[gpa]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Do I understand correctly that that the two sockets are input and output? And that the output lead from the inverter is terminated in a plug? Uninvited comment, but I can't keep quiet about such things. Ignore if you wish, and excuse if I'm wrong anyway.

No problem. Am glad you shared this feedback. You are right - the output from the inverter to the input of the home is a plug. It has been this way for over 18 years now. We have never had a problem - the wire gauge used is 6mm sq. In fact the output from the inverter is a 15amp socket.

How else would you recommend to make the connections? Am open to making a change. It will be great if you can also share a pic of your setup. Thank you.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by gpa

How else would you recommend to make the connections?

Hmmm... Now I come to think about it, I find I'm not as sure of the safest way as I thought I was!

The output from the inverter should be a socket, rather than a plug, because the plug is live and extremely dangerous.

We have two cables from the distribution box:

One is terminated in a socket, and the inverter input plugs into that.
One is terminated in a plug, and that plugs into the the inverter output.

So that plug feeds all the things that are powered by the inverter. And yes, I think it is safe, because it is connected only to the lights and other devices.

If we remove the inverter, we have to make that a loop by plugging the devices "input" plug into the mains "output" socket.


It is the same with our generator. You too must have seen small-shop generators feeding power from a plug into a socket. Or even bare wires.

Like the inverter, our generator has output sockets (it's just a bigger model of the typical red Hondas you see outside shops). We plug in a cable to connect it to the house. But that is via an isolation switch: It is impossible for mains power to come back to the generator, or the generator to feed into the main. Or for both to feed us power at the same time.

[Prowler]

Originally Posted by gpa

How else would you recommend to make the connections? Am open to making a change. It will be great if you can also share a pic of your setup.

Usually the drill is like this: The inverter /UPS's input ends with a 15 A/5 A plug. The output is in the form of a 5 A socket in the body of the UPS/inverter itself. The load - the outgoing line has a cable with a plug at the other end. But the outgoing connection is connected to a 2way switch with the load line at the receiving end while the mains input is at one end and the out put of UPS is at the other end of the switch.

The idea is in case the UPS fails, you just turn on the switch which will connect the mains to the load. Another reason is in case someone wants to connect a higher load than your UPS capacity, you just flip the switch to the mains and your UPS is isolated.

Every time the house cleaning service guy visits my home, he brings in a heavy duty vacuum cleaner which will blow my UPS fuse if it were not for the change over switch. So I turn on the switch before he starts the vacuum cleaner and all is normal.

Normally the inverter will have a bypass relay built in so that the mains line is connected to the output under normal circumstances. But an inductive load will invariably force the relay to change over to the Inverter mode and hence the extra precaution.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by Prowler

The load - the outgoing line has a cable with a plug at the other end. But the outgoing connection is connected to a 2way switch with the load line at the receiving end while the mains input is at one end and the out put of UPS is at the other end of the switch.

The idea is in case the UPS fails, you just turn on the switch which will connect the mains to the load. Another reason is in case someone wants to connect a higher load than your UPS capacity, you just flip the switch to the mains and your UPS is isolated.

Like ours, except we don't have the two-way switch. Good idea.

[sagarpadaki]

Even we have the same hazardous type of plug socket system for the UPS. What I have done is, put an insulation tape covering the input plug to the inverter and output plug of the UPS that goes into wall socket. Because removing either of them without turning off the UPS and touching the leads will give proper electric shock. This is just a prevention. Not foolproof.