Wiring a Consumer Unit and Plug Sockets | Van Electrics | DIY Sprinter Van Conversion UK

[@chartmann43]

What’s a RCBO and is it also in the US? Or something similar? Tysm 😊

[@GreenHornCountryClub]

@@chartmann43 typically in a consumer unit you’d have a number of MCBs and RCDs but because I only need one output I used an RCBO which is essentially an MCB and an RCD combined 👍🏼

[@chartmann43]

I’m very confused how you did that middle plug? You had one cord/wire and three plugs, but you didn’t video the connecting. Did you cut the wire on the middle plug? Please explain? I cannot find a video showing this. I’m doing only two AC plugs but I don’t know how to do it using only one wire. 😮😅

[@willpolr]

Hey man sorry I think this is 5 questions in 24 hours! Is radial basically the same as parallel? And if you were only wanting one 230v socket, do you still need to come out of the inverter via a little consumer unit? Have been exclusively 12v for 3 years other than hair clippers and I just plug them straight into my inverter. I fancy something more permanent in the new van.

[@GreenHornCountryClub]

No trouble at all man! Happy to help where I can. I guess a radial circuit is similar to parallel whereby if one socket fails, the rest will still work, but how the electricity current flows around the circuit is much different in AC circuits compared to DC. If your looking to just have one plug socket, it might be easier just to get a wee single extension cord and run it out the back of the inverter

[@willpolr]

@@GreenHornCountryClub yeah that’s what I was thinking mate. Bodge it! One extension with the socket cut off the end and wired in to a 230v socket. In my head it’ll work 🤣

[@RetroMods]

I'm picking up some good tips here, thanks. I'm miles behind you on my build but you've been a good source of info. I was even wondering if I would have to run separate cables for each plug socket. Obviously not. Nice one👍

[@GreenHornCountryClub]

Thanks man! I was initially worried about this too but was very relieved to find out this wasn’t the case, makes life far easier 👌

[@db-bv5rs]

what was the point in using 2.5 cable when you could’ve used 1.5

[@GreenHornCountryClub]

Thanks for the comment mate! To be honest I wanted to use as thick as I could get away with, so 2.5 was perfect and it was what was most readily available to purchase online too.

[@markustitus8521]

Hey mate, great job as usual... especially the lock in part 😂 As mentioned, very inspirational, got a question tho. How much wattage could you draw through this series of plugs? Thanks, as always, keep the good work 👍

[@GreenHornCountryClub]

Hello dude! Thanks as always 🙏🏻 I believe a standard plug socket can take up to 3000 watts, however my inverter can deal with a maximum of 800 watts so I won’t be able to plug in things like kettles or hair dryers which use a huge amount of energy. Instead I’ll just be using them to charge things like my phone and laptop, as well as maybe plug in a TV 👍🏼

[@brianwithers162]

@@GreenHornCountryClub Good answer. Having spent several years professionally building campers, people forget that the inverters can only deliver what the're rated at. 800watts means you can extract 3.5 amps at 240v at the most. But the current from your 12v battery when the invertor is going full tilt is round about 60amps so you do need a battery that can support that load so the supply cable needs to be fairly fat to cope with the current without a large voltage drop in the cable to the invertor.

[@GreenHornCountryClub]

@@brianwithers162 thanks bud! Really appreciate the message, that’s some seriously good info. I’ve used 35mm thick cable to supply power from my batteries to my busbars, then 16mm thick cable from my busbars to my inverter. Hopefully that should be enough! Thanks again 👍🏼

[@chartmann43]

@@brianwithers162what if you have a 3000w inverter? I’m very new to this electrical stuff but I bought a van that has a 3000w inverter and two HUGE batteries! I’m currently rewiring the van to have 1 AC plug, puck lights with 14-2 g wire, and 12-2g wire for my 12v outlets. The van has a big orange stiff wire that was in it but only one was in the A outlet so I had to pull it through the van to get to the other side of where all of my controls and outlets will be. I would love to know what to replace the big orange wire with and still be able to have a regular AC outlet. But I also don’t know how much power I’m going to be using bc I don’t understand the power supply stuff. Lol! But the two huge batteries and the 3000w inverter should work right?

[@OakBespoke]

Hi came across your vid , with regards to wiring sockets using an RCBO .. Do you possibly have a link to the one you used or a company that i may purchase it from .. great work, thanks a million

[@GreenHornCountryClub]

Hey dude! Thanks so much for the message, I'm glad you found the video helpful. I bought the consumer unit from a seller on eBay who puts together little electrical packages specifically for motorhomes: www.ebay.co.uk/usr/ukcampingpower The package I bought at the time was just the single RCBO in its consumer unit with an earth wire. Looking at his eBay page, it doesn't look like he's selling any at the moment sadly. Although a mate of mine did contact him directly and he did have one in stock apparently, so may be worth doing that.

[@jackchapman3753]

Just want to say that I’ve found your video series so helpful! I’m working through my electrical system on my van and your videos have been a great guide. Keep up the awesome content 👍

[@GreenHornCountryClub]

Thank you so much for the comment dude, I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to hear that! Keep me posted on how you get on man, would love to see the result 👍🏼