Campervan Mains & Inverter Auto-Changeover for under £50 using a RELAY - How it works - Tech vlog

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I run through using a mains relay to switch between mains hookup derived power and power from the inverter using the same sockets to save faffing on unplugging things and plugging things into other sockets. I've found this a game changer for me as your leisure time is to enjoy not to faff around.
I have been asked about it a number of times so made this follow on video to try and explain it further. I hope you find it useful.
Previous install video:
7. Fitting a 3kW inverter to our Elddis CV20 campervan with auto changeover
• 7. Fitting a 3kW inver...
When working with electrics, please ensure you're confident in what you're doing and switch the power off before making any changes, make sure connections are secure and appropriate size fuses or breakers are used to protect your van and equipment. Be particularly careful when working with or around mains electric also. An electrician should be able to assist with installing to ensure it's done safely and to regulations.
If you decide to do this yourself, this video is just a guide on how I have gone about it to suit my specific purposes and may not be the best way of going about it. Any mods you undertake you need to personally assess the risk before going ahead and whether it's needed or right for you.
Parts I used:
Relay:
Finder, 230V ac Coil Non-Latching Relay DPDT, 16A Switching Current Plug In, 2 Pole, 62.32.8.230.0040.
RS Stock No.: 292-8427
Mfr. Part No.: 62.32.8.230.0040
uk.rs-online.com
Search for: 292-8427
Relay Socket: (RS)
Relay 63
uk.rs-online.com
Search for 400-840
Housing box:
Waterproof ABS Clear Cover Electronic Project Box Enclosure Case
Electronic project box 120*120*90
www.ebay.co.uk...
Everything I purchased is a personal purchase and not sponsored in any way.
Thank you for watching our videos. We hope you find them useful 👍.
Follow David, Rachel and Roxy 🐾, our Labrador, as our story unfolds of our adventures and travels in our Elddis CV20 campervan/motorhome 🚐 to campsites, stopovers, day trips, motorhome shows and more, predominantly across the UK 🇬🇧.
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▶️ Our current Motorhome/Campervan:
Elddis CV20 Classique Auto (2021) which is a Fiat Ducato based 2 berth Campervan we bought from Cleveland Motorhomes in January 2022.
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Опубликовано:

3 окт 2024

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Комментарии : 206

@LeisureBit Год назад

Welcome your thoughts and comments on the video and the format for future videos covering off tech - appreciate this isn’t for everyone but we’ve found it to be a game changer - thanks in advance for your feedback, it helps me improve the channel - David 👍

@mikepeacock7586 Год назад

Hi David , Another great tutorial on improving the electrics . As i have been waiting nearly 5 weeks now for the DVLA to register my van i am still mulling over what hardware to use for my van electrics. What is your view on the Victron Multiplus 2 . I know it probably takes up a bit more space and is a more expensive unit but on the plus side it integrates a Mains charger, with an inverter/ups and also does the automatic switching of the 240v sockets. Secondly i'd appreciate thoughts on using the victron Lynx power in unit to connect up the hardware instead of using discrete components and bus bars to simplify the task of wiring everything up. If you have not considered these units don't worry i just thought i would ask to check for any feedback you may provide. Thanks again - Mike

@mikepeacock7586 Год назад

Forgot to mention that i will not be doing the installation myself so more costly hardware may be offset a little by a quicker install @ £50 per hour.

@LeisureBit Год назад

Hi Mike, I really like the features of the Victron Multiplus 2 - as you say a little more space and cost but neat - I think they are good from what I have seen - Traveling Van Life had one fitted and think they were pleased with it too. I see some of the high end converters had fitted them also. I would certainly consider one as I like the feature where if say you were on a 6A hookup and needed 10A then it uses inverter for the difference. On the lynx haven’t looking into those in any detail, but will have a look. Hope that helps in some way, all the best, David 👍

@LeisureBit Год назад

That makes sense as it soon adds up in time doesn’t it. Hope all goes well and you’re pleased with it when it’s done. All the best, David 👍

@Flossy_tops 8 месяцев назад

Hi David, I have a V-line with lift up tailgate. In the boot we have an Ecoflow Delta 2 max wired up to a 2-way switch with an RCD in between. The switch is hidden away under the seat which can be a nuisance because you have to lift the seat up to change over from shore power to power bank supply. But I prefer the fact that I have to physically do it rather than just rely on it being automatically switched. But as you say it’s what works for you. I’ve watched you videos for quite sometime and always enjoy your content so keep up the good work 👍🍻

@michaelbarnicott-white5498 Месяц назад

Brilliant ! ... thank you so much for taking the time to explain this to the amateur (me) in a way that completly makes sense. I was searching for a way to use the inverter AND shore power without having to employ separate sockets. Job done. Excellent... very happy !. Michael

@LeisureBit Месяц назад

Thanks Michael - really pleased it has been useful - all the very best, David 👍

@jimandkay 5 месяцев назад

Hi David, I love this video, straight forward, exact instructions, well presented, easy to do. Completed mine using your video, all connected up to my power bank and working fine. Keep up the good work with the videos. 👍😉

@LeisureBit 5 месяцев назад

Brilliant - pleased it worked for you and genuinely appreciate the nice words. Have a lovely weekend, all the best, David 👍

@ClaytonRogers-k5u 2 месяца назад

Hi David I’m going to install same in my van conversion. I know this probably sounds daft but Iv looked on line for a P.D.U but I can’t seem to find any thing that looks like what your talking about is it basically fuse or I’m I way off track I totally get the rest of it just that part 😊

@LeisureBit 2 месяца назад

@user-yq6ez5lg6w the power distribution unit we have is one Elddis installed made by BCA, there are a number of different ones you can fit in campervans depending on how many circuits etc, it’s a bit like a consumer unit at home. Obviously, always get electrics check by a qualified person to make sure it’s safe too. All the best, David 👍

@stevemarsden2382 3 месяца назад

big thank you for this video, i managed to do it and and fit it so it comes out of the sockets :) which is what i wanted to do i broke it down into small chunks bit by bit, am so pleased with it, thanks again

@LeisureBit 3 месяца назад

Pleased you got it sorted - all the very best, David 👍🙌

@chrissimms-mg8ov 8 месяцев назад

Hi David. I’ve been using these Finder relays with 230V coils too. I have 3 of them. Used for dishwasher, washing machine and tumble drier circuits on my home solar system. They are rated at 16A and work well. Great video.

@LeisureBit 8 месяцев назад

Thank you - they do seem to be pretty good don’t they - not a bad spec and seem well made. Thanks for the comment - all the best, David 👍

@iandonald4799 11 месяцев назад

Thanks David for your quick reply, no need to worry now

@joandandrew5097 Год назад

Hi David, thank you for publishing this, really straightforward and really well explained, parts on order and will be building it soon. Not using it with an inverter per se but a "drop in" high-output power bank. As you say obviates the need for new or trailing sockets and giving that on grid experience when off grid, especially with app controlled power banks. Really appreciate you taking the time to show us all this. All the best, Andrew.

@LeisureBit Год назад

Hi Andrew, really please it was useful and thank you so much for taking the time to comment. As you say the same principal applies to power bank as when you plug it into it will switch over and use the sockets in the van same was as I did with my inverter. Good luck with your little project - hope all goes well - let me know how you get on - all the best, David 👍

@joandandrew5097 Год назад

Parts received, assembled, fitted and working… fab. As you say, it just works… love the simplicity. Thanks once again for taking the time to put this "out there".

@LeisureBit Год назад

@@joandandrew5097 brilliant- pleased you are up and running - as you say it’s the simplicity of it and once you have it, I found you wonder why you would do it any different as it does then just work. All the best, David 👍

@kennyrodg Год назад

That's the next project sorted...Great video nd thanks for posting it...

