Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2007 10:35:27 -0700
Reply-To: "Mike \"Rocket J Squirrel\" Elliott" <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Mike \"Rocket J Squirrel\" Elliott" <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Quality Inverters
In-Reply-To: <f06240802c29db64c0c69@[192.168.1.100]>
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All that is well and good, but I know it would be a disaster if I tried
it, even if I checked for leakage currents to make sure that I wouldn't
fry myself. You see, I just know that some day I'd forget to disconnect
the output of the inverter from the little "grid" in the van before
connecting shore power. Bzzzzzt. Smell of fried electronic bits. Hasty
grab for fire extinguisher. Cursing to follow.
--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
KG6RCR
On 6/19/2007 9:47 AM David Etter wrote:
> Hi Dennis:
> We live in a dangerous world here. The Inverter does have a
> ground (3 prong) and it is grounded to the chassis and operating
> through a GFI circuit.. Previous to that, I had personally tested the
> 'shock value' several times and yes.. I now have curly hair and can
> read "Women's Thoughts" but it was only an annoyance not a killer,
> the shock that is, not the mind reading, now that's potentially life
> threatening.
> I assume the danger of shock is no greater than and perhaps
> even less than when tied into a campground and visitors arrive. Other
> than that it's a limited access bus. It's a great though for a
> burglar deterrent... thanks....
>
> David(dsl82westy)
>
> P.S.: Lessons from Mel Gibson followed.
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>
>
>> 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
>>
>
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