Neutral Earth bonding of inverter

[JackC]

With reference to my "Inverter Battery Wiring" and other threads related to this topic.

I decided to go the route of a separate electrical circuit for the output of my inverter, as suggested against the above thread.

Which means that I will need to bond the Neutral and Earth on the inverter's output before feeding a new DB board. As suggested in one of the threads I will feed from the inverter output to a small box where I will bond the neutral and earth before feeding the new DB board. My inverter is a cheapie bought online (see attachment) but it is working fine. I get the following voltage readings on the inverter's output:
Between Live and Neutral - 219 Volt, between Live and Earth - 103 Volt and between Neutral and Earth 111 Volt. The earth is connected to the frame of the inverter with a 0.4 Ohm reading.

Question now; will it be safe to bond the inverter's Neutral and Earth just after the output plug (as explained above)? I tried to contact the distributor but without any success. Your advice/ opinion will be appreciated.

[Derlyn]

That's a VOV output. You cannot just bridge neutral to earth on that output.

[Dave A]

That's a VOV output. You cannot just bridge neutral to earth on that output.

Not just a floating neutral?
Or did you check the specs on the unit?

[Derlyn]

Not just a floating neutral?
Or did you check the specs on the unit?

The specs on these types of inverters only give the live/neutral voltage output.

I was probably a bit hasty with my VOV reply. Its just seldom that one measures a floating neutral scenario so close to exactly half the supply voltage. ( possible, but seldom )
Of course the correct way, as with a generator as well, is to connect a load to the output before taking voltage measurements. I use incandescent light bulbs.
I was under the impression that the author had done this.

Had he not, it will be interesting to know the outcome after doing so.

[JackC]

"Of course the correct way, as with a generator as well, is to connect a load to the output before taking voltage measurements. I use incandescent light bulbs"

I done it with a small hair dryer as load, the voltages remain the same as tested previously. I also tested the current with a clamp meter both on live and neutral (basically the same 2.3 Amp) and when I include both neutral and live in the clamp meter I get a reading of 0.07 Amp. As explained by various forum members it seems like an inverter developed specifically for mobile use.

[Derlyn]

"Of course the correct way, as with a generator as well, is to connect a load to the output before taking voltage measurements. I use incandescent light bulbs"

I done it with a small hair dryer as load, the voltages remain the same as tested previously. I also tested the current with a clamp meter both on live and neutral (basically the same 2.3 Amp) and when I include both neutral and live in the clamp meter I get a reading of 0.07 Amp. As explained by various forum members it seems like an inverter developed specifically for mobile use.

Thanks for that feedback brother. Interesting. So it seems as if that inverter has a VOV output.
Like you say ..... specially made for mobile use.

Cheers.

[Justloadit]

I also tested the current with a clamp meter both on live and neutral (basically the same 2.3 Amp) and when I include both neutral and live in the clamp meter I get a reading of 0.07 Amp.

Could the 0.07Amp be an electronic amplifier offset value that is inherent in the clamp meter?
This can be verified, by reading the display, with the jaws shut before doing the measurement. Some of the Clamp Amp meters do have a 'Zero' button.
Anyway a Clamp Amp meter with a 40/20Amp range will not read AC milliAmps correctly, as it will be out or range for the specific amp meter range.
To do these kind of low AC milliamps measurements, one will have to get a high quality, expensive AC Clamp Meter.

[Thys LOW Elektries]

I would say the best point would be in the db before the earth leakage

[Thys LOW Elektries]

There are electrical ready boards available, prewired with plugs, some even have a bulkhead, but most of them don't have a main breaker though.
You can also buy all the parts and build a db according to your needs
Good luck with your project

[Derlyn]

Question.

Would it make life any easier for everyone if inverters were manufactured with built in earth leakage relays ?