@LeisureBit Год назад

Pleased it’s been helpful - thanks for the comment and good luck with the next project - all the very best, David 👍

@exploresandtosummit Год назад

Great information there. Sounds like you have got the knowledge in this field. 👍

@LeisureBit Год назад

Thank you - really appreciate the comment, it’s very handy and saves a lot of faff. All the best, David 👍

@colinwade7005 Год назад

Good video David. Handy to have sockets working when off grid

@LeisureBit Год назад

Thanks Colin - yes very handy and saves any faff about swapping plugs over and things like that - sure I’m becoming lazy though 😀 Hope you’re both doing ok - all the best, David

@eddieuk9402 11 месяцев назад

Hi David, Thanks for this video, like you said "game changer, less faffing about", I have just completed this upgrade and it works perfectly the only difference I did was to take the feed from the shore socket into the relay as you did and I used the existing wire out of the relay to the consumer unit so the consumer unit is working the same as if I was on site and plugged in. I can turn the battery charger and water heater on and off independently on the consumer unit so with those switched off I still get power to all 3 pin sockets. i have a 2000kw renorgy inverter. I did a 15 minute test on the water heater (which give us enough for 2 quick showers) with no problem and no heat generating on the wiring or connectors . I have a 230ah LIFePO4 battery which copes very well. all earths are joined as well as the earth to the inverter. id appreciate your feedback on doing it this way. Many thanks.

@LeisureBit 11 месяцев назад

Thanks for the comment - interesting you have done it that way - I considered it initially but the space heater and charger I wanted to keep separate bur I do like the idea of the water heater - I’m pending some changes to mine. Like what you’ve done there - how much power are you finding you use to heat the water? It’s a great one for off grid isn’t it. All the best, David 👍

@eddieuk9402 11 месяцев назад

Hi David, thanks for the reply, I have a Thurma 10L 1.5kw heater, on a quick test today I ran it for 18 mins, these readings are from the BMS via bluetooth, 932w,75A (while switched on),the ah went from 143 down to 122, and % went from 62 to 53. hope this makes sense.

@LeisureBit 11 месяцев назад

@@eddieuk9402 Thank you - really useful to know - appreciated.

@wfdTamar 10 месяцев назад

@eddieuk9402 - Just to clarify - do you have the inverter and the shore cables going to the relay, then from relay into the consumer unit? If so, does that mean you don't need a second RCD for the inverter (there's only the one in the consumer unit)?

@LeisureBit 10 месяцев назад

@wfdTamar yes that’s right but I’m just using it from the sockets circuit so the mains side is protected by the consumer unit RCD and the inverter has the RCD I put in (which I know given how they work isn’t as effective as mains as no earth neutral bonding but much better than northing) and that then feeds onto the sockets so normally closed connects to mains and normally open to the inverter along with the coil of the relay. So in my case i do as the sockets wouldn’t be protected on the inverter otherwise ref RCD.

@5Flaash Год назад

G’day again David, many thanks for this review, it really is a game changing unit. I’ll be looking for the brand here in Aussieland.

@LeisureBit Год назад

Hi Geoff, thanks for the comment - hope you manage to find one, I think any DPDT 16A with 230v AC coil should do it. Makes things much easier once fitted. All the best, David 👍

@Tdkboot72 19 дней назад

I have a quick question but i would like to thank you first David for this great video. This is certainly a game changer. Now my question for you is do recommend 1.5mm cable for the relay to the sockets or 2.5mm. Many thanks in advance. Tony

@LeisureBit 19 дней назад

Hi Tony - thanks very much - it’s very handy isn’t it - I personally would always use a good quality 2.5mm whenever possible - all the very best, David 👍

@Tdkboot72 16 дней назад

@@LeisureBit Thanks for you fast response David.

@harrymurphy2061 Месяц назад

Hello I used option 2 a manual switch, however I came out the RCD socket side, that was my input on the rotary switch and then my sockets as my output on the rotary switch, however if I flip the RCD on or off makes no difference I still get power, maybe it's possibly due to using the shore hook up RCD I might need to use a dedicated one. Cheers

@LeisureBit Месяц назад

Hello, I tapped in from the socket breaker, and the sockets as the output, same as your switch. Seems odd ref RCD, all be it the RCD for my sockets on the mains is up-stream in the consumer unit and the RCD from the inverter feeds into the other poles. Hope that makes sense? Both trip and cut the power on testing. All the best, David 👍

@harrymurphy2061 Месяц назад

Great thanks for the reply much appreciated, I didn't test on the mains hook up side so I'm guessing I need to install a separate consumer unit for the inverter so I can trip the sockets off and on when testing and obviously for safety.

@A-Nobody Год назад

Nice video. I use a 3000w Renogy Inverter which does the changeover automatically.

@LeisureBit Год назад

Thank you - excellent - very handy isn’t it - all the best, David 👍

@michaelbarnicott-white5498 16 дней назад

Hello David... I have learned something that may be of help to anyone else doing this work... Some RCDs are designed to disconnect when the electricity is turned off, these are known as non-latching or active RCDs. Others are designed to stay connected when the electricity goes off and these are called latching or passive RCDs. Because I had a non-latching RCD, everything tripped out when I turned my inverter off, which was initially very confusing !!

@LeisureBit 16 дней назад

Thanks very much for sharing as it’s really helpful to know - pleased you found out why too - all the very best, David 👍

@andyrham1 6 месяцев назад

hi David, your videos are wonderful thanks for all the time and trouble you go to in preparing and delivering them. This one particularly is of interest to me as I am in the middle of an almost identical inverter and lithium install. Could you please lets us have your supporting pdf as that would be so helpful in completing this changeover part for me. Thanks again, Cheers Andy

@LeisureBit 6 месяцев назад

Hi Andy, thanks for the comment - you should find the slides as a pdf on the leisurebit website (link in profile) under Help & Support > slides from my auto changeover relay - hope that helps 👍 all the best, David 👍

@pjgwiltshire Год назад

Thanks for the reply. The fridge is on a socket circuit , although I have not found the actual socket. Probably behind the fridge. Thinking about it, that seems strange as the fridge should be fused either in a plug or socket. I will follow that up. Clearly the Auto switch in the fridge is looking for 240V supply and then switches onto it once detected. Without 240v it selects LPG after engine turns off. I shall have a look at turning it off auto, that way it will always run on gas or 12v on manual that way your auto change over would work. Thanks again for your reply. I have a thousand questions but will crack on and touch base if I hit problems.

@LeisureBit Год назад

Good luck with the investigation - all the best, David 👍

@ryanallwood8490 2 месяца назад

Hi David great informative video, did you ever get your motorhome fridge connected up to the inverter.

@LeisureBit 2 месяца назад

thank you - the fridge is a 12v compressor so is just Dc, the breakers are generic for caravan’s and motorhomes with 3 way in (think it says fridge / charger) so all good with that - I was going to connect the water heater but haven’t got round to that yet, all the best, David 👍

@philcross7315 8 месяцев назад

Wouldn't this work better, if the shore power was the trigger for the relay, and have the inverter on the normally closed connections? This way, you could simply turn on your inverter, and use your sockets when off grid, then when you plug in shore power, it activates the relay, and takes over? As a bonus, wire your battery charger to the shore power side of the relay, and automatic charging comes on?

@LeisureBit 8 месяцев назад

In theory yes and I considered that way as they the small amount of power used for the relay coil isn’t wasted on inverter either (all be it tiny) however, there’s a scenario I use when hooked up on say 10A with heating and hot water on, I can turn on the inverter and then get 3kw through the sockets for the coffee machine or microwave or whatever without tripping the site breaker due to overload - agree ref wiring though as could make it smarter so you could warm water with excess energy etc - great suggestion. All the best, David 👍

@philcross7315 8 месяцев назад

I agree the trip rating of some campsites mains hook ups can be spurious 😂 It's very subjective what setup each user has, so there's never a "one size fits all" solution. Thanks for the video, it's steered me towards a solution for myself. 👍

@LeisureBit 8 месяцев назад

@@philcross7315 you’re right it’s what works for you - pleased it helped steer to what works for you - all the best, David 👍

@edwardhouston8838 3 месяца назад

Hi Dave, You video has been a big help in showing me how to fit a lithium system into my caravan thank. However, I am a little confused how to connect the cables into the mains and the sockets in the miniature breaker. When connecting do you connect to the outlet side of the breakers or the inlet side?

