Electroblock and inverter

[3crispies]

Looking to add a small inverter and hoping to power up inbuilt sockets in motorhome. Just for laptop charging and low wattage electricals and battery trickle charger. Can I power inverter off LB and feed electroblock via the mains in point. Dont want to be removing too much to add inverter outlets. Also will fuse cabling for inverter local to LB with midi link type fuses if thats correct, and on a 375kVa what is max watts ?.

System is electroblock 252 with 5 no 240v sockets all manufacturer fitted with LB 120a Lead acid, and 200w solar foldable panels via Victron smart solar controller. Inverter victron 375kVa.

Tia

 

[RogerIvy]

Bear in mind that when you feed into existing 230v sockets you need to think about taking the fridge out of that supply - unless you have a compressor fridge.

The simplest is to power the inverter directly from the battery with appropriate fuse, and to change things in your consumer unit to sort the fridge out.

 

[autorouter]

Can I power inverter off LB and feed electroblock via the mains in point.

That's not a great idea. The only mains item inside the EBL is the battery charger, and you don't want the inverter powering the battery charger, charging the batteries, which are powering the inverter, which is powering the battery charger...

One way is to add some sockets connected only to the inverter. Another more complicated way is to find the wires in the consumer unit that go to the sockets, and put in a changeover switch so that they can run from either the hookup or the inverter supply. The changeover switch can be a manual switch. Or it can be an automatic 'transfer switch' that switches to the hookup supply whenever it is connected, and back to the inverter when the hookup is disconnected.

Either way, you will also want a way to switch off the inverter when it's not being used. It causes a small drain on the batteries even with no load, which is significant if it's on 24/7. If the inverter is not easily accessible, it can be fitted with a remote switch in a more convenient location.

 

[3crispies]

That's not a great idea. The only mains item inside the EBL is the battery charger, and you don't want the inverter powering the battery charger, charging the batteries, which are powering the inverter, which is powering the battery charger...

One way is to add some sockets connected only to the inverter. Another more complicated way is to find the wires in the consumer unit that go to the sockets, and put in a changeover switch so that they can run from either the hookup or the inverter supply. The changeover switch can be a manual switch. Or it can be an automatic 'transfer switch' that switches to the hookup supply whenever it is connected, and back to the inverter when the hookup is disconnected.

Either way, you will also want a way to switch off the inverter when it's not being used. It causes a small drain on the batteries even with no load, which is significant if it's on 24/7. If the inverter is not easily accessible, it can be fitted with a remote switch in a more convenient location.

Thanks and yeah see where your coming from, will do some cable tracing and sort from there. Just amazed a £k65+ motorhome doesn't come with an inverter our campers did...

 

[RogerIvy]

Thanks and yeah see where your coming from, will do some cable tracing and sort from there. Just amazed a £k65+ motorhome doesn't come with an inverter our campers did...

Yeah, you’d think …

Another option is to consider a Victron Multiplus. Does away with changeover switches etc. More costly than an inverter (especially less expensive ones off Amazon) but does have some additional benefits (Such as the option to specify how many amps your electric hookup can supply).

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[Stealaway]

Why not keep it simple and avoid Electroblok. Wire a series of specific sockets directly from the inverter 13a socket lead.
Isolate the inverter 12v power leads with a battery isolator switch.

 

[MisterB]

Sime Renogy inverters have an in built change over switch or pass through, makes things a lot simpler, check them out on YouTube and follow the advice of autorouter on how to set it up.

You may find your current battery is not ideal for a larger inverter, depending if course in what you want to power from it.

There are quite a few threads on inverters that might add more to your thinking process..

 

[Pausim]

Thanks and yeah see where your coming from, will do some cable tracing and sort from there. Just amazed a £k65+ motorhome doesn't come with an inverter our campers did...

An inverter was on the options list when I bought in 2019. Not everyone wants an inverter so having it as an options makes sense, otherwise people are paying for kit they don’t need or use. I chose to have some extra inverter fed sockets fitted by the dealer, it works well for me having separate circuits.

 

[jezport]

You also need to ensure that you don't make the EHU connection live in the side of the van.