Connecting 12v/240v inverter to caravan 240v circuit

greyhoundtom · Senior Member

Connecting 12v/240v inverter to caravan 240v circuit

grahamg · Senior Member

safest way is just plug a cord into the inverter or move the inverter to more suitable location.

PeterD · Guru

greyhoundtom wrote:
and just make up a short bit of cable and fit a plug to each end.

I would suggest that you get that thought out of your head. It does not matter how careful at securing that lead in a safe place you never know who will chance upon it. If it is a kid they will probably end up electroplating themselves. Constructing one of those leads is perhaps one of the most dangerous things you can do.

Jaahn · Guru

PeterD wrote:
greyhoundtom wrote:
and just make up a short bit of cable and fit a plug to each end.
I would suggest that you get that thought out of your head. It does not matter how careful at securing that lead in a safe place you never know who will chance upon it. If it is a kid they will probably end up electroplating themselves. Constructing one of those leads is perhaps one of the most dangerous things you can do.

NO NO NO cry

DO not do that.

Do search other threads for the use of inverters in caravans. There has been plenty of discussion.

Jaahn

-- Edited by Jaahn on Wednesday 16th of December 2015 09:05:05 AM

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

It can be done with a hard wired inverter, but it needs an automatic 240V changeover switch and must be installed by a licenced electrician.
Any other method is potentially deadly and certainly illegal.
The power from a 100W inverter will be enough to kill you.

Cheers,
Peter

Baz421 · Guru

The way I read the OP is that he is asking to have an extension cord with 2 yes 2 male plugs.

One into inverter and one into existing van circuit at the hot water power GPO.

TOM THIS IS A NO NO.

Very dangerous if someone has a play without knowing what has been done.

landy · Guru

Make this another vote for the No, No, Nooo's apart from the lead being very dangerous you could also make the power in socket on the outside of the van live.
Landy

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Two opposing AC can be 415 volts ... See how things get out of control...
It is a NO NO having 2 supplies at once.. As said unless there a controller ..
Wired by electrician in this field..

PeterD · Guru

Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Two opposing AC can be 415 volts ... See how things get out of control...

Two 240 V supplies have to be 120 degrees out of phase to produce 415 V. You will not be able to achieve that in a van.

greyhoundtom · Senior Member

OK no it is .......... I'm just going to have to move the inverter to a location that allows those items it's intended for to plug in directly.

A well a bit more 12 volt wiring to run.

Thanks guys, I do need a swift kick up the tail every now and against.

PeterD · Guru

Tom, rather than run longer 12 V cables, use an extension lead from the inverter to your appliances. You will get far less power loss that way.

Phil C · Guru

Jaahn wrote:
PeterD wrote:
greyhoundtom wrote:
and just make up a short bit of cable and fit a plug to each end.
I would suggest that you get that thought out of your head. It does not matter how careful at securing that lead in a safe place you never know who will chance upon it. If it is a kid they will probably end up electroplating themselves. Constructing one of those leads is perhaps one of the most dangerous things you can do.
NO NO NO
DO not do that.
Do search other threads for the use of inverters in caravans. There has been plenty of discussion.
Jaahn

-- Edited by Jaahn on Wednesday 16th of December 2015 09:05:05 AM

NO NO NO.. I agree with all the above. When I was training electricians, we called these suicide leads and they were locked away and only used under our close supervision. Just dont do it please.

lizard · Veteran Member

why don't you just use an extension lead from inverter output to caravan 240 volt input plug - replace van RCD with an RVD ?

greyhoundtom · Senior Member

lizard wrote:
why don't you just use an extension lead from inverter output to caravan 240 volt input plug - replace van RCD with an RVD ?

Thanks Lizard that is the most logical idea yet, and with a little bit of work I can achieve that.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

greyhoundtom wrote:
lizard wrote:
why don't you just use an extension lead from inverter output to caravan 240 volt input plug - replace van RCD with an RVD ?
Thanks Lizard that is the most logical idea yet, and with a little bit of work I can achieve that.