@LeisureBit 3 месяца назад

I connected from the outlet side so it’s protected by the MCB - Do make sure you get an electrician to check it out before connecting it up to certify it’s safe with it being mains. All the very best with your new system - David 👍

@rayleeson6135 4 месяца назад

Just great and concise

@LeisureBit 4 месяца назад

Thank you for your feedback David

@rayleeson6135 2 месяца назад

Hi David, I’ve just spent some time watching your inverter auto switch over video, I’m going to follow it.. Can you confirm a couple of points for me please? 1. I’m assuming that on your drawing PDU means power distribution unit..ie the consumer unit in my Motorhome? 2. Therefore the switch over relay is wired into the cable supplying the sockets & microwave from (in my case) MCB1 3. I was considering buying the Renogy 2000w inverter but it has UPS..(not sure if it can be disabled) would this be an issue if it cannot be disabled? Regards Ray I like your clear - concise presentation.

@LeisureBit 2 месяца назад

Thanks Ray, Yes, PDU is Power Distribution Unit with the breakers etc. in (1), and you're right the relay is wired into the cable supplying the sockets so it doesn't impact the space and water heater or charger (2), I believe you can just not connect up the input power to avoid using the UPS mode on it, in theory you could use a UPS inverter between the MCB and the Sockets BUT, most aren't rated for the full load (like the one you mentioned) so not always a practical solution. Also as you will probably know UPS function is slightly different, it's primarily mains but on mains failure it keeps the connected appliance running (normally computers and essential medical equipment). Hope that helps and makes sense, all the best, David 👍

@rayleeson6135 2 месяца назад

Yes it does clarify the thoughts I had, just 1 more question if I may….just to confirm; the relay completely disconnects the inverter from shore power when shore power is connected, naturally we don’t want 230volts going through this type of inverter.

@rayleeson6135 2 месяца назад

Just watched your video again, you have clarified my question in there….i won’t be purchasing a UPS version so I don’t want mains running through the inverter.

@rayleeson6135 2 месяца назад

I note that you didn’t fit an extra MCB….only an RCD, am I correct in assuming that any over voltage issues are covered by your PDU MCB….i assume they are circa 10 amps. Ps I’ve ordered all the gear now so just waiting to fit it. Regards Ray

@LeisureBit 2 месяца назад

Yes, that’s right, the MCB from the mains (via the van RCD then the 16A MCB) protects the mains side, the 16A RCD is a degree of protection for the inverter output, the inverter is fused and short circuit protected, you could add an MCB also (10A) if you wanted, to the inverter output as an extra precaution but imagine it would have limited use given the trip curve. Because my inverter is floating, the RCD only covers some scenarios, however there are benefits of floating for exactly that reason. Good luck with the install, All the best, David 👍

@davidlindfield 3 месяца назад

Am I right in saying, that wiring depends on switching the inverter on and off manually to get it to change over? If so, would it not be better to connect the inverter to the N/C contact and then when you plug in the mains shore power it will auto change to shore power and then the inverter can be left switched on?

@LeisureBit 3 месяца назад

Yes that’s right - if you switch the inverter on the sockets are powered by the inverter, if off then by mains if hooked up - you could do it the other way also - the reason I did it this way is you can use it as a power boost when on low A hookup so you can for example make a coffee with the inverter while remaining on hookup with the heater running. Hope that makes sense? All the best, David 👍

@Tdkboot72 16 часов назад

Hi David. Just one more thing before i get started the weekend. For the inverter RCD does it matter if it's a single or double pole? Many thanks in advance. Tony

@LeisureBit 14 часов назад

Double pole for isolation is definitely best - the rcd on the inverter only functions in certain fault scenarios if you have a floating output inverter (if it’s a Multiplus or the likes it works as per domestic) - Don’t forget to get it checked over by an electrician too - all the best, David 👍

@InverhavonRailways 10 месяцев назад

The problem with a relay is there's no off position between the 2 supplies, which can result in an arc being drawn between relay contacts, as there can be 480v between the two live connections, so also a severe shock risk. That's why I use a 500v change over switch instead. That's been running fine for 20+ years in several vans.

@LeisureBit 10 месяцев назад

A relay is really an electromagnetic operated switch. The one I’ve used has 1.5kV (1,500 volts) AC dielectric breakdown between the contacts which is more than adequate for what I am using it for - it was something I paid attention to exactly to your point. I would agree if it was DC for sure on arc. (But it’s AC in this case) It’s the same principal as the commercial switch over either built in or separate which use a relay. Biggest issue (like with a switch) would be a physical failure causing things to come into contact - they look well designed but I have seen in the past some you wouldn’t trust. Whatever works for you though - lots of folks use switches and nothing wrong with that at all as you have a specific manual change over. All the best, David 👍

@GedandMichele Год назад

Really useful vlog David and something I'll be wanting to do. I have a 3 way fridge which when off grid, I would want to operate from gas to avoid running down the batteries. Would this set up just mean I'd have to manually select gas each time? Would you mind adding an image to show the connections to the power distribution unit and additional RCD please

@LeisureBit Год назад

Thanks for the comment. Normally the fridge is run on a separate breaker to the sockets and if so and you did it the same as me, and had it on auto, then it should just select gas automatically as whilst there would be socket power there wouldn’t be to the fridge if that makes sense (assuming you did similar to me and ran it to the sockets and the fridge was separate breaker) so should do what you need without needing to manually change I think 🤔 All the best, David 👍

@iandonald4799 11 месяцев назад

Thank you for this brilliant video I have just finished yesterday fitting a 3000w inverter in my Peugeot Boxer , I fitted it exactly like yourself even purchased the relay from RS, This really is a game changer just one switch and all sockets are now powered from my inverter, but I may have a problem or not, on checking my sockets with a Martindale I have no Neutral while on inverter power even the outlet socket on the inverter is the same, on shore power everything is ok, tried earth link to Neutral and it worked but of course tripped the RCD when on Shore power, I have connected the DC out with a 3 pin 13amp plug exactly like yours, but there is also a hot wire facility with chassis earth would that be better. Hope you can help me out Many Thanks Ian

@LeisureBit 11 месяцев назад

Hi Ian - Assume you mean essentially it’s not neutral to earth tied on the inverter? That’s quite normal with a lot of inverters as they outputs float rather than the grid where the earth and neutral are tied at some point. Some of the more expensive inverters have this but essentially the issue is there is no earth in that scenario and the socket testers do a variety of different results - Assume everything is working just testing. It should always test fine on shore power though else there is an issue. Hope that makes sense - all the best, David 👍

@thefirst555 3 месяца назад

Thanks for this. a great video. is there any reason why you couldnt take the incoming mains/inverter into the relay first, then have the rcd after that. My Van uses a 3 way camping type extension lead (mobile mains 3 way with sockets) with built in rcd as opposed to a "consumer unit". My thinking is that the RCD can then protect whivhever source you use. ? The output from the relay could then feed the 3 way with RCD built in before going on to feed sockets etc.

@LeisureBit 3 месяца назад

In theory no, but then there’s no protection on the incoming mains (as you shouldn’t rely on the supply one) - you could do it though - there are multiple ways you can achieve different outcomes it’s just like an automatic switch - would suggest checking it over with electrician before your final design to ensure compliant etc - but you can get different behaviours with different arrangements - not sure if that’s much help? Thanks for watching - all the very best, David 👍

@greatdane3343 Год назад

Thanks for the info mate.

