Consumer Unit Wiring In Inverter, Off Grid, Boat, Shed, Cabin

[@sang3Eta]

Yes, you're right this is an overlooked topic and needs more videos.

[@dreamkiss]

Pretty useful video nice to see the basics

[@Steve_Fractals]

Very useful video and just what I was looking for. Thanks very much.

[@SolarPowerChannelwithChris]

No worries, I know I have had some criticism for making this video. But I could not find a clear video of an overview of wiring one up. I want people to be safe and use a consumer unit even being off grid.

[@NoOne-jy6mc]

​@@SolarPowerChannelwithChris Hi Chris, if my inverter supports AC input from backup generator or mains, can that earth wire also go into your top earth bar there? Because my generator or mains may not have its own separate earth. Or even if they do, can the earth cables still mix together anyway?

[@andyirons7162]

Tx for video. Interesting configuration. Here is in Australia, electricians generally use an MCB as a main switch and 30mA-rated RCBOs for the individual circuits. If an RCBO is used as a main switch then its generally rated at 500mA to avoid nuisance tripping. Not saying your configuration is wrong, just saying.

[@alpachino468]

I have a 3000w Renogy inverter but I don't believe it has the separate terminals for LNE, but it does have two 3-pin plug recepticles, so I guess I can't wire that into a consumer unit like you have?

[@SolarPowerChannelwithChris]

Yeah you can, did it in my campervan with a 2000w Renogy. Other end of the cable to the consumer unit.

[@tombould]

What about if you need to add more than one socket? I’m assuming you just wire from additional sockets and back to the same MCB sharing? Also if for example I’ve got a renogy automatic recognition of power source would this then detect and allow socket use if hooked up or just inverter? Thanks

[@UKsystems]

There are several ways involving radial circuits and ring final circuits. The easiest way simply connecting out of one socket to another socket but there is an element where you would use a ring socket if you have lots and lots of sockets.

[@Edgunsuk]

so neutrals from sockets AND already fitted RCD neutral together, inverter neutral to rcd neutral, live in to rcd, earth to van earth then just the live out from the mcb ?

[@kwamelion270]

Can you touch down on how to wire 2 inverters in parallel into the consumer unit in an off grid system.

[@SolarPowerChannelwithChris]

I don't have two to do this, sorry.

[@leeg713]

Hi Chris, what size cable did you use from your inverter to your consumer unit? Cheers mate.

[@SolarPowerChannelwithChris]

I used 2.5mm in this video. But this is all reliant to current and length of the cable, due to voltage drop.

[@samsungw200]

My inverter unit has an earth screw and only live and neutral terminals, so do I just wire the earth screw to the earth bar in the unit then run a cable out to my houses earth spike?

[@UKsystems]

In case it will be an isolated para earthing arrangement and it is not recommended without special monitoring equipment. You would probably be best to connect the neutral to us as well but this really needs specialised engineering plans.

[@guywhoknows]

Torchy is a bit right with all the issues there. One thing I'd point out is that the earth goes to earth not chassis. It's got something to do with the rubber things on the corners :) Is that the vevor inverter? How it holding up? How loud is it? Does it have active grid switching? The price of these is really low and saying that my expensive one wasn't build correct and blew up due to a really simple manufacturing mistake... It was a liebert. These vevor are almost change, and less than a battery costs. But do they last and can you change settings like charge voltage etc. Not much about those on-line..

[@Turbodeeze]

So, if I where to want to wire multiple (say 4) mains sockets to a correctly rated mcb, can the all just spur one after another or does it need to be a 'ring' if so where is the ring terminated back in the consumer unit?

[@djturbine7565]

You can either wire as a radial, where each socket essentially feeds the next one, or as a ring, where the wiring is the same but you complete a loop back to the DB and terminate the cable back into the same breaker (so you would have two cables in the MCB/RCBO). There are regulations dictating what size cables and breakers should be used depending on the configuration of your circuit which must be complied with to prevent damaged to cables and equipment from overloading.

[@skate1979]

I reckon your rcd won't work in that set up you need to tie your rcd to ground via the neutral

[@UKsystems]

This is a very complex situation with earthing and inverters some inverters using isolated terra earthing of arrangement this means that the Earth does nothing you may be required to devolve your own Earth from the neutral that is really important to look at this properly as you think essentially be pointless. You may also have some reference this earth to the actual earth or not. Please thoroughly research this and get a professional because it’s not a simple answer also consume units are switch gear and should really be metallic in construction and design now also any consumer unit that is installed has to be notified to build a control and you really have to be qualified to do that otherwise things like insurance can be invalid

[@thattoolguy9432]

Need a metal enclosure, Type A RCD needed as a lot of smaller appliances send out a small amount of DC which could stun your type AC rcd, fault current on your 16a mcb exceeds your inverter capability , no cable strain relief, no folded ends on solid conductors, wrong size main earth, no bonding to inverter, does the inverter support a PEN conductor? .. whats the trip time on your RCD? have you tested it with an MFT .. i'm all for people doing small off grid systems and its a great thing .. i just get annoyed with "how to" videos when no real research effort has been put in and potentially put others at risk .. come on lets see a brit do better than will prowse

[@SolarPowerChannelwithChris]

Hello, thanks for your comment. I feel I cannot talk to much on this subject as I am not a qualified sparky, I am aware I could be sending out the wrong advice. But I want to make people aware about fitting a unit. I am also aware this is the wrong sized consumer unit for that inverter, it is to big. The inverter would click off on high load before the MCB failed.. Which is why people need to get advice on sizing there unit to there application. I was also going to talk about trip times, even had a photo ready to explain the letters on the MCB. But if I make video's to long. People switch off and move along, the audience retention is measured and KZbin don't push content. It is often I miss information out due to how KZbin algorithms work, I do it all the time. Yes I am competing against Will! It's costing me some money as everything I am having to buy!

[@shmayazuggot8558]

Test the RCD trips on your down stream AC socket with at least 25ma before showing the world a video of something that does not work properly. An RCBO or RCD will not work without being correctly bonded at the service entrance which is something commonly missed in off grid setups.