Grr inverter stopped

[Fisherman]

Yes. That was the first thing I did. K

Could be a faulty breaker switch in distribution box.

 

[Clunegapyears]

Could be a faulty breaker switch in distribution box.

Thank you. Is this something I could check / look at? If so how.
K

 

[Fisherman]

Thank you. Is this something I could check / look at? If so how.
K

No not unless you are knowledgeable enough. I would make do with using socket on inverter, until someone with skill set can look at it.

 

[wildebus]

Generally speaking, the physical cables themselves rarely go wrong so the problem will most likely be with the plug that goes into the inverter (probably a standard 13A UK Plug or maybe a European Schuko plug, depending on where the inverter was bought) or the socket at the other end where it is connected to whatever distribution setup you have.

Something that could be useful is an NCV - Non Contact Voltage - Tester. As the name suggests, you test for a voltage without needing to make contact with a bare wire so is very safe for anyone to use, and so you could say place this by the socket and check it if beeps. Then plug in the plug and place the tester against the cable a few inches away and see if it beeps. You can run the tester along the cable where you can get access and see if you get beeping or not. This might help determine at what position the power is not getting through?
Not foolproof as if you have an active live and a ground in the cable you will get a beep so it won't find a problem with Neutral but as an initial check I think it could be useful and something to have in the van anyway so is an investment.
This is an example from Amazon Turkey ... https://www.amazon.com.tr/Sayımları...Süreklilik-Otomatik/dp/B0D13DDZ1B/ref=sr_1_42
Not sure how much 750 Turkish Lire is, but in the UK these are around £15.

You can also use these on breakers but have to watch for false positives with so many wires in a box that might be radiating power to a tester (set to high sensitivity to try and eliminate that).

 

[YeoBlade]

Do you have an Automatic change over system from EHU mains to the battery Inverter? That may have failed.

 

[merl]

Yep Julian, the OP already said

The system is set up so that it thinks it is on EHU whenever the inverter is switched on.

So I'd say the problem will lie with the automatic change over relay or it's wiring.
If the van works OK on EHU then you could perform a workaround by connecting the EHU lead to the vans external socket as usual and then plug your EHU lead into the inverter.
........ hopefully the OP didn't leave their 13A adaptor at home

 

[YeoBlade]

// Yep Julian, the OP already said//

'The system is set up so that it thinks it is on EHU whenever the inverter is switched on.'


Ah the semantics fooled me, but now I've re-read it. Almost certainly the switch over relay/contactor failure. But is that incorporated in the inverter itself as is common now (but it looks an older model) or sperate stand alone

 

[wildebus]

Yep Julian, the OP already said

So I'd say the problem will lie with the automatic change over relay or it's wiring.
If the van works OK on EHU then you could perform a workaround by connecting the EHU lead to the vans external socket as usual and then plug your EHU lead into the inverter.

........ hopefully the OP didn't leave their 13A adaptor at home

Post #18

 

[merl]

Post #18

Got fed up reading well before post 18

 

[merl]

'The system is set up so that it thinks it is on EHU whenever the inverter is switched on.'


Ah the semantics fooled me, but now I've re-read it. Almost certainly the switch over relay/contactor failure. But is that incorporated in the inverter itself as is common now (but it looks an older model) or sperate stand alone

It looks like a Edecoa model Julian, I have one and there's no UPS built in and I've had to add my own auto change over. Anyways...as has been pointed out above the OP had actually plugged his EHU into the inverter and it worked fine so it's deffo a fault with whatever's doing the change over or the wiring there of. He may have a auto transfer switch/breaker in his CU?

 

[wildebus]

Got fed up reading well before post 18

bit daft trying to give advice then, isn't it.

sorry, your comment was no doubt meant to amuse, but it didn't.

 

[Fisherman]

bit daft trying to give advice then, isn't it.

sorry, your comment was no doubt meant to amuse, but it didn't.

Done the same thing accidentally myself David

 

[merl]

bit daft trying to give advice then, isn't it.

Wellll, life's pretty daft and pointless anyway don't ya think? I mean what's it all for?? We're all going to die at some point anyway so why bother with anything eh? But the post DID give you the opportunity to have a bash so.....dip you're bread in big fella.

sorry, your comment was no doubt meant to amuse, but it didn't.

