Two New Switches

When planning the installation of my solar panel system I decided that I wanted the inverter to power the same sockets as the hook-up, I didn't like the idea of having separate sockets like some do, as the fridge etc that it was going to power were all built in with no access to the plugs.

This of course meant feeding both supplies through the consumer unit, and that meant I needed a foolproof way of making sure that the hook-up and inverter were not connected to the consumer unit at the same time.

After quite a bit of research I decided that the rotary switch was the best idea for me, with an off position and 2 isolated on positions. After a search I found suitable ones on Ebay from a supplier in China, the cost was only £5.58 including postage, a similar switch purchased in this Country would cost quite a lot more. The switch arrived in just 7 days so I was pleased with the service and the quality of it.

One slight problem, there were 12 terminals on it (I only had 6 wires to connect) and unfortunately the wiring diagrams were in Chinese and not self explanatory; but another Google search brought up a wiring diagram of a similar switch and with constant checks with a multi-meter I was able to wire it correctly without any sparks or blown fuses.

So now I know for sure that when using hook-up there is no chance of the inverter being connected to the same circuit. 

Position 1 is inverter connected - Position 2 is mains hook up connected and Position 0 is both off of course.

The mains charger in my system came out of my donor caravan and as such it does not have an on/off switch and was connected by a plug and socket under the bunk, prior to installing the solar system and inverter this was not a problem, when you connected the hook up it was on and naturally when you unhooked it was off.

But with the inverter being connected through the consumer unit it meant that the battery charger would be on as well and that is not a good idea as you are taking power out of the batteries to run through the inverter to power the charger to put power back into the batteries.

I could have got under the bunk to switch it off at the socket but I decided that I needed a switch on view so that I could see at a glance if it was on or off.