Earthing the inverter

[coopec43]

I've tried doing a search on the threads to find an answer to my query but I find then a bit too technical.

Today I installed a 24V 2000W/4000W Giandel inverter. They supplied the earthing wire (cable?) and the earthing terminal on the inverter chassis is clearly marked. (Incidentally I have a rotating 100A ON/OFF switch for the inverter)

Now where do I attach the earth cable? I have a number of negative bus bars, the motor negative. Can I attach it to one of them?

Since I have lightning strips should I attach it to one of them?

Thanks in advance.


ANOTHER QUESTION


I'd like to test the inverter under load. I have 240V AC at the pen. I have a 50A 24v battery charger. Is it OK to hook the battery charger up and then test the inverter under full load for 30 seconds or so to (say) test the HWS, toaster etc?

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by coopec43

I've tried doing a search on the threads to find an answer to my query but I find then a bit too technical.

Today I installed a 24V 2000W/4000W Giandel inverter. They supplied the earthing wire (cable?) and the earthing terminal on the inverter chassis is clearly marked. (Incidentally I have a rotating 100A ON/OFF switch for the inverter)

Now where do I attach the earth cable? I have a number of negative bus bars, the motor negative. Can I attach it to one of them?

Since I have lightning strips should I attach it to one of them?

Thanks in advance.


ANOTHER QUESTION


I'd like to test the inverter under load. I have 240V AC at the pen. I have a 50A 24v battery charger. Is it OK to hook the battery charger up and then test the inverter under full load for 30 seconds or so to (say) test the HWS, toaster etc?

No! You attach the ground wire straight from the ground terminal of the inverter to the ground busbar. This is where the ground wires of all the outlets are connected as well.

Edit: if you don’t have outlets… to answer you I need to know if you have shore power and where that is connected to (incl. ground)

[Uncle G]

As Jedi has already said, "All bonding should be done at one central point. It is not acceptable to bond various parts of the system in various separate places. This can cause voltage differentials between various parts of the hull which can lead to stray current erosion."

a quote from:
SmartGauge Electronics - To bond or not to bond - Hulls and electrical earthing

[coopec43]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

No! You attach the ground wire straight from the ground terminal of the inverter to the ground busbar. This is where the ground wires of all the outlets are connected as well.

Edit: if you don’t have outlets… to answer you I need to know if you have shore power and where that is connected to (incl. ground)

I have X4 lightning strips, engine intake thru hull (S/S) and a S/S inlet and outlet. (I plan to replace the S/S thru hulls with TruDesign thru hulls at first opportunity)

If I attach the inverter earth to a lightning strip as well as the thru hulls is that OK?

I'm a bit confused. The inverter has three 240V outlets

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

No! You attach the ground wire straight from the ground terminal of the inverter to the ground busbar. This is where the ground wires of all the outlets are connected as well.
Edit: if you don’t have outlets… to answer you I need to know if you have shore power and where that is connected to (incl. ground)

The Giandel inverter is only intended to power it's integral receptacles, not a remote AC panel.
The inverter grounding terminal should be connected to the engine negative terminal [where the negative battery cable is connected], or it’s AC grounding bus.

See: “The connection between AC, DC, Bonding, Grounding, and Lightning Protection systems”
➥ https://newboatbuilders.com/pages/electricity14.html

[coopec43]

Originally Posted by GordMay

The Giandel inverter is only intended to power it's integral receptacles, not a remote AC panel.
The inverter grounding terminal should be connected to the engine negative terminal [where the negative battery cable is connected], or it’s AC grounding bus.

See: “The connection between AC, DC, Bonding, Grounding, and Lightning Protection systems”
➥ https://newboatbuilders.com/pages/electricity14.html

Thank you Gord.

I realise now I just came across the same article!!!

I have just read the following which seems to be in agreement with what you say (I'll have to read the whole article) My Inverter has X3 240V AC outlets.

"Grounding is making a connection between systems or equipment on a boat to bring that system or equipment to zero voltage potential, or earth ground. The grounding system may be connected to the engine negative terminal, or connected to a grounding buss that is connected to the engine negative terminal.

The Connection Between Bonding, Grounding And Lightning

https://newboatbuilders.com/pages/electricity14.html

[s/v Jedi]

No answer on shore power yet…

[coopec43]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

No answer on shore power yet…

There is a power outlet for each pen which I assume has RCD. Currently I have an extension cord from the power outlet to the 240V appliance

My yacht is not wired for 240V . If it was I'd have to get the yacht wired for 249V and get a suitable plug installed on the cabin side(?) When I look at other yachts/boats they have electrical cords disappearing down the gangway.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by coopec43

There is a power outlet for each pen which I assume has RCD. Currently I have an extension cord from the power outlet to the 240V appliance

My yacht is not wired for 240V . If it was I'd have to get the yacht wired for 249V and get a suitable plug installed on the cabin side(?) When I look at other yachts/boats they have electrical cords disappearing down the gangway.