And? Did it offend you?
It didn't amuse you.....then don't laugh. And no need to apologise either BTW.

 

[Clunegapyears]

Generally speaking, the physical cables themselves rarely go wrong so the problem will most likely be with the plug that goes into the inverter (probably a standard 13A UK Plug or maybe a European Schuko plug, depending on where the inverter was bought) or the socket at the other end where it is connected to whatever distribution setup you have.

Something that could be useful is an NCV - Non Contact Voltage - Tester. As the name suggests, you test for a voltage without needing to make contact with a bare wire so is very safe for anyone to use, and so you could say place this by the socket and check it if beeps. Then plug in the plug and place the tester against the cable a few inches away and see if it beeps. You can run the tester along the cable where you can get access and see if you get beeping or not. This might help determine at what position the power is not getting through?
Not foolproof as if you have an active live and a ground in the cable you will get a beep so it won't find a problem with Neutral but as an initial check I think it could be useful and something to have in the van anyway so is an investment.
This is an example from Amazon Turkey ... https://www.amazon.com.tr/Sayımları-Aydınlatmalı-Kapasitans-Süreklilik-Otomatik/dp/B0D13DDZ1B/ref=sr_1_42
Not sure how much 750 Turkish Lire is, but in the UK these are around £15.

You can also use these on breakers but have to watch for false positives with so many wires in a box that might be radiating power to a tester (set to high sensitivity to try and eliminate that).

No haven’t one of those. And the cable out the top, which feeds the 220v disappears down inside the panels to below the inverter. So I wouldn’t be able to access it very far.
But thank you anyway David.

 

[Clunegapyears]

Do you have an Automatic change over system from EHU mains to the battery Inverter? That may have failed.

I don’t know … as tbh we are rarely on EHU and when we are, I wouldn’t put the inverter on.

 

[Clunegapyears]

Yep Julian, the OP already said

So I'd say the problem will lie with the automatic change over relay or it's wiring.
If the van works OK on EHU then you could perform a workaround by connecting the EHU lead to the vans external socket as usual and then plug your EHU lead into the inverter.
........ hopefully the OP didn't leave their 13A adaptor at home

Have the adapter!
But also have an extension cable so have plugged that in as it means I can use 220v in one location at least, but without having to have a window open.

 

[Robmac]

No haven’t one of those. And the cable out the top, which feeds the 220v disappears down inside the panels to below the inverter. So I wouldn’t be able to access it very far.
But thank you anyway David.

You may need an endoscope attached to a phone to follow the cable where it disappears.

Sorry, I know that doesn't help you at the moment, but when you get back you can pick one up for very little money, they can be very useful in a van.

 

[Clunegapyears]

Thank you all … so I’ve a work around with an extension cable inside from the inverter to my table. Just means my kitchen gadgets have to go on the table. I haven’t the tools or the skills to check what is going on between the inverter and the 220 system. And I might break a nail! It doesn’t sound like a repair a novice could do. If you hadn’t guessed from this … I’m female! Lol

About to head into Georgia. No repairers there but found a hire company who may have a contact who could look at it. Otherwise, it will have to wait until I bring the MH to the UK.

Thanks again
Katherine

 

[merl]

You'll have a 240v consumer unit in the van somewhere, it'll probably be close to the EHU inlet socket and look similar to this.

https://amzn.eu/d/7VXTcE8

Check and make sure all of the switch levers are UP.

 

[alcam]

Thank you all … so I’ve a work around with an extension cable inside from the inverter to my table. Just means my kitchen gadgets have to go on the table. I haven’t the tools or the skills to check what is going on between the inverter and the 220 system. And I might break a nail! It doesn’t sound like a repair a novice could do. If you hadn’t guessed from this … I’m female! Lol

About to head into Georgia. No repairers there but found a hire company who may have a contact who could look at it. Otherwise, it will have to wait until I bring the MH to the UK.

Thanks again
Katherine

Georgia sounds like a real adventure. I had to search the map !
Eaten in 2 Georgian restaurants in Poland. Food was great .
Enjoy