Maybe a problem there in that the inverter will have a 10A outlet socket and the van will (probably) have a 15A inlet.

There are 2 options for that.

Use an Ampfibian (sp?) to convert or change the 15A van inlet to a 10A inlet (plus RVD).

The latter will require a licensed sparky.

Cheers,

Peter

Tomcat · Senior Member

greyhoundtom wrote:
and just make up a short bit of cable and fit a plug to each end. One end into the power point the other into the inverter switch both on and the job should be done.

Hello Mr Greyhoundtom, If I have got this right you will be making up a small lead with a three pin male plug on each end. That is what Ive always believe to be called a DEAD MANS PLUG. Not legal at all. Hope I'm wrong with that.

greyhoundtom · Senior Member

Thanks everyone for their input, and legal or not I have solved the situation to my satisfaction by doing a bit more electrical work that most likely should have been done by a licensed electrician.

Because the inverter and battery connection for it are under the lift up bed I have fitted a standard 240 volt power outlet to the side of the bed, wired a short section of lead into the back of it with a plug on the end, and that is plugged into the inverter.

This allows me to plug an extension cord into that power point and that way run the small appliances I wanted to run with minimal problems as they are all located within two metres of that point.

And yes the back of the power point has got a cover over it making it impossible to touch any live wires or connections.

oldtrack123 · Guru

greyhoundtom wrote:
Thanks everyone for their input, and legal or not I have solved the situation to my satisfaction by doing a bit more electrical work that most likely should have been done by a licensed electrician.

Because the inverter and battery connection for it are under the lift up bed I have fitted a standard 240 volt power outlet to the side of the bed, wired a short section of lead into the back of it with a plug on the end, and that is plugged into the inverter.

This allows me to plug an extension cord into that power point and that way run the small appliances I wanted to run with minimal problems as they are all located within two metres of that point.

And yes the back of the power point has got a cover over it making it impossible to touch any live wires or connections.

Hi

"TO YOUR SATISFACTION"???????????

LIKE IT OR NOT , YOU have no idea why what you have done is completely illegal

Has the potential to kill

You could be in deep, deep , trouble should someone receive a shock. OR MUCH WORSE DEAD

You still have carried out work that only a licensed electrician SHALL DO

You have no idea of how potentially dangerous any of your ideas have been

What you have done is completely not approved,& could under certain conditions end up with some one DEAD [ potentially extremely dangerous .}

You do not have even basic understanding of the electrical standards /rules/ ,regulations.

Rip it OUT NOW & get someone who knows the rules/regulations & is qualified/licensed to do such work before you or some else ends up in serious trouble or DEAD cry

And I hope NO ONE is stupid enough to tell you how it should be done!!!

PeterQ

-

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Thursday 24th of December 2015 12:25:58 AM

oldtrack123 · Guru

grahamg wrote:
safest way is just plug a cord into the inverter or move the inverter to more suitable location.

Hi

The only way such "portable} inverters should be used

with the ADDITIONAL SAFETY RECOMMENDATION

NEVER CONNECT MORE THAN ONE CLASS1 DEVICE [always have 3 pin plugs] at any time

OR ,be PERMANENTLY WIRED IN IN FULL ACCORDANCE WITH THE RELEVANT ELECTRICAL STANDARD & SWITCHING REQUIREMENTS

This poster's ideas has really frightened the xxxxxx out of me.
Please Tom leave electrical work alone before some one ends up dead

greyhoundtom · Senior Member

All I have done is transferred the power supplied by fixed outlet from the 12/240 volt inverter that is located under the bed to a separate power point that is located at the side of the bed so that the voltage supplied by the inverter is more easily available, and as an added bonus now has an additional double pole off switch.

At no point is any of that connected to the 240 volt wiring of the van, nor was anything done to affect the inverter itself other than plugging a lead and plug into its outlet.

