Inverter nightmare

[Watlong]

Bought an Ellie's 1200w inverter which includes 2 batteries. Searched for an electrician and found one recommended by friends. He said he knows what to do. He put in an extra distribution box and related the plugs through there. First time I switched on the washing machine everything tripped and the inverter's alarm started. Anyway, to cut a long story short he had to come in and disconnect everything. He has so far charged me almost R5,500 to fix everything, so a major dispute going on.
Where do I find a reputable guy who knows inverters to install it?

 

[ScottulusMaximus]

Ellie's 1200w inverter
First time I switched on the washing machine everything tripped and the inverter's alarm started.

Aii...

Those inverters are not designed to be installed into fixed house wiring anyway

 

[Steamy Tom]

Aii...

Those inverters are not designed to be installed into fixed house wiring anyway

exactly this.

and in what world do you think a 1200W inverter will drive a washing machine?

 

[supersunbird]

Bought an Ellie's 1200w inverter which includes 2 batteries. Searched for an electrician and found one recommended by friends. He said he knows what to do. He put in an extra distribution box and related the plugs through there. First time I switched on the washing machine everything tripped and the inverter's alarm started. Anyway, to cut a long story short he had to come in and disconnect everything. He has so far charged me almost R5,500 to fix everything, so a major dispute going on.
Where do I find a reputable guy who knows inverters to install it?

The inverter and batteries will be used to power what during loadshedding/power outages?

 

[RedViking]

What the heck? I assume it is one of those modified sine inverters.

1. You do not put a DB on those inverters.
2. You do not use something with a motor on the modified sine.
3. The inverter can only take 1200W max. Probably less.

 

[Arthur]

Agree with @ScottulusMaximus.

No electrician on earth can make your little 1200W inverter drive a kettle let alone a washing machine. Wiring up a changeover switch is easy.

 

[Watlong]

I told the electrician before he started that I only wanted 3 lights and maybe the TV, but he just connected the whole lot.

 

[AstroTurf]

1200w is about 1 gaming pc worth of power...

 

[Watlong]

The inverter and batteries will be used to power what during loadshedding/power outages?

Just 3 lights and the smart TV

 

[Watlong]

exactly this.

and in what world do you think a 1200W inverter will drive a washing machine?

I didn't want the inverter to drive anything other than a few lights and the smart TV.

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

I don't think your electrician was an electrician.

 

[Watlong]

Agree with @ScottulusMaximus.

No electrician on earth can make your little 1200W inverter drive a kettle let alone a washing machine. Wiring up a changeover switch is easy.

I know, that's why I only wanted to power my LED lights and the TV...

 

[Watlong]

exactly this.

and in what world do you think a 1200W inverter will drive a washing machine?

Never thought that - electrician just connected all the plugs to the inverter without checking.

 

[Watlong]

So can anyone suggest an electrician in Cape Town who will know what he's doing? (As mentioned before, only 3 LED lights and maybe the TV?)
I really appreciate your input.

 

[RedViking]

1200w is about 1 gaming pc worth of power...

more like 3 or 4 gaming PC's.

 

[Arthur]

Ah, ok. Get it. Apols for getting the wrong end of the stick.

The only way is to wire in the changeover switch downstream of the main DB so it only switches your lighting circuit/s. How legal this is I don't honestly know.

 

[Steamy Tom]

in seriousness, you cannot connect this to your DB, run it inline rather. so plug it direct into your tv and use a lamp.

 

[Zuner]

Just put the inverter in the TV room and connect a lamp or 2 to it, not worth the trouble to connect it to the DB. Especially for somebody not technically inclined.

 

[RedViking]

So can anyone suggest an electrician in Cape Town who will know what he's doing? (As mentioned before, only 3 LED lights and maybe the TV?)
I really appreciate your input.

I think it is a bit more complicated than that.

The washing machine is probably on the same line as the other plugs which are also used by the TV. The lights will also all share a line. How do you want the electrician to seperate the plugs? You will need to have seperate wiring all the way to the DB to do that. It is not worth it for the 1200W inverter.

Go check out this thread

Inverter and batteries

Ok so it's time to get a backup system for our power outages. Load shedding is ok as we can plan for it. We do have a 100kva generator that we run when we expect long power outages, but the dairy takes priority as it doesn't have the capacity to run the dairy and houses. I wanted something that...

mybroadband.co.za

Inverter and batteries

I've only run a single 10w LED spotlight on it using battery only, just to do a quick test. The fan was not noisy at all. I'll be putting it under load this weekend and hopefully permanently. Then I'll be able to judge the noise level. I have installed the unit in the laundry, so it won't be...

mybroadband.co.za

 

[RedViking]

Just put the inverter in the TV room and connect a lamp or 2 to it, not worth the trouble to connect it to the DB. Especially for somebody not technically inclined.

Well, that is why he/she is using an electrician. But I have an idea what the OP wants to achieve is not possible and the electrician tried to do what he can, probably also not familiar with inverters, unless the electrician did warn OP, but was ignored.