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Home > Archive > Alternative Power sources > November 2005 > Inverters (bonding)
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Inverters (bonding)
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| Hi all, Is there a simple way to tell if an
inverter can be hooked-up to a home?
(The ground can be bonded to nertral?)
Rob
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| Robert Morein 2005-11-03, 5:21 pm |
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"Rob" <beprivat@here.org> wrote in message
news:3qSdnYejgqoC7_fenZ2dnUVZ_tidnZ2d@rogers.com...
> Hi all, Is there a simple way to tell if an
> inverter can be hooked-up to a home?
> (The ground can be bonded to nertral?)
> Rob
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| Robert Morein 2005-11-03, 5:21 pm |
|
"Rob" <beprivat@here.org> wrote in message
news:3qSdnYejgqoC7_fenZ2dnUVZ_tidnZ2d@rogers.com...
> Hi all, Is there a simple way to tell if an
> inverter can be hooked-up to a home?
> (The ground can be bonded to nertral?)
> Rob
If the inverter is UL approved, yes.
If not, probably no.
Practically none (maybe none!) of the portable inverters allow this.
As you get up into the 1000 watts + class, particularly sinewave, it is
common to see UL approval.
Also, it seems that all of the inverter/charger combos have this feature.
In the common form of portable inverter, neutral to ground bonding will
cause either a protective fuse to blow, or catastrophic failure of the
inverter.
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| petersonra@aol.com 2005-11-03, 5:21 pm |
| Why do you believe a neutral-ground bond will cause the inverter to
fail or the overcurrent device to trip?
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| "Robert Morein" <nowhere@nowhere.com> wrote in news:y5KdncmZ2r966_feRVn-
qQ@giganews.com:
>
> "Rob" <beprivat@here.org> wrote in message
> news:3qSdnYejgqoC7_fenZ2dnUVZ_tidnZ2d@rogers.com...
>
> If the inverter is UL approved, yes.
> If not, probably no.
> Practically none (maybe none!) of the portable inverters allow this.
> As you get up into the 1000 watts + class, particularly sinewave, it is
> common to see UL approval.
> Also, it seems that all of the inverter/charger combos have this feature.
>
> In the common form of portable inverter, neutral to ground bonding will
> cause either a protective fuse to blow, or catastrophic failure of the
> inverter.
>
>
>
Thanks, 2 yrs ago I did the same thing to a xantrex 1750W. Did it again
today. And I may do it again next year,(Plugged it into the 'unswitched
netral' circut, (I have 2 unswitched and 1 switched) and, Poof, the little
red light comes on). So I see a trend. I need the
equipment to be smarter than I, get rid of the three odd ball inverters
(well just 2 left now) and get one decent (affortable) inverter. Looking
at a Prosine 1800W. Manual says its UL & CSA rated. Dont need a battery
charger, and can't justify the $$$ for an outback.
Thanks for the reply, make the search easier..............Rob
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| petersonra@aol.com wrote in news:1131051128.724058.96450
@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com:
> Why do you believe a neutral-ground bond will cause the inverter to
> fail or the overcurrent device to trip?
>
Experiance,
Rob
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| Derek Broughton 2005-11-03, 9:21 pm |
| Rob wrote:
> "Robert Morein" <nowhere@nowhere.com> wrote in news:y5KdncmZ2r966_feRVn-
> qQ@giganews.com:
>
>
> Thanks, 2 yrs ago I did the same thing to a xantrex 1750W. Did it again
> today. And I may do it again next year,(Plugged it into the 'unswitched
> netral' circut, (I have 2 unswitched and 1 switched) and, Poof, the little
> red light comes on). So I see a trend. I need the
> equipment to be smarter than I, get rid of the three odd ball inverters
> (well just 2 left now) and get one decent (affortable) inverter. Looking
> at a Prosine 1800W. Manual says its UL & CSA rated. Dont need a battery
> charger, and can't justify the $$$ for an outback.
>
> Thanks for the reply, make the search easier..............Rob
Except I don't think UL listing is enough. Outbacks work well - mine is
bonded to neutral.
--
derek
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| Derek Broughton <news@pointerstop.ca> wrote in
news:j5oq33-fjr.ln1@news.pointerstop.ca:
> Except I don't think UL listing is enough. Outbacks work well - mine
> is bonded to neutral.
HEY EVERYONE........DEREK HAS AN O U T B A C K !!!!!!!!
Useless reply, had you read the post. Never pass a chance to stroke
your ego? eh
Rob
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| Bill Kaszeta / Photovoltaic Resources 2005-11-03, 10:21 pm |
| Most of the small inverters (under about 500W) seem to use a circuit
that boosts the DC to about 80 volts, then inverts this without isolation.
The result is that if one measures ac voltage from the round (grounding)
pin on USA type plugs to either of the flat blades there will be about 60
volts AC. If the ground is connected to what would conventionally be the
neutral blade befor the DC power is applied, the inverter will not start, but
may survive. Making a connection on an operating inverter will damage
the inverter beyond repair (and not covered by warranty). Experienced
this with Xantrex, Coleman, and store brand units. Some of the user
instructions warn of this, but not all. Best to make the above measurement.
On 3 Nov 2005 12:52:08 -0800, petersonra@aol.com wrote:
>Why do you believe a neutral-ground bond will cause the inverter to
>fail or the overcurrent device to trip?
>
Bill Kaszeta
Photovoltaic Resources Int'l
Tempe Arizona USA
bill@pvri-removethis.biz
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| Also check on the ones with a GFI outlet , they are isolated and very good,
no Chinese junk.
"Rob" <beprivat@here.org> wrote in message
news:pKednS50IKUmIffenZ2dnUVZ_sqdnZ2d@rogers.com...
> Derek Broughton <news@pointerstop.ca> wrote in
> news:j5oq33-fjr.ln1@news.pointerstop.ca:
>
> HEY EVERYONE........DEREK HAS AN O U T B A C K !!!!!!!!
>
> Useless reply, had you read the post. Never pass a chance to stroke
> your ego? eh
> Rob
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| Derek Broughton 2005-11-04, 10:21 am |
| Rob wrote:
> Derek Broughton <news@pointerstop.ca> wrote in
> news:j5oq33-fjr.ln1@news.pointerstop.ca:
>
> HEY EVERYONE........DEREK HAS AN O U T B A C K !!!!!!!!
>
> Useless reply, had you read the post. Never pass a chance to stroke
> your ego? eh
Yes, I did. Sorry you didn't think it worthwhile. You said you couldn't
justify an outback - but if you can't get another inverter that won't trip,
then perhaps it justifies itself.
Since you're not actually interested in serious responses, I shan't bother
continuing with this.
--
derek
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