@LeisureBit Год назад

No problem 👍 hope it comes in handy.

@Tdkboot72 16 дней назад

Hi David. I have another question if you don't mind. I have the Bluetti ac200 max and on the inverter side do you recommend i run it through a rcd still. The Bluetti is a all in one inverter / battery that i'm pretty sure you have heard about. I want to connect the van sockets up to it with the change over switch. Many thanks in advance and i love all your videos. Brilliant.

@LeisureBit 16 дней назад

Thank you, I personally would but I also know there is limited protection, it’s in a certain scenario where it would be effective, same with powerbanks, most have no protection and are used without issue. It’s a balanced risk, low probability of issue, but very high potential impact. Not sure that helps - all the best, David.

@Tdkboot72 14 дней назад

@@LeisureBit Thanks David for your fast reply. This has been helpful.

@ianwalsh964 Год назад

Hi David, Great and interesting video thinking of doing something like this in my workshop and camper van when I find one to convert. What do you use to create the wiring diagrams perhaps a video showing use how you create them could be interesting for some people.

@LeisureBit Год назад

Thanks Ian, appreciated. I created the diagrams in PowerPoint - thought it was helpful to explain (better than my hand gesture example 😀) - Good luck with the campervan when you find one to covert, I imagine it will be a great project. I’d like to do one from scratch one day also. All the best, David 👍

@michaelbarnicott-white5498 Месяц назад

Thanks once again for your brilliant video... I have just finished my own installation and have a question... can I ignore the AC input on my inverter ??? I am only going to power my sockets either by hooking up with shore power. ,or .. if no shore power is available... by using my battery powered inverter. So my thinking is that I have no use for another AC input into my inverter ??? Any advice would be very welcome and I'd be happy to buy you a virtual pint as a (hopefully) fair exchange... Michael

@LeisureBit Месяц назад

Hi, great you’ve just finished your install. If your inverter has a mains input for UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) mode, you can just ignore it as it’s not normally the feature required in a van setup, more where you want to keep a continuous power if the mains fails (like keep a computer or medical equipment running) - hope that helps and makes sense., All the best, David 👍

@michaelbarnicott-white5498 Месяц назад

@@LeisureBit .... thanks once again David. that is very helpful - and soothing to know that my own installation is "solid". I am a naturally risk averse character and I like to know that I have got all the potentially lethal stuff right ! Michael

@LeisureBit Месяц назад

@@michaelbarnicott-white5498 Absolutely right, it's always important to get any installation checked independently to make sure it's safe. As you say, there's a lot of potentially lethal stuff in vans, especially when we add to them or modify in which a small mistake can cause catastrophic or life changing outcomes, always best to do everything to mitigate against it. All the very best, David 👍

@monkeyx01 Год назад

Thanks for this great video. You mentioned sharing the slides used on this video. I can't find the links here or on your website?

@LeisureBit Год назад

Thanks for the comment - sorry about that will dig out the link tonight and pop it in the description and ping back here - thanks for flagging - all the best, David 👍

@stevemarsden2382 3 месяца назад

hi david loved the video very helpful, i this is what i have wanting to do to my van. my question is do i have to disconnect the ebl when the inverter is on? will it be trying to charge the batteries as though it was on electric hook up? thank you steve

@LeisureBit 3 месяца назад

Hi Steve do you mean the charger - it makes sense to not have it connected to the charger to avoid waste in the circular charge and discharge which then occurs - I just use the sockets circuit to avoid this if that makes sense? All the best, David 👍

@stevemarsden2382 3 месяца назад

Thank you

@SJ80s 3 месяца назад

I realised watching this vlog tells me everything I need to know of people who are not qualified to carry out electrical installations, he shows how you can wire a change over relay in you van, first of all a relay is rated at 16A, your supply into your van is rated at 16A so your this is right on the limit of your relay, this is why his getting a buzzing sound when switching, a relay is ok to switch loads at 15A and below but over that it should be feed via a contactor, in this case it should be a 25A 4 pole 2 n/o and 2 n/c contacts within an enclosure, (Not a standard 4 pole contactor) I'm seeing too many youtubers giving advice on electrics, these people who mean well are playing a dangerous game all to give content to their vlogs, I have installed this set up I've mentioned above in my motorhome, I've been an industrial and commercial electrician for nearly 40 years, my advice is ask a professional tradesperson.

@LeisureBit 3 месяца назад

Thanks for your comment - firstly, work should always be carried out or certainly properly checked by a professional - you are right the supply is rated at 16A and the relay is also rated to 16A per the manufacturers design (continuous rating according to the data sheet) - its used in commercially available products which do the same or similar things - it would have been nice to have a higher rated one with some headroom but it is rated to the maximum load continuously. On the subject of the buzzing it has nothing to do with the rating - its brown out from the inverter - switch it round and switches without buzzing - when the inverter is turned off, the voltage doesn’t instantly drop to 0V - as the capacitors discharge it falls and when it drops to below around. 80-90V in this case when I tested it the magnetic energy becomes insufficient to hold the contact closed and the buzz is from the frequency of the inverter (in this case 50HZ) creating audible buzz for a short time. Where there isn’t a brown out and the voltage falls instantly this doesn’t occur as the magnetic energy then falls straight away. Unfortunately a lot of inverters of this type don’t switch off the AC (and can be dangerous if you think there is no voltage as soon as it’s been switched off) - it’s how they are designed as the power off cuts the DC side (either via isolator or MOSFET electronics) so the capacitors have to discharge to enable the power to cut on the AC side and thus brownout occurs on switch off. As per all things - it’s just what i did, I had it checked and tested also - anyone doing any electrical work should not undertake it unless they are competent and should ensure it’s fit for their particular purpose and get it independently checked and tested for safety - common sense when dealing with electrics. Always get a professional to install it or certainly check it with expertise in the specific field. Hope that makes sense - would be interested in the specific particular component you would recommend - would be interested to take a look? All the best, David 👍

@michaelbarnicott-white5498 25 дней назад

Hello David, thanks again for the video... I have now finished my installation and have a question... when I am using 240v through the inverter, everything seems fine UNTIL I turn the inverter off. At that point the in-line RCD (between the inverter and the relay) always cuts out and I have to reset it the next time I turn it on to use it... any clues ? ANy help would be most welcome. Thanks. Michsael

@LeisureBit 25 дней назад

That sounds odd but I wonder if it's when it browns out (when the voltage drops out after switching off) - out of interest which Inverter & RCD have you used? Might be able to figure it out from that.

@micksparrow8214 10 месяцев назад

Hi David excellent video and the whole series is very informative. A question about modifying vehicles in this way. My motorhome is under warranty how would this or any modifications affect the warranty, any ideas?

@LeisureBit 10 месяцев назад

Thanks for the comment. It’s an interesting question. Typically any modification will impact warranty to one extent or another, for example if you make electrical modifications then it would impact directly what’s been modified but could indirectly impact other things such as electrical items. Worth noting can also impact insurance and other regs, clearly depending on what you do of course, Before modifying it’s worth checking the impact. For example though if you modify the electrics and the window starts leaking they typically aren’t related so you would expect the window to be not impacted but the electrical system to be in that case. Best worth checking if you’re worried - I got it with a view of modding electrics and other bits, as part of that the personal value I get from the mods outweigh warranty but know I’m on my own with electrical issues - worth noting the stuff you buy often comes with guarantee / warranty on those so the impact is sometimes neutralised. Hope that makes sense, all the best, David 👍

@tonyhawkins2463 7 месяцев назад

Will the rely wiring not feed back to the Sargent unit? So the battery’s an inverter are running back to Sargent unit and charging system?

