Site Search
Print Page Setup Profile Login
Section Image

Inverters

Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 28, 2009 at 21:04

Ray

Article Overview - Inverters
This article discusses how Inverters work and why they are so desirable to many travellers. View Full Article...
I have noticed on the US E-Bay that they are advertising inverters and say that they can be permanently wired into your car. I do realise that the yanks only use 110volts and their inverters appear to be a lot cheaper than ours. I am not certain how safe the system would be but it would solve many of the problems of charging remote batteries in caravans and the like
Advertisement
ThreadID: 68330 Replies: 3
Views: 714 FollowUps: 5
This Thread has been Archived
Thread Summary
Thread Watch Back To Forum Alert Moderator FAQ
AnswerID: 362129   Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 28, 2009 at 21:15

Member - Graham H (QLD) replied:

Unless they have 240 volt ones they are useless








Our new home away from home
Click Image to Enlarge
Another Kiwi that flew the coop

Reply 1 of 3
AnswerID: 362137   Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 28, 2009 at 21:29

Chev-Patrol 6.5 V8 D replied:

I have my 350w inverter hard wired in the back of my rig..... no issues to date (touch wood). It's mounted on a large piece of plywood behind the back seats in the Patrol and is wired permanently via a 40amp circuit breaker, to my 120a/h Fullriver AGM which lives in the cargo box. I have 2 reasonably heavy cables coming through rubber grommets from the battery to the inverter. A 4 outlet power board is plugged into the inverter, mounted on the same lump of plywood. The kids use the inverter to charge their gizmos and I use for mobile phone charging etc.

I don't see the problem......no more dangerous than having 240 volts in the home.
Reply 2 of 3
FollowupID: 629899   Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 28, 2009 at 21:48

garrycol posted:


"I don't see the problem......no more dangerous than having 240 volts in the home."

Except when you have a crash and it is still on and earthing through the body so the paramedic gets zapped.

Not a smart setup.

Garry
FollowUp 1 of 5
FollowupID: 629935   Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 29, 2009 at 00:05

Matt(WA) posted:

Garry,

If said inverter was on after a crash and had earthed out to the body inverter would be drawing a heap of amps and therefore the fitted 40amp breaker would trip, doing its job.

Matt
Gliding
Click Image to Enlarge
Ok I'll go first
Lifetime Member: My Profile  Send Message
FollowUp 2 of 5
FollowupID: 630004   Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 29, 2009 at 13:01

garrycol posted:

I do not know about that but rescue people have already been electrocuted (but not killed) buy inverters still on after an accident.

These should be banned for use in moving vehicles.

Sheer stupidity.

Garry
FollowUp 3 of 5
FollowupID: 630032   Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 29, 2009 at 16:57

oldtrack123 posted:

Hi
Chev-Patrol 6.5 V8 D replied:
I don't see the problem......no more dangerous than having 240 volts in the home."
Except a lot have been electocuted in homes in the past & would still be except for the encreased number of home with RCDs
It is generally ok to use mutiple fully insulated devices[ those with a 2pin plug.]
BUT the use of more than one device which requires an earth connection[ has a 3pin plug] is not recommended. Each such device added encreases the risk'
Re the circuit breaker, it may trip on short circuits ,BUT a dangerous sitution can exist wthout short circuit.
FollowUp 4 of 5
FollowupID: 630043   Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 29, 2009 at 17:21

_gmd_pps posted:

If fitted properly it is not more dangerous than your fuel tank or even less for that matter. Cheap incompetent installation is the problem not the inverter. I have a 1800W in my slide-on camper and a 500W in the truck behind the rear seat against the wall of the cabin to the truck bed. Have wired a relais for the 12V supply which is controlled by a switch at the dashboard. Additionally the inverter has an on/off switch. The dashboard switch is only active when the engine is running and the alternator charging (also use that signal for other things). If I wanted to run the inverter while I am parked I have to activate a time control. I have done that because my wife notoriously forgets about the gadgets and I find the batteries low. That prevents it, at the same time, when the engine stalls all high current devices switch off automatically. It is very easy to do but 99.99% of installers don't do it.
good luck
gmd
FollowUp 5 of 5
AnswerID: 362165   Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 29, 2009 at 01:09

_gmd_pps replied:

US inverters do 110V .. they also have international versions with 240V which are much cheaper than here.
I use Xantrex only and they have versions with built in transfer switches. Very good product and much much cheaper in the US, but would not buy anything else. Also have Xantrex chargers which are second to none and have multi voltage inputs.

Pretty much all my electrics come from the US ..

good luck
gmd
Reply 3 of 3