Date:         Tue, 19 Jun 2007 11:44:24 -0400
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Quality Inverters
Comments: To: detter@MAIL.AURACOM.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

What, you have the inverter output wired directly to the Westy wring? That
means when the inverter is on, you can have power at the male plug at the
Westy power inlet! Wait, it gets better. You plug in an extension cord and
the plug there can also get energized. Imagine someone some how getting in
contact with this cord sitting on the ground or maybe back feeding into an
RV park electrical grid. When someone gets that shock, you better have some
good liability protection. Just just list some of the codes broken.

The inverter is not designed or listed be wired into any power distribution
system.
The inverter is not designed or listed for installation in an RV.
You have multiple power sources with out mechanical interlock and electrical
isolation.
The inverter does not have a grounded, (neutral) output so a short can
potentially energize the body of the van. Imagine grabbing a door handle
with bare wet feet and lighting up.

Yes, I am being extreme here but this can be a deadly situation. The Westy
is not so large that an inverter can't be installed and anything you want to
use gets plugged into it directly.

Dennis

>From: David Etter <detter@MAIL.AURACOM.COM>
>Reply-To: David Etter <detter@MAIL.AURACOM.COM>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Quality Inverters
>Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2007 11:28:51 -0300
>
>Just a note about Canadian Tire (a.k.a. China Tire) Inverters. Their
>450 Watt model is suspect. I have gone through 3 of them, all
>replaced under warranty as the first 2 each quit in less than 30
>days. I now also carry a spare by Cobra and I've got my fingers
>crossed.
>        My very first Inverter (I forget the brand) was a 300 Watt
>and it ran the Dometic for two years without a problem until I cooked
>it by plugging into a AC outlet before unplugging the inverter.
>Bummer...
>
>                                David(dsl82westy)
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>>Many of those fridges, even though they only draw 70 watts, they need a
>>momentary "slam" of 600 or so watts to start the compressor. for the
>>record,
>>the "digital" inverters from Canadian Tire can handle this, in particular
>>the 800 watt model. Last summer, I ran a cheap household/bar  Danby 4.5 cu
>>ft fridge off of an Optima Yellow-Top with this particular inverter (in an
>>RV).
>>
>>YMMV
>>Tom