@LeisureBit 7 месяцев назад

It’s in the sockets line rather than the main with all the rest of the circuits it to avoid that exact situation occurring as it would just waste energy. The charger is on a separate breaker / circuit along with heating and hot water on their individual circuits so it’s just the sockets which feeds onto microwave, hob electric ring and in my case coffee machine then the spare 3 sockets for whatever needs to be plugged into them. Hope that makes sense All the best, David 👍

@MultiOutdoorman 2 месяца назад

I'm concerned about upstream bonding of neutral to earth so the sulied rcd still trips under fault conditions. Many inverters won't disconnect like an " on shore". Rcd should. Any thoughts?

@LeisureBit 2 месяца назад

You're absolutely right, certainly the 'cheaper' end tend to have floating outputs (also lots of generators, power stations etc) and many expressly forbid the bonding of 'Neutral' to 'Earth' on these also which otherwise you could do to get a domestic like outcome if that was required. As you most likely know, RCD works on imbalance between L / N current flow - so if it's floating, if you touched one of the outputs and then 'Earth' if it's not connected anywhere, it's likely no current would flow (clearly wouldn't recommend testing this out!) and thus the RCD won't trip with a tester for example as there's no current path. However, if there was a connection to earth or multiple specific faults, then it should work - my view was it was better to have it than not have it in the circuit, knowing that it wouldn't normally have a situation which would trigger. Out of interest did you have any specific scenarios in mind? I've looked into it before doing it and the RCD not tripping isn't an issue as it's common sense science why it doesn't with a floating output, and the purpose of the RCD is preservation of life to prevent excess current flowing through the human body. It doesn't trip because there is no current flow... Welcome any views / thought of other scenarios (clearly more to do with the inverter than the auto-change over as that's just a two pole change over switch for the sockets) - All the best, David 👍

@kevinjepp7037 9 месяцев назад

Hi David, I'm having a problem understanding your wiring diagram as looking at the blue connector at the top there are three X three banks of connectors. On your diagram there are four connectors. Ive watch your video numerous times and still cant quite see how you have wired the actual relay. Thanks for any help

@LeisureBit 9 месяцев назад

Hi, there should be a live and neutral to the normally closed connections from the mains / hooked up power, a live and neutral from the common connections to the sockets and a live and neutral from the inverter to the normally open AND the relay contacts so that when the relay is energised it causes the switch to flow from mains to sockets over to inverter to sockets. Does that help? All the best. David 👍

@kevinjepp7037 9 месяцев назад

Thanks I have managed to figure it by watching video at the end showing where you put the cables. Would it not be easier if you diagram looked like the actual blue connector showing where the cables go as for me I couldn’t relate the two. Thanks

@LeisureBit 9 месяцев назад

@@kevinjepp7037 thanks for the feedback 👍

@aVanandAlex Год назад

great video 😀

@LeisureBit Год назад

Thank you - really appreciate the comment - all the best, David 👍

@harrymurphy2061 Месяц назад

Hello, great video, is it possible to use the same hook-up consumer unit RCB for the sockets as the inverter or would they both need separate RCBs for the sockets. Thank you

@LeisureBit Месяц назад

I used a separate one from the inverter and the main one from the mains via the sockets, appreciate the inverter one with this type gives some protection but due to floating outputs not the same as the regular mains (given how they work) but I still thought worth the extra one. Hope that helps, All the best, David 👍

@harrymurphy2061 Месяц назад

@@LeisureBit thank you great to know 👍

@susanbennett647 Год назад

David, do you have the RCD and the PUD reversed? As they are both on the 240v phase, should they both be an RCD? If not what PUD did you use.

@LeisureBit Год назад

PUD? There’s an RCD on the mains input and also one on the inverter output and the relay is basically switching over between either the mains or inverter which feeds onto the sockets. If that makes sense ?

@TicketyBoo. Год назад

Hi David. Another great vlog. I have a brand new caravan coming in march and this will be one of my first jobs. Can I please ask though. How are you connecting the inverter output to the consumer unit? I believe all the live connections of the MCB's are linked via a little busbar. Will connecting the inverter live to the 'socket circuit' MCB not make all the circuits (including the charger) live? Sorry if I'm being stupid but you cant be too careful 👍

@LeisureBit Год назад

Thank you - I am using a relay to isolate the sockets from the mains input if that makes sense when the inverter is switched on (so the other side to the bus bar where it feeds to the sockets if that makes sense?)

@TicketyBoo. Год назад

@@LeisureBit Hi Dave. Sorry if i'm being a nuisance or simply stupid. I completely understand the relay part isolating the mains. My concern is feeding the 230V from the inverter to the socket circuit. How do you power only the socket circuit without also powering the charger circuit and creating a charge loop? Might just be my van but the live side of the MCBs are linked so making one circuit live makes them all live.

@LeisureBit Год назад

I’m using the feed to the sockets only (the output of the RCD for the sockets rather than the bus bar side) this then feeds into the relay to isolate it (common to sockets and normally closed to the output of the socket RCD then normally open to the inverter and the coil is also connected to the inverter so the path when inverter on feeds JUST the sockets and when off it’s same as original via the relay.

@kevinjepp7037 10 месяцев назад

Hi I have purchased a Renogy 3000w inverter that has a UPS function will the relay still work correctly? Thanks Kevin

@LeisureBit 10 месяцев назад

Hi Kevin, I think if you have the UPS function you shouldn't need it - it's 'kind of' doing that but slightly different (basically what mine is doing is switching the sockets to the inverter when it's switched on and to the mains when the inverter is off) if you connected your inverter in line with the sockets, it should do similar. The only thing to do is check to make sure it behaves the same way as I've not used a Renogy one with UPS. Hope that makes sense, All the best, David 👍

@eddieuk9402 Год назад

Hi David, I’ve been watching you lithium series of videos and enjoy them all, on the changeover video I was wondering if the inverter was left on either by mistake or on purpose and then you connected the ehu, or even vide versa, how would the relay react? , and also are you still using the changeover relay with your new set up. Many thanks.

@LeisureBit Год назад

Thanks for the comment - if connected to EHU and the inverter is on, the relay is energised so the EHU contacts are then open (they connect to normally closed and when energised it opens the contacts to route the power from the inverter rather than EHU. One of the reasons I used a relay is physical electrical isolation (ie the contacts get mechanically moved) Hope that helps, all the best, David 👍

@TwoBikersOneWorld Год назад

Hi David, many thanks for your very useful informative videos. I have a question regarding when you power the outlet from the inverter, how do you disconnect the leisure battery charging?

@LeisureBit Год назад

Thanks for the comment - I have it only wired to the sockets and the charger is on a separate circuit (as is the space heater and water heater) so it’s only working with the sockets if that makes sense? Hope that helps, All the best, David 👍

@TwoBikersOneWorld Год назад

@@LeisureBit Thank you for you very fast answer and it make sense 🙂 Now I will watch your video about insulate the doors in the van, starts to get cold now 🥶🙂

@LeisureBit Год назад

Excellent - I also found putting insulation in the back corners and above the door has helped in ours too.

@petewilson7738 Год назад

Hi David, Rachel & Roxy thanks so much for this video, I have today implemented auto changeover successfully with the components and guidance you have provided just a different housing box that's all, oh and lots of scrapes and bumps on my arms working in an impossibly small area beneath the double bench seat in our PVC. I'm getting the momentary buzz on start up of the inverter and browning out as you describe in your video but everything working as expected. One question around this, is the buzzing/chattering detrimental to the life of the relay contacts?

