Date:         Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:46:52 -0600
Reply-To:     Paul Connelly <vanagonhummingbird@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Paul Connelly <vanagonhummingbird@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Inverter Questions
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Hi Volks,

I am hoping to install a small inverter into the van. I was considering the
"secret" spot behind the 240V sockets and beside the faucet water pump,
against the "wall" between it and the lower closet. I have run 10awg cables
behind the cabinetry to the auxiliary battery (Optima D34/78 run with the
"stock relay" setup). Not great ventilation in that location, but reasonable
volume of air, and the inverter has an internal fan. Its only a 500 Watt
unit with a no load draw of 0.3 Amps. The installation guide recommends a
100 Amp Fuse or circuit breaker close to the +ve battery connection and I
was going to put in a switch to eliminate the no load draw when not in use.
I was going to then take the output (2 x 240V standard outlet plugs) and
wire them into the little distribution box with the circuit breaker below
the power outlets. However the installation instructions say that's a
"no-no". Does anyone see any problems with setting the inverter up this way?
(Or any better ideas - I don't plan a lot of 240V use but would be nice for
the laptop or DVD player etc).

TIA

Cheers, Paul.
1986 Syncro Westy - Hummingbird

PS Now have the radiator fan working, the vacuum booster from thew old CC
removed, another seemingly futile piece of old electrical crap removed from
between the rear taillights with a connector to nowhere, fixed the low
charge at the alternator after reconnecting the grounds after the fan issue
- thought that that was the cause, but no - just coincidence and cleaning up
the commutators, brushes grounds etc around the alternator fixed that one,
then finally the O2 sensor light switch on the chassis rail - succeeded in
getting rid of that light on the dash (wouldn't go out until I had fixed the
alternator issue!). Oh, also fixed the dometic (again) with a new igniter
and general clean up.

Still need to replace the poptop canvas and one of the rocker cover gaskets
(and figure out the inverter and then I can go camping again....)

Thanks to all for all of the help and advice!!!