100s of amps]multi circuit Switchboard. before it was submitted as complete [Part of a major contract for a Gov Department]

Came back with just three readings on the check list, this despite that there were multiple circuits  ,differing cable sizes & types,each with their own protection & where of greatly differing lengths

Quite upset when son said now go back & do the job correctly

Could not understand why son would put his signature to it.

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Monday 22nd of January 2018 12:30:07 AM

aussie_paul wrote:

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Guys, should I do something about this? Not my area of expertise so need to be guided as to the moral thing to do.

It seems that I also have .78 of an amp being used on 240v with all the known 240v items turned off.

Aussie Paul.

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 Hi Paul

IF that is the switch controlling the air con, it certainly is not DP!! & definitely will not/does not /cannot comply to the Standards /Rules /Regulations.

Even if is switching some other 240V ,it does not comply!!

If your van does not comply, there must be more out there with the same situation .

For your own safety & that of others ,You should report it direct to your nearest Electrical safety office. Do not report it to the van maker!!

There are multiple reasons why all such switchs SHALL be DP

Let the ESO investigate  & do their job.

It may lead to a long overdue shake up of the industry!!

Re that Amp meter reading ,There must be still something connected & it is not just leakage ,as it amounts to  nearly  190 Watt or 190VA load

Can it be run through a contactor ? So many ways, options ?

iana wrote:

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That's what I meant, contactor/relay same thing, same as the starting contactor for a 3 phase motor, the coil could be 12v, so once the contactor is installed, Paul could put his switches anywhere. The electrician needs only to install the contactor.
How about those light switches Jayco use, I think they are wireless, haven't pulled one off the wall ------- yet!, but they would pass enough current to energise the contactor coil.

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 IF Paul is happy with a switch on a lead,there are simple options including a simple 240 volt rated  DP relay fitted with a 12V coil

The  remote controlled light switch will only be single pole &  the switching cannot be isolated from the 240V [with a current rating of 5A ]