@LeisureBit Год назад

I think if there was a very big load then it would probably shorten the life but the relays usually last for years unless being switched on and off all of the time as they are designed for, most things though when powering on you would then power up normally. I did consider using a 12V one but then it starts getting complex. If you switched it around so that it operated when on the mains and swapped the connections (NO/NC feeds) so that it activates on mains and then enables the sockets and when powered off feeds to the inverter, that would stop the chatter as no capacitors charging up / inverters and then discharging/brownout - however that then means you wouldn’t have the capability to use as additional power when on hookup. Given the cost of the relays, cheap enough to replace or carry a spare if you have any worries, I’ve had no issues at all with it and used it for well over a year now switching on and off several times on quite a lot of trips. Ideally it wouldn’t do it but it’s a side effect of the inverter, not the relay and personally like the physical isolation rather than an electric or electronic solution - clearly you could add things to mitigate but then things get more complex :) Hope that makes sense? All the best, David 👍

@petewilson7738 Год назад

@@LeisureBit awesome, good enough for me and as you say not expensive to replace the relay should we have to in the future. Thanks for taking the time to explain 🙂

@LeisureBit Год назад

@@petewilson7738just a thought, if you’ve fitted the breaker from the inverter, if you switch that off before turning the inverter off and back on after turning it on it then shouldn’t buzz at all as the inverter is at power.

@petewilson7738 Год назад

@@LeisureBit thanks David, that works but not that convenient as everything is beneath the dinette seat so a bit of a faff. I can live with the momentary buzz for the convenience of just having to switch the inverter on at the remote. Thanks again for all your help 🙂

@davidowen-nicol8618 Год назад

Great helpful video. I'm just wondering how you got around the inverter powering the battery charger to run the inverter to power the battery charger etc etc? Would this really need another consumer unit added and another relay ? Or could just another relay be used on the battery charger circuit (if its a single radial to only the charger). Do you know how much power these relays use ? Are they always using power (and creating heat from the working coil ?) . I'm certainly going to watch this video a few more times

@LeisureBit Год назад

Thank you - the relay uses very little power (when I checked it incrementally drew less than 100ma on the DC side which takes into account any inefficiencies. The reason for the relay is isolation from the mains to avoid an issue / situation where mains fed into the inverter for example - it gives physical electrical isolation then of live and neutral. I didn’t want it to power the heater either as the battery wouldn’t last long with that but am looking to modify it to power the water heater as required. Hope that helps, all the best, David 👍

@davidowen-nicol8618 Год назад

@@LeisureBit Have just added 3000w Inverter running from a lipo4 560ah (6720watt) battery I built , had a 1800w fan heater running for an hour and a half , great to know it worked very well and means that induction hob and airfryer (miss roast potatoes, oven roasts and pizza) will be able to be powered via the battery , must try both at the same time (induction on low) . The switch over is my next step to fully integrate things . Then its bigger solar required.

@LeisureBit Год назад

Sounds like a fantastic setup 🙌

@MrLeejohn02 8 дней назад

Hi David, as someone who is looking to do this, but the battery charger is plugged into transformer/recifier which is also powered by the same RCD as the sockets, do you think since i cannot put that on a seperate line, a better option maybe to add a Current sensing switch, and have the mains from the inverter run through it, with the battery charger connected to the pins, that way when the inverter is running it should shut off the charger, or is there another option you can think of?

@LeisureBit 8 дней назад

Is the charger plugged into a socket or wired back to the breaker? If wired back you might be able to separate the two and just put it on the circuit for the sockets rather than the charger as well. Just a thought…. Might be simpler than a current sensing switch, there are other options like another relay to disconnect the charger for example. If the charger was running it just uses a bit of power through inefficiency charging and powering it’s self, if you don’t have the inverter on for long periods, I wouldn’t worry too much as it should use a massive amount. Worth getting an opinion off an electrician who can take a look too as they may find a better or simpler way too. all the best, David 👍

@MrLeejohn02 8 дней назад

@@LeisureBit The hookup goes through the breaker and powers both the 12v transformer/recifier and 240v same RCD, and the rectifier also recharges the battery as well as powering other devices, there is no way around it with a simple switch, and i'm not confident enough using a 230v supply to cut a 12v via a relay thats why i was thinking my best option would be to use a sensing switch, as its more for my parents than me, my knowledge is limited but i do trust myself to do that.

@rayleeson6135 2 месяца назад

Hi again David, as you are aware I’m following your lead re: the change over relay, unfortunately I’ve run into something of an issue, I wonder if I’m reading your diagram incorrectly. Basically I have a socket output to the 240v sockets including the microwave, 4 cables from 1 socket?? I don’t understand how I can wire up the change over switch using these cables, you actually wired yours up to 1 cable I believe? Am I correct? The only other option is to connect the Change over switch directly to the incoming 240 supply to the consumer unit. But this would no doubt energise all the relays. Do you have a point of view on this?

@LeisureBit 2 месяца назад

There were a few connections, I took a L + N from the Sockets MCB breaker and connected it to the relay and then put a connector on the cables (L) and (N) which were connected and then ran it to the relay then there is the connection from the inverter, so 3 set of cables connect to the relay. (To Sockets, From Socket MCB and From Inverter) if that makes sense? Depending on your van and how it’s connected up there may be one or more cables connected up. Don’t forget ALWAYS get a qualified electrician to check it over before switching the power on, you can’t be too careful with mains. Hope that makes sense, David 👍

@rayleeson6135 2 месяца назад

@@LeisureBit hi David, yes I will get it checked out, I tried the other day but unfortunately he was too busy, I’ll look for another electrician. Re: the connections, yes unfortunately there are several cables coming from the MCB, I think I need to get behind the back cover to connect it correctly ( I assume that you connected directly into the MCB, I.e you didn’t cut those original cables ?

@LeisureBit 2 месяца назад

@@rayleeson6135 Yes, that's right as I wanted to make sure I could put it back in the future if required without any material damage. Hope you manage to get it sorted ok.

@rayleeson6135 2 месяца назад

@@LeisureBit perfect that certainly helps David, unfortunately including all this extra info in a video must be a nightmare, but on the plus side it’s great that you are so responsive, it very good of you to follow up on this …top man. Regards Ray

@rayleeson6135 2 месяца назад

Hello again David, please forgive me if I’m a nuisance! I have now managed to get access to the MCB’s …gosh it was a struggle, but for now I’m moving on, so; it raised a couple of questions.. When you ran the live and neutral from the MCB …I am assuming that you ran these from the load side of the MCB….ie the top of the MCB? And 2nd ..I didn’t quite understand your last comment re; you took a L+N from the sockets MBC (understood) and connected to the relay (understood) Then you say that you put a connector on the L&N which were connected and then ran it to the relay?? It’s this bit I didn’t understand. Then of course you refer to the inverter connection and I understand that, I can move on once I’ve understood the above comment. Can clarify that a little? Regards Ray

@Anthonya54 Год назад

I’m planning on installing a similar setup and will be looking at using this for my sockets in the motorhome. Would it be a good idea to use an RCBO on the inverter connection instead of and RCD to give added protection for current overload.

@LeisureBit Год назад

You could do. I used the RCD as an extra protection against any leakage current, the plug feeding from the inverter has a 13A fuse in it and for full load would probably mean a 16A RCBO so didn’t in my case as it would have increased cost - however with certain setups that would make total sense. The RCD is semi effective because the inverter I used has floating outputs, if it’s a tied E-N inverter they are more effective (and - to E). Hope that makes sense, certainly no harm in RCBO for sure, worth making sure it double pole. All the best, David 👍

@jejh22043104 Год назад

Just thinking about Earthing. What about this scenario: If you were plugged into a site hookup and for some reason that had gone off. So you swithced to inverter power and there was a fault in the van cabling or equipment (L or N to E), this could send inverter power into the sites earth as the socket earth remains connected. This would be bad, so really you need to unplug the hookup first before switching on the inverter? Kind of defeats the object...

