I have an inverter to convert my 12v to 240v to run a LCD tv occasionally, the TV plugs straight into the inverter.
There is no EARTH to the inverter, should I therefor take a seperate EARTH wire to the Inverter.?
No, just connect as normal to whatever 12v connection you are using. if your inverter has cigar lighter type connection just plug in. If it has crocodile clip connection just connect to correct battery terminals.
Im not so sure about this as my inverter has a wing nut attached to its body where you should fasten a piece of wire & run it to ground, having said that i dont bother with it.
Unless the neutral is connected to the earth terminal at the inverter, applying an earth via the earth terminal will achieve nothing,if the neutral is connected and bonded to the general mass of earth via the earth terminal then it would be necessary to use an RCD.
There is a valid reason for the terminal but used as the OP has indicated you don't need to bother with it.
Saxo1
In some inverters there is a direct electrical path between the mains voltage output circuitry and the low voltage input circuitry either via the the auto- turn on sensing or also the voltage or current sensing used for output regulation.If a normally earthed tool or appliance were to develop a fault between it's external metal casing or frame,which would normally be earthed via the power outlet there is a risk that the battery terminals could become live at mains voltage.
This doesn't pose a problem when using double insulated equipment as there is no earth return via the plug.
This risk can be avoided by connecting the neutral to earth at the inverter and then connecting the frame to earth via the earth terminal provided and then using a portable RCD. Another way would be to disconnect the earth wire in the plug top but I would strongly advise against this as if you were to forget and use it on a normal 13amp socket you would have no earth in the event of it devoloping a fault.
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In the marine environment it's recommended that the inverter is bonded to the earthing in the boat so that there is no potential difference between any metalwork on board.I assume this is because due to the harsh conditions, the earth leakage resistance, caused by imperfect insulation, and phase to earth capacitance combined can lower the impedance enough to allow enough leakage to give a significant shock.
In the normal domestic environment the combined impedance is too high to present a problem.
I apologise for the long winded answer but I couldn't explain it otherwise and I'm not sure I have adequately now!
My Inverter does not have the seperate earth connection on it, but I have seen such a connection on a generator and I take it that that works under the same principles.
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Topic: Earthing Inverters
