Thought this may be of interest to any 4WD using
inverters.....
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ELECTRICAL INSPECTOR
Level 3, Building 2, 4 Riverside Quay, Southbank
PO Box 262, Collins Street West,
Melbourne, Vic, 8007
ABN 33 592 662 340
SAFETY ALERT
INVERTERS BANNED ON VICTORIAN CONSTRUCTION SITES BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE SAFETY PROBLEMS
Because of a serious electrical safety problem being experienced with some portable
inverters, the OCEI has banned the use of such equipment on construction and demolition sites until the problems have been resolved.
The OCEI has also urged other users of
inverters to be extremely cautious when selecting such equipment.
The warning relates to some portable
inverters with 240 volt ac output and 12 volt or 24 volt dc (or similar) input which, under certain conditions, may develop a hazardous voltage between the battery terminals to the exposed metal of appliances or the inverter.
Reports have been received of accidents and a fatality - not in Victoria - with these
inverters possibly because of the way portable
inverters are treated and used on construction and demolition sites. Portable
inverters provide a means to operate portable equipment such as power
tools and transistor radios from batteries. It is possible that the portable area used may not always result in safe operation for that equipment.
The OCEI warns that where the inverter design does not ensure appropriate isolation between the battery supply and the 240 volt output supply for an electrical appliance there is the possibility that, under a fault condition, the battery terminal or any metal connected to the battery could become energised to a dangerous voltage level.
The OCEI is concerned that the use of some
inverters may cause the operator of the inverter to be at risk.
Inverters have been available for a number of years and are commonly used in vehicles, boats and recreational applications. The use of the
inverters has been allowed for construction and demolition sites since the publication of the 2003 edition of AS/NZS 3012.
The Standards Committee responsible for AS/NZS 3012 has decided that, as no national safety standard exists for
inverters, requirements will be developed for
inverters used on construction and demolition sites. A review has commenced and will include the opportunity for public comment.
This review particularly concerns the type of inverter with interconnections between the battery and the 240V output, but will consider all types of
inverters. Under consideration are appropriate insulation requirements, equipotential bonding of all exposed metal and the battery, polarisation of the output, and the need for RCD protection. It is proposed that units suitable for construction work be appropriately marked. Tests for verification and tagging will be proposed.
Until this review is complete, the Standards Committee advises that
inverters should not to be used for construction and demolition work and it has requested that safety regulators advise stakeholders as a matter of urgency.
The OCEI endorses this direction. Therefore until further advised invertors are not to be used on construction sites. The OCEI will also consider the situations in other than construction and demolition site environments and further advise as necessary.
In the interim other users of
inverters are urged to be cautious when selecting an inverter, especially those with warnings such as " Improper use can result in fatal voltages on the battery terminals, failure of the inverter and or fire.
Guidance should be obtained from the manufacturer or supplier to enable the selection of a safe type for the intended use. Inquiries can also be directed to the OCEI on (03) 9203 9700.