@LeisureBit Год назад

Interesting point, given there would likely be no potential difference (as the inverter output floats and isn’t tied to neutral like you would have in the house) it would unlikely cause any issues - however the negative of the inverter and the inverter is connected to the same earth so if any current flow then the van RCD should trip (and the site one) BUT in the scenario above I don’t think there would be any current flow all be it is not what you would want clearly

@kennyrodg 11 месяцев назад

Hi again....Bit of a fopah this end.... I got the bits to do the job and upon opening my consumer unit i've realised i have 3 circuits. As it stands i can simply plug my rv into the inverter and power the whole thing...If i fit the relay I'll loose 2 of the circuits...Is it acceptable to fit the relay before the consumer unit, that way i get to keep all my circuits. Thanks again.

@LeisureBit 11 месяцев назад

Hi, you could do that but it would be worth putting some pre-protection in if you do it that way with it being before the unit which has the protection in. The other thing to consider is if you put electric heaters on etc it may either overload the inverter or run the battery down very quickly. Hope that helps / makes sense. All the best, David 👍

@kennyrodg 11 месяцев назад

@@LeisureBitThanks David...After giving it some more though putting the relay in front of the consumer unit is effectively how i have it set up anyway...At present I have a socket from my inverter in the hookup locker and I just plug the shore power into that when I'm off grid... I have propane and diesel blown air heaters so no need for electric ones....It's the airfryer/microwave/toaster (got to have toast)/coffee machine type things i'll be running...I have 400ah of batteries and a 3kw Kotek inverter so the system is up to the task...I should add, one of the circuits runs the 240/110 transformer for the American items/sockets in the RV. I'm planning on fitting it tomorrow so i'll report back when it's done. Thanks again.

@LeisureBit 11 месяцев назад

@@kennyrodg hope all goes well with the fitting tomorrow - all the best, David 👍

@jamesmcewan254 Год назад

Hi David I have purchased a Renogy 2000w inverter and this has ups built in so I presume I can go straight into the consumer unit onboard our motorhome with the ac out of the inverter.I am not really familiar with the ups so am I correct in my assumption? Have you experience with the ups facility? I don’t actually need uninterrupted supply but before seeing your video I thought it would be easier than an automatic changeover, would appreciate your view or any info many thanks

@LeisureBit Год назад

Hi James - let me have a look at that one and see - normally UPS does uninterrupted but may be setup different - will come back when I’ve had a look.

@tattoobox4u Год назад

Hi there, can you buy these relays and sockets on ebay if so can you send a link thank you, great video

@LeisureBit Год назад

Thank you - there’s a link in the video description to the relay and socket from RS Online (UK) - the code for the relay is 292-8427 and the socket is 400-840. The plastic box was from eBay and it’s 120x120x50mm for ref (sorry I can’t post links in the reply as it usually gets deleted as spam) - hope that helps, all the best, David 👍

@pjgwiltshire Год назад

David, As a result of switching over onto 240V using the Inverter, which obviously is powered by the 12v system. Your on board fridge will then be powered by the inverter. Is it the case that you have a compressor fridge using less power then the three way type on board mine. My three way pulls 20 AMPs so being off grid if the fridge was live 240v I will need 500amp hour of battery just for the fridge. Do you know of a way of preventing the switch over activating automatically the fridge selecting 240v and go to gas. Thanks

@LeisureBit Год назад

Great question, mine is a 12v compressor switch so it’s not impacted, if the fridge is supplied off the power sockets, that would then switch it across, because I used the power sockets only (which didn’t for example have the heater or water heater or charger on it as I didn’t want to power those from it) - does the fridge feed off the sockets or have a separate breaker, if separate if you install on the sockets only it would then only switch over the sockets, if the fridge is on the socket circuit it would cause the issue (unless of course you manually switched it over) - hope that make sense? All the best, David 👍

@edwardhouston8838 Год назад

Hi David, Having watched all your videos a number of time I have bitten the bullet and I recently installed a 120 amp KS lithium battery and inverter. At the moment I have installed one socket outlet from the inverter and I did not instal an inline rcd, watching your video, made me unsure if I need to fitted an inline rcd, I thought I would not need one in a caravan and as I am now considering connecting to all the sockets in the van will I need to fit a rcd, can you please advise? Kindest regards - Eddie

@LeisureBit Год назад

Hi Eddie, congratulations on the new install - hope all is working well. The RCD was just an extra precaution - with inverters there are limits to what it can do (as neutral is not tied to earth on some) - I’m sure it will be fine without it - just habit from my perspective for a little more protection all be it not perfect. All the best, David 👍

@edwardhouston8838 Год назад

Thanks Dave, much appreciated.

@jamesdyer6807 11 месяцев назад

Question do you reference the inverter

@LeisureBit 11 месяцев назад

Hi James - Sorry i’m not understanding the question - do you mean in the video?

@jamesdyer6807 11 месяцев назад

@@LeisureBit if you put a socket tester in one of your 240v sockets while the inverter is on. Do you get an earth fault ?

@LeisureBit 11 месяцев назад

@jamesdyer6807 yes it flags as it’s looking for a neutral earth bond which doesn’t exist with this inverter (floating output). When hooked up to mains and in that mode tests fine. Depends on the inverter type but the one I’m using isn’t Earth Neutral bonded which is what the tester is looking for.

@jamesdyer6807 11 месяцев назад

@@LeisureBit so sorry your advising that people fit rcds which is pointless in your case because it wont work ?

@LeisureBit 11 месяцев назад

@jamesdyer6807 it will if there is a difference between the outputs - for example if a fault developed and a current path to the vehicle chassis which is negative then it would cause imbalance and trip - however there is much less likelihood of there being a path with it being floating - better than not having one just less scenarios to trip given the lack of bonding (outside of a fault condition) I fitted one to help and give a point of isolation / if balance issue between the outputs

@stellapapadaki4299 Год назад

Hi , i hope you ll find a minute for my question as i have the lifepo4 200ah battery and 3000w pure sine inverter and i am scared to add an 1800w induction hob. So , i am good in DIY electrics with 12-48v but heavy duty inverters to 240v are new to me. My wife is fed up with gas bottles and wants an induction for our twin axle caravan. I have already a setup with solar panels and a renogy 200ah battery, which can give 200amps and i have a 3000w renogy inverter pure sine too. I do not want to use any of the 240v plugs of the caravan, i never use shore power, as the plan is to use the induction hob only from inverter, as rest are already sorted, fridge on 24v battery bank and more, rest mostly on other 12v battery, all charged with 3 different setups of solar mppt panels/controllers, so there are a few batteries in this caravan! I will sacrifice the 200ah lifepo4 battery only for the 1800w hob with 70mm2 cables, so can i simply use an external extension cable with sockets that comes already with an rcd straight from the inverter plugs to have this extra protection with an RCD, i do not want my wife to get injured or more as you understand , and i ll earth the inverter to the chassis of caravan. Will this work ?because i have been told that rcd will not work from inverters . This is my question please (> the ext cable if you paste this to ebay you ll find it >Camping Main Hook Up 3 Way RCD 230v Extension Cable Mobile Power Unit) Kindest Regards

@LeisureBit Год назад

Hi Stella, the RCD should work if there’s a leakage between what’s going into/out of the live and neutral (as per design) which is safer than not having one - you need a voltage difference to get a shock, obviously leisure vehicles typically aren’t connected to true earth (ie the ground) which you would see in a domestic installation so the bit to watch is voltages between the chassis (ground) and true earth - this shouldn’t happen but clearly is possible. There are lots of folks who have fitted induction hobs with no issue - worth checking with a leisure vehicle engineer on options for additional protection if you’re concerned though. Hope that helps, all the best, David 👍

@stellapapadaki4299 Год назад

@@LeisureBit @LeisureBit Thank you really for explaining, just to note that i will not be connected to mains ever , that is the plan to avoid mains connection, i want to use the battery and inverter only for the induction hob and the rest of the caravan equipment will work on 12v and 24v batteries only. I am mentioning that as you noted that the crucial bit is the voltage difference, between ground from chassis for my inverter and true earth, you meant true earth through mains? as i will not be connected to mains or true earth as an example as this does not exist in reality, in this setup with battery and inverter?. So if i dig a hole and insert a long copper pole in the ground will this make it safer for earthing the ground?? or else?? if i find a true earth nearby from nearby mains and ground my chassis ONLY to the true earth of the mains, will it make it safer then? or maybe even worse? Thanks again

