Thread: Inverter and generator into one plug?

You out there Young Gav?


Didnt we have a similar topic a while back? hmmm.

Hi,
Are the inlets running to different circuits?
I would imagine they must.
Cheers

On a twin inlet system, usually the AC is sperate to everything else - is this the case with your van? If so, that's all well and good, but I'd also like to know how your inverter is usually used and how it is wired, etc. Is the neutral of the inverter earthed? Therotically if the AC is on its own circiut then no dramas plugging the inverter into that inlet but there are a couple of other safety issues to look at not just blowing up your genset and inverter.

There is another thread all about that side of it somewhere and I don't have the strength to go through it all again to be honest and get howled down by so called 'experts' so I'll leave it at that.

The short answer is no.
If you were to use the genny to power a battery charger which charges the batteries while the inverter powers the aircon, then ok.

Just to clarify, the battery charger should be plugged directly into the generator & the generator should not be connected to the van.

In short, your right, if you try to use the gen-set together with the inverter you will get phase problems and probably will pop something.
As suggested in a previous post if the circuits are different there is no problem running your fridge on the gen set and the AC on the inverter. I'd use and extension lead directly to the device for the genset so you don't have to worry about neutrals etc. Otherwise you most certainly have problems with the earth leakage (safety switches).

If you want to extend your Air Con time, look at charging the batteries with the gen set as you are using the inverter. Most Gensets have a 12Vdc output and you can combine this with a battery charger to get more into your batteries.

If your battery charger is a smart multi stage jobbie then you might have problems as it will probably get upset and chuck a *** (all my terms are now not PC). In that case you could contact a company ADM (or Jaycar) and get a DC power supply.

Coupling DC sources together is not normally a problem as long as they are both around the same voltage ie within a volt or so. In this case the battery will set the voltage of both supplies bringing them to the same voltage. Just ensure that all of the connections are good.

Cheers Glen.

Get a bigger genset that IS capable of running the aircon Plus anything else being used at the same time and disconnect the inverter.
This way you can run ALL your gear AND recharge the battery/batteries at the same time.

Long "discussion" here:

Giandel Pure Sine Wave Inverters

Originally Posted by Milton477

The short answer is no.
If you were to use the genny to power a battery charger which charges the batteries while the inverter powers the aircon, then ok.

Just to clarify, the battery charger should be plugged directly into the generator & the generator should not be connected to the van.

OP mentioned 2 inlets so if they aren’t connected then running different supplies into each is fine IF other safety precautions are taken with the inverter and it is established that both circuits are seperate.