Inverter wiring

[Deleted member 22093]

Hi
Just purchased motorhome with solar,not an expert but the wiring on the inverter doesn’t look right,
There is a wire from the neutral pin on the plug on the AC side connected to the negative on the DC side is this correct (see pics)

 

[HTF]

Power company neutral wire is connected to ground so that your ground fault circuit breaker has a reference to trip. Ground on a campervan is the chassis and negative so, it's not wrong. The same happens to generators.

 

[HTF]

On my inverter, this is done internally halfway so, there is no "neutral". Both output lines are "live", measuring 115V to ground and 230V between them. Ground fault circuit breaker still works since it's referenced.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

This needs a grommet

 

[marchie]

This needs a grommet

View attachment 77205

Or a Wallace, or both, with one to hold the torch and the other to do the fitting, whilst the villain stalks across th background with a brick-sized prop marked 'Fuse' ... . If you can get power off either/both leads, that defeats the usual True/False state, so the male readers could be treated to a performance of 'The Wrong True, Sirs' or something like that ...

Steve

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Or a Wallace, or both, with one to hold the torch and the other to do the fitting, whilst the villain stalks across th background with a brick-sized prop marked 'Fuse' ... . If you can get power off either/both leads, that defeats the usual True/False state, so the male readers could be treated to a performance of 'The Wrong True, Sirs' or something like that ...

Steve

Can I have a tub of whatever it is you are floating on Steve?

 

[Geek]

Hi
Just purchased motorhome with solar,not an expert but the wiring on the inverter doesn’t look right,
There is a wire from the neutral pin on the plug on the AC side connected to the negative on the DC side is this correct (see pics)View attachment 77200

My concern would be the wires flapping around and going through the hole with no grommet. Both are a fire waiting to happen, as is the puny thickness of the cables.

2000watts at 12v is 167 amps. Rather more thsn those wires can sustain for more thsn a few seconds.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Already pointed that out, but he's not been back since 7 minutes after the OP.

 

[Geek]

Hi
Just purchased motorhome with solar,not an expert but the wiring on the inverter doesn’t look right,
There is a wire from the neutral pin on the plug on the AC side connected to the negative on the DC side is this correct (see pics)View attachment 77200

The OP seems to have left the chat, but other people may be interested in this question.

Connecting the neutral to the chassis negative is not wrong, but it isn't good practice either.

Better to have both live and neutral floating, but do connect the earth to the van chassis.

In house wiring, the earth wire (now called the CPE) is linked to the supply company neutral (called TNS or TNCS) but that's not what should happen with power to a hookup point*: they should always be wired to an earth spike near the socket (known as TT)

*or indeed to a generator or inverter supply.

Which brings me to the other point. My little 150 watt inverter runs from a cig lighter socket powering a four-socket extension strip, presumably with no earth.

I've never checked in the several decades I've had it. It just works whenever needed (which is not often)

If you have a 2000 watt inverter, I'm wondering if there ought to be a bit more sophisticated protection. At least an RCD or RCBO. You can die from a shock out of one of these.

 

[wildebus]

Already pointed that out, but he's not been back since 7 minutes after the OP.

It's the reason I don't tend to reply to these posts anymore.
It reaches the same interest criteria of "I have the manual but can't be arsed to read it. Tell me what to do"

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I get that, but that is what forums are about for me; we never know if they will come back, we all had a first post once.

 

[wildebus]

I get that, but that is what forums are about for me; we never know if they will come back, we all had a first post once.

Indeed. And it is just good manners for that first post to include a little "hello" message.

 

[marchie]

I get that, but that is what forums are about for me; we never know if they will come back, we all had a first post once.

I'm more concerned about the prospect of the Last Post - I'm in the right age group for a priority pass ...

Steve

 

[Pudsey Bear]

It would be nice, I've no idea what my first post was like, but I assume that some are in a bit of a panic, so I tend to excuse them diving straight in with a question, but not coming back is a bit ignorant, sign of the times.

 

[Deleted member 22093]

Wow posted my first on Thursday,just got got back from my sons wedding to these responses pretty negative and not many answering my question.
As I said I have only just purchased this motorhome and trying to get things right Pudsey bear obviously doesn’t have an answer to my question and is more concerned about not having a grommet fitted,there are quite a few things I need to do please just answer my question
If you don’t know the answer why reply

 

[HurricaneSmith]

Good grief, I've come from a place where everyone is routinely ignored when they offer help. Here, even the owner replies with a positive comment. Thank you! Kind regards, John

I try to look for the good in folk, and wonder whether some people ask a question, move away, and simply dont know how to navigate back to read the answer?

I've just checked my first post Kev, and it's exactly as you say, a simple introduction without looking for urgent help.

More importantly for me was my 10th post (above) where even our owner was kind enough to rely to a suggestion I'd just made.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Wow posted my first on Thursday,just got got back from my sons wedding to these responses pretty negative and not many answering my question.
As I said I have only just purchased this motorhome and trying to get things right Pudsey bear obviously doesn’t have an answer to my question and is more concerned about not having a grommet fitted,there are quite a few things I need to do please just answer my question
If you don’t know the answer why reply

Fine, let us know when it catches fire, I have some marshamallows somewhere, no need to thank me.

 

[Deleted member 22093]

Pudsey Bear still no answer to my question, I could send more pictures so you can advise me what other things I need to do.i will not be fitting a grommet but I will protect the cables against abrasion

 

[Geek]

Wow posted my first on Thursday,just got got back from my sons wedding to these responses pretty negative and not many answering my question.

How many replies do you need?

One telling the correct answer is good. Two is almost as good.

Answering your question but not commenting on a possibly very dangerous or even lethal defect would be both unhelpful and irresponsible. And certainly not good.

 

[Deleted member 22093]

My concern would be the wires flapping around and going through the hole with no grommet. Both are a fire waiting to happen, as is the puny thickness of the cables.

2000watts at 12v is 167 amps. Rather more thsn those wires can sustain for more thsn a few seconds.