@LeisureBit Год назад

I think you should be fine as unlikely to ever create a ground voltage difference in the setup in the van - you’re right a ground rod mitigates that but in reality it’s not really likely to end up with a voltage difference. You can get voltage sensing breakers as an added check but they mainly come into their own with generators etc where you could get a earth current flowing. I’ve had no problem at all with any voltage leakage on mine and the RCD gives extra protection over and above not having one just in case a live was touched and current routed to the van body (in this case that’s the earth) Best regards - David

@tonyflanagan5682 Год назад

Hi David, great video, saw this some time ago and just come back to it because I want to do something with my power bank like this. Can I use this idea to take the output from the surepower rcd on the Sargent box in to this for the one side and then have the 240v out of the Aferiy 2000wa power bank as the switchover supply to the other side for the load if its on? I am also wondering if I then also had the power bank plugged into the surepower mains and connected to a solar panel (powerbank has built in mppt to 500watt) I could also have the ability to charge the bank up without moving it? I looked for the parts you used and I think the socket is missing a '2' from the '400-840' (2) so I think I have the correct part. Great video, would be grateful for your thoughts on this but I would like to try and get the power bank sat somewhere in my van without having to plug things in directly or send the surepower out of the van window 😂😂

@LeisureBit Год назад

Thank you - I think you could - the principal of it is when you turn your powerbank or inverter on it energises the relay and then electro mechanically automatically switches over the power (Live and Neutral) between the powerbank / inverter and the mains onto what you want to power - in my case the sockets as I didn’t want to run the heater or charger from it - so sounds like that would work - the benefit is it disconnects the mains side so you don’t end up back powering things or connecting the two - hence why I went with a relay rather than electronic solution as you get the physical isolation then as it’s like an auto changeover switch (if that makes sense) Thanks ref the right part number too. All the best, David 👍

@tonyflanagan5682 Год назад

@@LeisureBit Cheers. Do you have the diagram please as I can't seem to see it on your website. atb Tony

@LeisureBit Год назад

Will dig it out and upload it if not will create a new one - sorry about that

@LeisureBit Год назад

Quick update - I’ve looked and can’t find the hi-res version of it so will do another one at the weekend and upload it.

@tonyflanagan5682 Год назад

@@LeisureBit Many thanks David

@VolkanBay Год назад

I have a same relay but there is some problem, it doesnt transfer ac fast , sometimes my devices shut down ,do you have any idea

@LeisureBit Год назад

Are you trying to use it like a UPS? If so it’s probably not the best solution as you say there is a change over time with it being mechanical

@VolkanBay Год назад

@@LeisureBit yes , I use it like a ups , in the datasheet , it says 10 ms to transfer , as I know it is enought but I dont understand why devices shut down

@edwardhouston8838 Год назад

Hi David, I have just fitted an auto changeover. I have a sargent ec600 unit in my caravan that has sealed breaker therefor, unable to connect to the breaker, so I cut the cables and fitted three way connectors to the shore and sockets. However, I am concerned that the main RCD breaker in the ec600 will not trip when I push the test button and if I manually turn of the breaker off the power remains at to the sockets. Any thoughts on why this is happening?

@LeisureBit Год назад

That’s quite normal for certain RCDs when running from an inverter (on mains it should trip normally when tested) as a lot of the inverters are floating output, domestic mains there is a tie between Earth and Neutral as a reference point - as there’s no tie, it doesn’t trip when tested with a floating output (same thing happens with generators) if you use a socket tester you will get a strange result also as again they expect earth and neutral to be tied. If there is a genuine earth leakage (there’s a difference in current between live and neutral it should trip) - my installed PDU doesn’t but the RCD I fitted does test trip on the inverter so depends on the type. So as expected essentially for a floating output if that makes any sense? You can fit RVDs to help with it which work differently but most folks don’t bother and an RCD is better than nothing. Hope that helps - All the best, David 👍

@edwardhouston8838 Год назад

@@LeisureBit Hi David, It dose not trip when on mains when testing, it will only trip if I disconnect the mains cable connected to the relay. Have wired the relay wrongly ?

@LeisureBit Год назад

@@edwardhouston8838 That sounds odd, how have you got it wired? The earth should be connected through irrespective for ref then the Inverter on the Normally Open contacts of the relay, and the mains on the Normally closed and the coil connected same as the Normally Open to the inverter.

@sionhughes6155 Год назад

Hi David, Just out of interest, do you think instead of converting all of the 230v sockets/appliances to run from the inverter it would be possible to convert some. We have a Sargent EC176 with 3 MCB's (10,10 & 16 from memory ) Could I just run the feed from one 10a MCB (it only has two sockets on it) into the Relay and wire everything else as you describe above. Thank you

@LeisureBit Год назад

That’s kind of what I have done all be it there’s only one ring of sockets in ours. Where there’s a couple of them it would require a slightly different mod - at some point in the near future I will be doing similar to enable the water heater - same principal as that but just a couple of sockets in your case. Hope that makes sense, all the best, David 👍

@sionhughes6155 Год назад

Hi David, all working great today, just one last thing. My inverter seems to take priority over the shoreline. Can I swap the shoreline and inverter connectors over in the relay to make it behave so that shoreline is preference?

@LeisureBit Год назад

Pleased you got it working, I set mine up so if you switch the inverter on then it powers the sockets by the inverter if off via shore power, you could connect it up so if shore power is on it powers the sockets by that else if off via inverter but then the inverter would be on (wasting power) not doing anything - I have on my to do list to make an auto switch on and off for the inverter which might achieve what you’re after. Hope that makes sense ? All the best. David 👍

@sionhughes6155 Год назад

Hi David, Yes that makes sense. Our inverter (Victron) has the on/off remote on the van control panel so we will mainly have it switched off to be honest. Would you swap over the invert and shoreline wires on the relay or just move the link wire from coil A/B up to the top or is there little difference in this?

@LeisureBit Год назад

Which victron inverter is it ? (Multiplus or other?)

@fosterfamily Год назад

Hi David - can you provide some advice please - in my pdu i have 2 power point rcds - one at 10amp and the other 16 amp - is it possible to make this work somehow? Cheers

@LeisureBit Год назад

Hi Alison, interesting ref the 10A one - do you know what that’s connected to compared to the 16A one? Unusual as sockets are usually 16A to ensure compatibility with all appliances.

@fosterfamily Год назад

Thought you might ask ! Unfortunately the van is in for a service at the moment and won’t get it back until later this week. Will check then and let you know. I know we asked for an extra socket for tv when we bought it and wonder if that is how the did it? Will check and update when I get the van back.

@fosterfamily Год назад

Hi David. Just got the van back and checked. The box wasn’t labelled correctly. The 16amp was the Truma heater so looks like all the sockets are linked to the 10a one. So should be straightforward link into that one?

@LeisureBit Год назад

Sounds like it should be straightforward if that’s the case 👍

@cvytnioy56dvfuj4g7 Год назад

A RCD will not work as it should in a caravan when powered by inverter or generators. There is no earth to reference. Use a RVD if supply is from an inverter or generator to be safe.

@LeisureBit Год назад

Thanks Chris, you could certainly add an RVD for additional protection but unless it was a combined unit of RVD/RCD it would be insane not to have residual current protection also - the inverter earth is connected to the van chassis so if any contact between anyone or anything and the van would create a non-residual current (i.e. the current flowing back into neutral would be different from coming out of live) due to the circuit created by whatever is causing the issue and then trip it. There's always ways to improve safety (arc devices, surge devices, etc) Thanks for the comment, all the best, David 👍