Inverter for SW 110 and electrics confusion

Hi all, I have an inverter in my 110 and not sure how it all works. The inverter appears to be quite old and there are 5 square relays on a board and 2 coil relays, (I think). Also there is a battery charger terminal that I assume attaches to a battery charger that I haven't found yet.

The first two photos are of the box below the drivers seat and the 3rd photo is the main battery which connects to the invertor via a channel through the Cubby box

Does anyone recognise this type of set up?

Reckon that is your battery charger, it certainly got the right ammeter, all those relays should have a fuse in them, is it an inverter for welding or creating 240 Volts?

Hi Freelance, yes the inverter is for creating 240v

Could take a while to figure that mess out, think I'd be tempted to rip it out and start again, that way you will know what the wiring you install actually does. Would be worth testing the inverter out of the vehicle rather than spending ages on the wiring to find out later it is dead. Must admit it looks like a rather home made looking affair, are you 100% sure it is actually an inverter and not something else?

I've just zoomed in on the first picture and the label on the box says 'disconnect mains before opening', to me this sounds like it is supplied with mains (rather than actually generating it) so that is probably a battery charger, do you have a picture of the actual inverter?

or £21.95 for this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Modif...cf5ca0&pid=100010&rk=8&rkt=24&sd=321935976841

Kwakerman said:

I've just zoomed in on the first picture and the label on the box says 'disconnect mains before opening', to me this sounds like it is supplied with mains (rather than actually generating it) so that is probably a battery charger, do you have a picture of the actual inverter?

Click to expand...

And indeed there's a label on the switch, that could well say "battery charger"

simonlap said:

or £21.95 for this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Modified-Sine-1500W-3000W-Peak-Wave-Auto-Power-Inverter-DC-12V-to-AC-230/142030882373?_trksid=p2047675.c100010.m2109&_trkparms=aid=555012&algo=PW.MBE&ao=2&asc=37474&meid=7f12d3709a5449a3966bf0338dcf5ca0&pid=100010&rk=8&rkt=24&sd=321935976841

Click to expand...

That seems incredibly cheap for an inverter of that output, maybe too cheap ??
I know very little about electrics BUT I would be worried about drawing that much power from a 12v fag lighter socket as per the advert, I think (can't say for sure) the supply wires would need to be quite substantial. At least that was the recommendation for my camper car fitment.

frog hopper said:

That seems incredibly cheap for an inverter of that output, maybe too cheap ??
I know very little about electrics BUT I would be worried about drawing that much power from a 12v fag lighter socket as per the advert, I think (can't say for sure) the supply wires would need to be quite substantial. At least that was the recommendation for my camper car fitment.

Click to expand...

Spec says 1500Watts and 90% efficiency, at 12v that equates to just under 140Amps at full load, most lighter sockets are rated / fused for about 15Amps tops.

Craigo38 said:

Hi Freelance, yes the inverter is for creating 240v

Click to expand...

I doubt it.

That in the pic isn't anything like an inverter, as they say, battery charger by the looks.

Seen quite few in boats, anything producing a decent size 240 supply will be quite bulky, and mounted on, or in, some kind of heat sink. Usually a finned ali casting.

I've had bad experiences with cheap inverters. If you do buy one, plug something that draws a reasonable current before you plug any low current expensive thing in. The voltage control seems to a bit lax with a low draw and killed two 'phones and an expensive toothbrush charger - all separately and on different inverters. I'm a slow learner.

I only ever used inverters directly from the slave battery, never through the auxilliary lighter socket. There are some notes as what not to plug ionto the inverter at the bottom of the Ebay advert.

Ok guys, thanks for your help. I do believe kwakerman is correct, it is in fact a battery charger, which the 240v hook up connects to.

So I think it might be wise to start again with a slightly more basic system. Although I will keep the 240v hook up just in case.

I have attached a diagram of what I would like to achieve, can anyone tell me what relays I may need and fuses, as haven't a clue where they should go, if any.[GALLERY=][/GALLERY]