Power tech Inverter 300w.

Submitted: Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 20:38
ThreadID: 29122 Views:10020 Replies:5 FollowUps:8
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Bought an inverter today, after reading the instructions I am confused. When connecting the alligator clips to the battery (positive and negative) do I need to still connect the additional earth to the chassis? what is this earth for? I will do a more permanent fit after the xmas trip.
Thanks for your replies. Alex.
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Reply By: ACDC - Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 20:48

Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 20:48
Earth leakage protection,a bite hard to do in a vehicle with rubber tyres as the vehicle is not earthed,most people don't bother with it.
AnswerID: 145326

Reply By: Member - Jerry C (WA) - Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 21:51

Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 21:51
Hi Alex,
I haven't been into the circuit of these inverters but amongst other things it may be a requirement to protect your vehicle electrics from an intenal inverter fault where 240 volts could feed back through the 12 volt input wiring and kill your car.

Just a thought,

Jerry
AnswerID: 145331

Reply By: 4145derek - Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 23:45

Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 23:45
Hi there,

Derek

90 % of the inverters I fit don't require an earth but if it is a pure sine wave then it must be earthed. Modified ones generally don't.

I would also dump the alligator clips and fit Anderson plugs (less sparks around the battery !)

Regards Derek.
AnswerID: 145347

Follow Up By: Wok - Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 at 07:17

Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 at 07:17
Derek,

If pure-sinewave inverters need an earth wouldn't it be next to impractical/useless as a permanent fixture in a vehicle?...also how would it perform if fed from a generator?

eng
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Follow Up By: 4145derek - Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 at 07:24

Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 at 07:24
Most Pure sine wave inverters are quite large and are permanent and most people would not run an inverter off a generator.
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Follow Up By: Member - 'Lucy' - Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 at 10:45

Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 at 10:45
Ahhhh! Wok-boy. you still a-rive.

Merry X-mas and a Happy New Year to you and the Wombats.
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Follow Up By: ACDC - Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 at 14:16

Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 at 14:16
Earthed to what! the cars not earthed it has rubber tyres.
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Follow Up By: Wok - Sunday, Dec 25, 2005 at 07:59

Sunday, Dec 25, 2005 at 07:59
Ahso...."Member-Lucy" .....many thanks for your well wishes.

May the dragons bless You & your Family for the Season & New Year.....

ps: its the wombaks....not wombats
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FollowupID: 399033

Follow Up By: Wok - Sunday, Dec 25, 2005 at 08:06

Sunday, Dec 25, 2005 at 08:06
ACDC,

This is what I am trying to establish.....if an earth is neccesary for [a] safety or [b] to get a "pure sine wave" .

[Q] has anyone tested such an inverter when running in a vehicle to see if it actually does produce "pure sine wave" ?

eng
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FollowupID: 399034

Follow Up By: ACDC - Sunday, Dec 25, 2005 at 11:47

Sunday, Dec 25, 2005 at 11:47
Earthing to the vehicle does nothing.
When the boy's in blue set up the booze bus the first thing they do is knock an earth stake in the ground.
If you were camping for a period you could do the same .
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FollowupID: 399060

Reply By: Willem - Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 at 08:25

Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 at 08:25
Alex

I have a Powertech 150watt Pure Sinewave inverter.

Yes I have earthed it and hardwired the other wires to the battery.

Three years ago the inverter blew a condenser. A knowledgable mate repaired it for me. I was running the laptop off it and I believe the power draw from the laptop was too much(dunno I am not a leccy expert). Now I run the laptop off a Kerio DC cig plug.

Since then have not had a problem. Run the night light and charge batteries off the inverter.
AnswerID: 145369

Follow Up By: Original Banjo (SA) - Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 at 18:04

Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 at 18:04
Juzd looked at my power supply running this laptop Willem - 240V X 2.4 A = getting close to 600W - maybe yours gets near that too.
Cheers....Darian
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FollowupID: 398966

Reply By: Member - 'Lucy' - Tuesday, Dec 27, 2005 at 16:16

Tuesday, Dec 27, 2005 at 16:16
G'day Alex.

Now where are you/we/us with this vexing earth problem.

WTF does he want to know for, well I was given the exact same inverter for X-mas and yep it has the earth terminal on it also,

However in the directions - it gives four options.

(1) Earth to Neg terminal on inverter.

(2) Earth to vehicle chassis. I have a problem with that because if whatever is leaking 230V into the chassis, the first coota to bridge same from chassis to ground ouside may get a tickle or two or while leaning on the cab-chassis and touch the inverter might find a finger missing.

Who can advise on this option.

(3) Earth to earthing rod in the ground

(4) Ignor it and fly by the seat of your pants.

I think they have covered the lot there.

So whats the verdict.

Regards

Ken Robinson
AnswerID: 145726

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