Yes to my satisfaction, because I know it to be perfectly safe........ and don't tell me how wonderful and safe licensed electricians are ....... I have spent 40 years in the building trade and have seen plenty of them work.

oldtrack123 · Guru

greyhoundtom wrote:
All I have done is transferred the power supplied by fixed outlet from the 12/240 volt inverter that is located under the bed to a separate power point that is located at the side of the bed so that the voltage supplied by the inverter is more easily available, and as an added bonus now has an additional double pole off switch.

At no point is any of that connected to the 240 volt wiring of the van, nor was anything done to affect the inverter itself other than plugging a lead and plug into its outlet.

Yes to my satisfaction, because I know it to be perfectly safe........ and don't tell me how wonderful and safe licensed electricians are ....... I have spent 40 years in the building trade and have seen plenty of them work.

Hi Tom

Perhaps you should have your original post fully corrected, because it is misleading & potentially dangerous

Here is what you posted

Because the inverter and battery connection for it are under the lift up bed I HAVE FITTED A STANDARD 240V OUTLET to the side of the bed, wired a short section of lead into the back of it with a plug on the end, and that is plugged into the inverter

You have NOW added the crucial detail

"as an added bonus now has an additional double pole off switch."

AND It is NOT a STANDARD outlet.!!!!!!

IT IS FAR FROM A BONUS

IT IS AN ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENT

I suggest that if you wish to post on low voltage electrics & give "advice", that you are very clear in what you post

For the sake of others who may read & follow your "advice"???

PeterQ

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Friday 25th of December 2015 01:23:16 AM

oldtrack123 · Guru

greyhoundtom wrote:
lizard wrote:
why don't you just use an extension lead from inverter output to caravan 240 volt input plug - replace van RCD with an RVD ?
Thanks Lizard that is the most logical idea yet, and with a little bit of work I can achieve that.

Hi Tom

I suppose you are going to be foolish enough to do this restricted work as well.

It seems you have little idea of the rules & regulations & their purpose

They are primarily there to protect fools & innocent parties

Your apparent contempt for rules& regulations & lack of understanding of the risks of your ideas horrifies me

& I suggest you stick to YOUR trade!!!!

Yes, like carpenters & builders there are good & bad,electricians, No hopers even some absolute idiots.

But the Rules /Regulations & Electrical Standards, IF followed , save lives.

Unfortunately many would bes, THINK they know better..

Which group do you fit in???

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Friday 25th of December 2015 01:19:45 AM

greyhoundtom · Senior Member

Mea culpa ..... Mea maxima culpa.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

PeterD wrote:
Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Two opposing AC can be 415 volts ... See how things get out of control...
Two 240 V supplies have to be 120 degrees out of phase to produce 415 V. You will not be able to achieve that in a van.

if pluged into mains it could easy..

oldtrack123 · Guru

Hi

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Monday 4th of January 2016 08:31:36 PM

KFT · Guru

oldtrack123 wrote:
Hi

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Monday 4th of January 2016 08:31:36 PM

Hi to you too, Are you ok PeterQ?

Frank

oldtrack123 · Guru

KFT wrote:
oldtrack123 wrote:
Hi

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Monday 4th of January 2016 08:31:36 PM
Hi to you too, Are you ok PeterQ?

Frank

Hi Frank

sent you a PM

PeterQ

sungod42 · Newbie

There is a safe way to do this-http://www.enerdrive.com.au/new-epower-inverter-ac-transfer-safety-switch-protection

Barboots · Senior Member

This thread is a reminder why we're not allowed the opportunity to do any mains electrical work ourselves. It's a disappointing outcome for those of us who have taken time to educate themselves adequately to complete a particular task, yet are still not permitted. Where does this determination to complete dangerous work so far above an individual's knowledge base come from???

oldtrack123 · Guru

Barboots wrote:
This thread is a reminder why we're not allowed the opportunity to do any mains electrical work ourselves. It's a disappointing outcome for those of us who have taken time to educate themselves adequately to complete a particular task, yet are still not permitted. Where does this determination to complete dangerous work so far above an individual's knowledge base come from???

It comes from EVERY Australian states' Electrical ACTs & REGULATIONS

Easy to find on the net for every state including penalties for non compliance