Inverter

Re: Inverter - Legal & Insurance implications

I would say there is only one answer to this and that is to comply with ISO 13297 which is the European standard for A/C wiring attached to the European small craft directive. This may not be the 'best' or only way of doing things but in the event of an accident to can point the insurance company at it. If you don't comply with a recognised standard there is always a risk that in the event of an accident (whether electrocution or an electrical fire) your insurance could hold you liable because they suspect a sub standard installation. If doing substantial work (such as installing an inverter) it might also be worth getting a qualified electrician to check the installation and issue a safety cert' which is relatively cheap compared to getting them to do the work!

ISO13297:2000 is available as a pdf here www.sychut.com/nav/el/iso13297
Useful general site for RCD is available from the RYA (members only though) at www.rcdweb.com

The gist of the regulation is that all cases on 240v equipment must be separately connected to an external ground plate. If an RCD is fitted on the shore-power inlet covering all appliances or no shore-power is fitted then the 240v ground and 12v ground need not be connected (which I think is an advantage as it reduces potential galvanic problems and any risk of the 12v system being fed live 240v) If no 'whole ship RCD is fitted then the 240v ground must have an additional connection 'as close as practicable' to the batt neg.

The full document is worth reading and is relatively simple and straightforward but I would suggest that if you are not confident you understand it you should be getting an electrician to do the work!
 
Re: Fine but we are talking about a 1.5kW inverter going live casing

I have contacted the dealer so i will post the outcome tomorrow! Very big subject. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
Re: Fine but we are talking about a 1.5kW inverter going live casing

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But the DVD player is double insulated - so doesn't have an earth anyway....

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Indeed, as I said above.

It is also most likely that the "live/phase" and "neutral" from the inverter are in fact floating, in the same way as an isolating transformer.

This means that in order to get a "shock" you must connect across both terminals. This is why you use such devices in shaver sockets in bathrooms.

Be interested to see what the manufacturer says to cover his ass.
 
Re: Fine but we are talking about a 1.5kW inverter going live casing

So perhaps that is the better way to do it .... leave earth out of it - because we all know that birds can land on powerlines without getting a shock.
 
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Just as in your house a short to earth through you can kill.

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Yes but this can only happen because the neutral side of the supply is also connected to earth at the substation thus providing a return path for the current.


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If you have an RCD on the supply this is a very good safeguard and it will work very well regardless of any earth

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An RCD will NOT WORK CORRECTLY unless there is a well connected earth at it is this earth path that provides the return of the current giving the difference in current in the live and neutral lines through the RCD,

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Regardless of this, 240V and water are potentially dangerous and I would like to be sure that no fault in any device

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Very true but dont let the fact that the earth lead of an appliance is connected to a earth plate, the electrrical systen also needs the neutral side of the supply connected to the earth to provide a return path for the leaking current.

Therefore my logic says the if both supply (inverter) and the applience earth must be connected to provide this return path why must it also be connected to a earth (ground) plate immersed in the sea.

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If what you say is correct we would not have an earthing system on any domestic wiring at home.

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No that is not what I an saying as at home your supply (enectrical substation) neutral is connected to ground (earth) and there is no earth wire fron the substation to you house, so the earth wire in you house must be also connected to ground (earth) to provide this return path for any leakage current.

This is the same as the shore power connection but not the internal inverter / generator which will / should have all the earth connection connected together and to the neutral side at the inverter / generator thus in an INTERNAL mains supply system a connection is not neccessary but could still be done if it makes you feel safer.

I have done a lot of thinking about this as I am building a steel hull/deck yacht and wish to keep all electrical connection away from the hull execpt the anodes and the SSB arial ground for reasone to prevent electrolytic corrosion of the hull
 
This was the reply from Sterling-

connect to your bonding circuit, usually the bat neg , about a 15 amp cable
-----Original Message-----
From: STERLING POWER PRODUCTS [mailto:public@sterling-power.com]
Sent: 04 July 2007 01:07
To: help@sterling-power.com
Subject: FW: sterling-power.com Form Submission Results







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From: sterling-power.com [mailto:public@sterling-power.com]
Sent: 03 July 2007 18:14
To: STERLING POWER PRODUCTS
Subject: sterling-power.com Form Submission Results



Contact from sterling-power.com



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Message I have got your 1800w inverter on my yacht. I lost the instructions but basically where should the earth wire be attached to. Some people say the battery negative and others say a plate under the hull in the water? Also what size earth wire?
Regards,
Andy
 
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