Van mounted inverters.

[Sidewinder]

Hi peeps,

As I am going to have to change my van, and it looks like my business model and thus my plans will have to change radically!

I am thinking about fitting an inverter in the replacement van, how many of you have them, what size, what do you use them for, are they "fully fitted" or do you plug them into the cigarette lighter socket?

Where did you get them, how much etc.?

Pretty please.

Thanks.

 

[steptoe]

not much use I know,

but I just have a little one to run battery chargers, its hard wired(kinda) using those blue clamp on things(its not my van!).

Ive had it for years, so no idea how much one would be now, but Id be interested to know as I might be going this way soon if all goes to plan.

 

[Andy™]

i have a 1KW. main feeds to 12V busbar is 35mm to leisure batteries, 50mm to engine battery. inverter is in 25mm

i have loads of 230v sockets all over the van, with changeover relays etc to swap between genny/inverter

also have a 1 hour timer for chargers. press 'start', switches inverter on and supply to the 4 way where the chargers are. after 1 hour, it all shuts off

 

[revjames]

not much use I know,but I just have a little one to run battery chargers, its hard wired(kinda) using those blue clamp on things (its not my van!).

Ive had it for years, so no idea how much one would be now, but Id be interested to know as I might be going this way soon if all goes to plan.

Scotchlocks...... use the correct terminology like wot I do...

 

[Andy™]

wouldnt use a scotchlock for an inverter

 

[revjames]

I put an inverter in my car and came out the next morning and the darn thing was on its roof...... :coat

 

[Andy™]

good thing it was an inverter... imagine if you had used a transformer!

 

[Sidewinder]

Thanks guys, Andy would not mind knowing a little more about your set up.

I am thinking about putting in a "power inlet" i.e. a 16A commando inlet so I could hook up to mains, so would need to do a change over thing and stuff, it's been a LONG time since I messed with automotive electrics!

I know this would need a db, so I'm thinking about a db and a change over system, was also thinking about a leisure battery, could feed things then from a genny to if I wanted via the power inlet.

 

[steptoe]

wouldnt use a scotchlock for an inverter

its not a very big one, but yep, for anything decent you are correct.

Scotchlocks

.shouldnt you be using welshlocks?

 

[revjames]

its not a very big one, but yep, for anything decent you are correct..

shouldnt you be using welshlocks?

Dai Iawn steps

 

[Andy™]

Thanks guys, Andy would not mind knowing a little more about your set up.I am thinking about putting in a "power inlet" i.e. a 16A commando inlet so I could hook up to mains, so would need to do a change over thing and stuff, it's been a LONG time since I messed with automotive electrics!

I know this would need a db, so I'm thinking about a db and a change over system, was also thinking about a leisure battery, could feed things then from a genny to if I wanted via the power inlet.

YHM

and i didnt even get a message saying youve inbox is full!

 

[steptoe]

Dai Iawn steps

'I'm OK' ?

or am I even worse at welsh than I think?

 

[Andy™]

My mate has a 3kw one hard wired in his transporter with a second battery and one of those diode thingy charging circuits used on boats.

most ambulances use them too. expensive though, and you also get a volt drop accross them

easier (& cheaper) solution is a sensing relay (it detects when engine is running (i.e alternator giving out power) and switches on

 

[Sidewinder]

Canoe,

Yes please on the charging thing & the van set up!

 

[kme]

The dinky-toy I had was fitted with a 700w constant (x2 for 10 mins, apparently).......Hard wired back to engine bay. I left it in the van when I swapped; cos I hardly used the damn thing in 3 years.....FWIW

 

[Lee321]

you should really go for a true sine wave as increasingly battery drill chargers will not work on half wave/simulated