Sorry that this is so difficult but I simply don’t understand you. Do you or do you not have shore power? Is there an inlet and a cable you can connect to shore for power?

I also don’t know what a pen is. I have never heard of 249V installations and suitable plugs for cabin side?

I’m afraid I can’t follow a word of what you write while I think my question is so basic, so simple…

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Sorry that this is so difficult but I simply don’t understand you. Do you or do you not have shore power? Is there an inlet and a cable you can connect to shore for power?

I also don’t know what a pen is. I have never heard of 249V installations and suitable plugs for cabin side?

I’m afraid I can’t follow a word of what you write while I think my question is so basic, so simple…

It helps if you are an Aussie...

A pen is a berth, usually a floating marina berth. 249V is a typo for 240V. We call mains power '240'; spoken as 'two forty'.

A suitable plug on the cabin side is a mains inlet socket as found on caravans and RVs https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/33407282...RoCl-MQAvD_BwE

Reading between the lines -
Coop's boat does not have a shore power connection or onboard mains power distribution panel. If he needs 240 on board, he runs a lead (extension cord) from the pen outlet (240 VAC with its built in RCD/ELCB) to the boat and the extension cord disappears down the companionway to the item that needs the power.

Coops has a stand alone 240 inverter that has 2 (or 3) power outlets hard mounted in the inverter chassis. It is not designed to be hard wired into an onboard distribution panel.

This is not an unusual arrangement down under.

[RaymondR]

Not certain but I think the 240 volts is the RMS value rather than a typo. The peak voltage is higher.

[coopec43]

Originally Posted by Wotname

It helps if you are an Aussie...

A pen is a berth, usually a floating marina berth. 249V is a typo for 240V. We call mains power '240'; spoken as 'two forty'.

A suitable plug on the cabin side is a mains inlet socket as found on caravans and RVs https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/33407282...RoCl-MQAvD_BwE

Reading between the lines -
Coop's boat does not have a shore power connection or onboard mains power distribution panel. If he needs 240 on board, he runs a lead (extension cord) from the pen outlet (240 VAC with its built in RCD/ELCB) to the boat and the extension cord disappears down the companionway to the item that needs the power.

Coops has a stand alone 240 inverter that has 2 (or 3) power outlets hard mounted in the inverter chassis. It is not designed to be hard wired into an onboard distribution panel.

This is not an unusual arrangement down under.

Thank you so much Wotname you got it in one.

(I've made a deliberate decision not to comment further)

[coopec43]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

Not certain but I think the 240 volts is the RMS value rather than a typo. The peak voltage is higher.

No, it was a typo. (The voltage of domestic power in Australia is 240V)

I am a two finger typist and currently have very watery eyes due to hay-fever and I batrle to see tje kets

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

Not certain but I think the 240 volts is the RMS value rather than a typo. The peak voltage is higher.

The peak value of 240V RMS is ~ 339V.

About a 100 years ago, Australia standardised on a mains supply of 240 VAC (RMS). About 20 years ago, we started a transition to 230 VAC. Each state manages it own transition but they have now all achieved the new value.

AS 61000.3.100 stipulates a nominal 230 V, with an allowable voltage to the customer of +10% to –6%.

The peak of 230 (RMS) is 325

[coopec43]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

No answer on shore power yet…

https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/medi...sInsurance.pdf


General Instructions for the
Connection of Vessels to the
Shore-Based Power Supply

This Marina provides power for use on your boat with a direct connection to the marina low-voltage electrical supply which is connected to a copper-based marina electrical protective earthing system.
An isolating transformer fitted on-board to isolate the low-voltage electrical system of your boat from the marina low-voltage electrical supply system may reduce corrosion activity caused by the coupling of your boat’s earth to the marina electrical protective earthing system and/or other boats.
Additional sacrificial anodes or galvanic isolators complying with AS/NZS 3004.2, Clause 2. 6.4 may be used to reduce these effects. (Refer to the AS/NZS 2382 series of Standards for suitable cathodic protection practices.)

YOUR BOATS’S LOW-VOLTAGE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MUST COMPLY WITH AS/NZ 3004.2 AND THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENT