Doing a lot of rewire work on the van, setting up for free camping so all will be 12 volt or gas but still retaining the 240 system. I currently have a 240 volt power point under the seat which did operate a 240v to 12 volt transformer (thats comming out), I have thought about putting my inverter (300w I think will do) under that seat and making a piggyback plug from the inverter to that power point. That would then supply 240 v to all my outlets so I could use any of the 240 v outlets to run phone chargers, charge laptop, run tv/dvd. Dont propose to use the inverter much but it seems an easy soliution. Thoughts please. cheers blaze
DeBe said
11:48 PM Jan 23, 2010
Hi blaze, If wat I think you are going to do, use a male plug into a powerpoint under the seat could be a bit dangerous. Beter idea is run a lead from the inverter to the 240v inlet on the outside of the van. This is what ido to run power from my Genny on the A frame.cord is tied along the side of the van. Cheers Daryl
blaze said
12:12 AM Jan 24, 2010
Hi That was my only concern because the 15 amp inlet on the side of the van would be live but under a cover. Was try to keep it all inside for tassie weather. cheers blaze
jimricho said
08:08 AM Jan 24, 2010
Hi Robert,
THIS IS IMPORTANT...(deliberate shouting)....
Do not UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES wire your system so that the inverter 240v output and the 240v mains power could EVEN INADVERTENTLY be simultaneously interconnected. Even with either the power and/or the inverter switched off.
Be VERY careful using poofter plugs (piggyback in polite society) that UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES can power "appear" at the exposed pins.
Jim
dave06 said
10:45 AM Jan 24, 2010
make your inverter go to a plug the correct way do not use a male end off the inverter or someone sometime will die
you could still put your inverter under the seat but feed it to a different outlet the correct way, just put the outlet next to the existing outlet and mark it "inverter"
dont hardwire it in to the vans constant or possible electrics!
blaze said
12:39 PM Jan 24, 2010
What about if I fit an external 10 amp socket and then when the inverter is needed I can run a lead from there too my normal 15 amp imput, that way there is no way the 15 amp imput socket can be used when the inverter is plugged in cheers blaze
Peter_n_Margaret said
02:48 PM Jan 24, 2010
Blaze, consult a qualified electritian before you kill someone.......PLEASE.
Cheers
Peter
Palebushman said
02:58 PM Jan 24, 2010
Hi Robert,
As Dave06 warns in his post, doing anything incorrectly with 240 Volts can be fatal!
Speaking as a 'Qualified Electrician' of many years, there are some very fundamental differences and requirements, when it comes to wiring up RV's.
If you click on this link below, you will be taken to the site of Collyn Rivers.
This gentleman, in my view, is one of Australia's leading authorities in this field.
But, above all Robert, please do take every precaution when dealing with anything that produces or uses 240 Volts.
jimricho said
05:43 PM Jan 24, 2010
I endorse the comments above suggesting you talk to licensed sparky.
I say this with all due respects to you, but it seems just from reading your post that your knowledge in this area may be just enough to get you dangerously into trouble.
That said, please do not feel bad about having asked the question. I've said it before, the only dumb questions are the ones not asked, and if it has saved you from doing something potentially dangerous it has been well worthwhile.
Jim
JRH said
06:00 PM Jan 24, 2010
jimricho wrote:
I endorse the comments above suggesting you talk to licensed sparky.
I say this with all due respects to you, but it seems just from reading your post that your knowledge in this area may be just enough to get you dangerously into trouble.
That said, please do not feel bad about having asked the question. I've said it before, the only dumb questions are the ones not asked, and if it has saved you from doing something potentially dangerous it has been well worthwhile.
Jim
Surely we could always ask oldtrack for the correct and only way to do this????????????????. OK I'm heading for the hills now.
blaze said
08:05 PM Jan 24, 2010
Thanks for the comments, I now know what I want to do is possible and seems like quite a common thing. The link supplied by the palebushman has the answers I was looking for. I find if you dont know what you want to achieve and how to achieve the end results that you end up with a tradie doing what he wants and at the price he wants to charge.
thanks again to all
cheers
blaze
jimricho said
08:33 PM Jan 24, 2010
JRH wrote:OK I'm heading for the hills now.
Make sure you change your medication before you come back!!!
JRH said
12:51 PM Jan 25, 2010
jimricho wrote:
JRH wrote:OK I'm heading for the hills now.
Make sure you change your medication before you come back!!!
A moment of insanity perhaps
dave06 said
02:20 PM Jan 25, 2010
ah a moment of insanity now there is only one legal way to correct this!!! HAH!! join the club john we're all insane!
dave06 said
02:24 PM Jan 25, 2010
Robert we weren't trying to dissuade you from doing it yourself it's just that we must be careful of any advice we give
the normal use of an inverter is for single items and not whole van applications although this does happen in larger more expensive units which require a switching system that is too complex to go into here, I have done a couple and that becomes very involved
normally a "home built" camping system is a battery connected to an inverter then something like a telly is plugged into that then a recharging method to re power the battery
PeterD said
03:49 PM Jan 25, 2010
I would recommend that you do not disturb the vans wiring or connect the inverter into the system in any way. I would suggest you add a double power point that is wired to the inverter and keep the two systems separate.
JRH said
04:09 PM Jan 25, 2010
dave06 wrote:
ah a moment of insanity now there is only one legal way to correct this!!! HAH!! join the club john we're all insane!
Yep but don't tell everyone they may want to join also.
Hope all is well in your world Dave0.
dave06 said
04:44 PM Jan 25, 2010
couldn't be better John!, sun still shines, birds still sing, I got a little mate that rides with me now, a little sparrow hawk, he sits up on the auger, when a mouse or quail flies out from the comb he rips in and grabs it
he's been with me now for three days, getting to be a fat little bugger, I am also getting those barn owls frequenting me at night as well, very pretty, then of course the whistling kites diving in but they aren't as game as the little spoggy hawk
when I stop for lunch or a nature call he doesn't fly away he just waits for me or even comes over in the shade a little away from me and gives me curry
JRH said
04:49 PM Jan 25, 2010
dave06 wrote:
couldn't be better John!, sun still shines, birds still sing, I got a little mate that rides with me now, a little sparrow hawk, he sits up on the auger, when a mouse or quail flies out from the comb he rips in and grabs it
he's been with me now for three days, getting to be a fat little bugger, I am also getting those barn owls frequenting me at night as well, very pretty, then of course the whistling kites diving in but they aren't as game as the little spoggy hawk
when I stop for lunch or a nature call he doesn't fly away he just waits for me or even comes over in the shade a little away from me and gives me curry
Damned fantastic Dave0, must make working much more pleasurable.
Isn't nature just fantastic, how the hell can some of those mongrels hurt such wonderful creatures?
dave06 said
04:50 PM Jan 25, 2010
makes you wonder!
JRH said
04:54 PM Jan 25, 2010
We've gone and hijacked Blaze's topic, many apologies Blaze.
cheers
blaze
That was my only concern because the 15 amp inlet on the side of the van would be live but under a cover. Was try to keep it all inside for tassie weather.
cheers
blaze
cheers
blaze
As Dave06 warns in his post, doing anything incorrectly with 240 Volts can be fatal!
Speaking as a 'Qualified Electrician' of many years, there are some very fundamental differences and requirements, when it comes to wiring up RV's.
If you click on this link below, you will be taken to the site of Collyn Rivers.
http://www.caravanandmotorhomebooks.com/books/index.htm
This gentleman, in my view, is one of Australia's leading authorities in this field.
But, above all Robert, please do take every precaution when dealing with anything that produces or uses 240 Volts.
Hope all is well in your world Dave0.
Isn't nature just fantastic, how the hell can some of those mongrels hurt such wonderful creatures?
Keep up the good work Dave0.