Run a 240v cable to the garage?

[Chuns]

Hello, does anybody have enough experience with Adrias to be able answer this?

I would like to install a 240v socket in the garage on my Coral so that I can charge the ebike batteries off the inverter while we are driving.

All the electrical gubbins is under the seat just inside the hab door, and I thought I might simply drill a hole through the floor (though it is a double floor) and run the cable back and up through the floor there.

Is there anything fundamentally wrong with that idea? Obvs the flex cable will be properly secured, and the entry/exit points sealed with loads of Sikaflex.

I have access the the water heater from the garage, and although I didn’t specify electric water heating I wondered whether it might be standard practice for there to be 240v there, even if unused.

I’d be keen to learn from anybody else’s opinions.

Thanks in advance.

 

[The Wino]

If there is a 240v supply there I'm not sure how you would power it from the inverter.

 

[pappajohn]

No reason not to do as you say but the inverter will need to be as close as possible to the starter battery.
Any existing 240v wiring in the garage will be on hookup only so to tap into the existing will need the supply end rewiring to the inverter which of course means the electric water heater will also only work on inverter.

 

[Chuns]

Yes, I wasn’t clear there, if that was a simple option to take I would only be able to do it when on hook up, which for us is only about 20% of the time.

I had thought about a changeover switch, such that the supply to the regular sockets could be either mains or the inverter, but that adds a layer of complication.

Thank you for your thought.

 

[Chuns]

No reason not to do as you say but the inverter will need to be as close as possible to the starter battery.
Any existing 240v wiring in the garage will be on hookup only so to tap into the existing will need the supply end rewiring to the inverter which of course means the electric water heater will also only work on inverter.

Thanks, Pappajohn. Yes the inverter is where it should be, powers only one socket and performs its major function of driving my coffee machine. It also does the bike batteries, but mai waif moans about them being in ‘her’ area.

I don’t have an electric water heater, but was wondering whether the supply was in the loom that feeds the gas powered heating unit.

I’ll give it big attention over winter.

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[Lazyboy]

Have you an inverter fitted already and if so does it power all the existing sockets in the van? If so, can you not connect to an existing socket inside the van and run a cable into the garage from there?

 

[grasscutter]

Without getting complicated why not just run an extension cable from the inverter to the garage.

 

[Chuns]

Thank you. Lazyboy, yes I have an inverter, and no, it powers its own dedicated socket. There is the capability to take a feed from its output - it was more the drilling holes in the floor I was concerned about.

Grasscutter - yes exactly that. There is no obvious, or easily accessible route through the interior of the van, which is why I was investigating the implications of drilling holes in the floor.

Thank you, both.

 

[DBK]

Thank you. Lazyboy, yes I have an inverter, and no, it powers its own dedicated socket. There is the capability to take a feed from its output - it was more the drilling holes in the floor I was concerned about.

Grasscutter - yes exactly that. There is no obvious, or easily accessible route through the interior of the van, which is why I was investigating the implications of drilling holes in the floor.

Thank you, both.

The only implications I can think of about drilling holes in the floor is hitting a pipe or wire.

If there isn't an existing hole you can use I can only suggest choose your spot to drill after checking it is clear underneath. You could try one of those detectors for finding wires in walls if you have one as an extra check but I'm not sure how well they will work on a vehicle.

Drill carefully so you only just break through the top floor. Then poke about, moving any insulation out of the way until you can feel it is free all the way to the outer skin. Then drill the second hole.

 

[Chuns]

Perfect answer, thank you.

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