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wallablack Senior Member Joined: 10/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 164
Posted: 09:16pm 23 Feb 2014
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Hi Guys,
I am struggling to find an AC Transfer Switch to complete my system.
I have a battery bank which I want to run the house from and then manually transfer back to mains each night...mainly for the hot water to heat until I make the switch to endless gas hot water.
At this stage to test if my battery bank was suitable for our house of 6 I used a death lead with the mains switch OFF and of course peace of mind, the law and my wish not to fry a linesman requires the AC Transfer Switch so the house is powered by the inverter and the mains is isolated so to speak.
Can anyone recommend a suitable unit as I wish to purchase it before the electrician is booked to wire it in. Our local sparky has VERY deep pockets and VERY short arms and charges the earth for everything so I wish him not to supply it and add his 780% profit.
I know there are a few auto transfer switches from the like of Latronics etc but I am chasing a manual unit.
Any input gratefully appreciated.Foolproof systems do not take into account the ingenuity of fools.
Madness Guru Joined: 08/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2498
Posted: 09:29pm 23 Feb 2014
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Jaycar have a 20 amp one for $199 but once again it is auto. Switching the mains on or off would give you manual control.There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't.
wallablack Senior Member Joined: 10/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 164
Posted: 09:42pm 23 Feb 2014
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That is an Invertek, and it's auto.
Switching the mains would give me manual control but I think the law stands in the way of that doesn't it? Or does it depend on how the sparky wires the inverter into the switchboard.
Foolproof systems do not take into account the ingenuity of fools.
Madness Guru Joined: 08/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2498
Posted: 11:08pm 23 Feb 2014
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Yes I did say it is auto, I don't know about the law but if you put a switch on the input wouldn't that make it manual?
Does your inverter have a switch?
There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't.
Any electrical wholesaler. Not brought one for a while but think about $60.
Edit: Make sure he/you puts a warning on switchboard about dual supply. RED label.Edited by Privatteer 2014-02-25
wallablack Senior Member Joined: 10/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 164
Posted: 09:32am 24 Feb 2014
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Thanks Privatteer....exactly what I was looking for.
Do these components have a "common" name in the industry, ie. what to search for.
Yes, I have the full set of labels on hand ready to use. He may be expensive but he is bloody good.Foolproof systems do not take into account the ingenuity of fools.
wallablack Senior Member Joined: 10/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 164
Posted: 09:39am 24 Feb 2014
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Damn it...its written on the side as a Changeover Switch, sorry.
Searched Changeover Switch on Evilbay and found it.
CHEERS!!!Foolproof systems do not take into account the ingenuity of fools.
Madness Guru Joined: 08/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2498
Posted: 11:01am 24 Feb 2014
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The advantage of the auto type is that everything keeps running. Switching a fridge while running will stall the compressor with the manual switch.There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't.
wallablack Senior Member Joined: 10/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 164
Posted: 09:15pm 24 Feb 2014
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the auto switching would be nice but I basically want to run the battery bank during the day and run mains during the night for the hot water. I have had no problems with the fridge but I do understand what you mean. When it does kick in there is an 800W draw for about 3-6 seconds then it drops to 180W till it at temp. then sits on around 8-10W. Mt fridge is outside so during the winter it hardly runs. I will use a manual switch for winter and before summer, with the addition of endless gas hot water, the battery bank will be on an auto transfer switch. My concern is the AC unit next summer, so the battery bank may only run the 10A circuit and the 15A circuit (AC) will still be grid only.Foolproof systems do not take into account the ingenuity of fools.
Madness Guru Joined: 08/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2498
Posted: 10:00pm 24 Feb 2014
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Switching off a fridge and turning it straight back on is different then just normal start up. As the gas is pressurized the compressor can not start against the pressure and will stall a until the overload clicks out.
I get all the hot water I need for free from solar with a 315 litre storage we can go 3 to 4 days of very over cast weather.There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't.
Have you thought of just putting the HWS on the changeover and not the entire house?
wallablack Senior Member Joined: 10/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 164
Posted: 09:38am 25 Feb 2014
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Solar hot water is an option I am investigating. We have 4 kids, 3 of them girls who like long showers. Currently we have a 2yr old 350L electric hot water and some days we have run out before the end of the day. Benefit of solar I guess is that is is heating all day and that is one thing I like about it. Endless gas may not be free but at least at the end of a days work I can still have a hot shower. Also where I am the gas is bottled (no natural gas line) and it's $130 for one big bottle and I am yet to see the costs. A friend of ours has just installed one (Bosch) so this will be my comparison to see how long his bottle lasts...also has 4 kids.
Putting the HWS on the changeover may well be the best option for now.
Foolproof systems do not take into account the ingenuity of fools.
Hi Guys ,I have installed a Latronic AC transfer switch .
It is not cheap but works very well instant transfer from Inverter to Mains .
Wire the inverter to the primary input and the mains to the secondary .
Turn on the inverter and it changes instantly from mains to the solar system.
This is a web page for the switch.
http://www.latronics.com.au/products/high-speed-automatic-ac -transfer-switch
Madness Guru Joined: 08/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2498
Posted: 12:13pm 28 Feb 2014
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If any one has a Inverter Charger it will most likely have a transfer switch built in.There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't.
yahoo2 Guru Joined: 05/04/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1166
Posted: 02:42pm 28 Feb 2014
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I drew a wiring circuit to use a rotary timer with a double pole relay on the inverter output going to the priority terminal of the latronics acts3 to cut the inverter/battery draw at night and switch to mains. Never got to install it but I liked the simplicity, adjust-ability and auto-switching. I'm confused, no wait... maybe I'm not...
domwild Guru Joined: 16/12/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 873
Posted: 10:30pm 04 Mar 2014
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Generator transfer switch by co. Hager SF263 also does the trick, but it looks like a $100 job. Clipsal looks like a cheaper option and I copied the model no. as I am also thinking of buying one.
Looking at forum whirlpool I saw similar posts and came across a warning by an electricity board to say that electricians had also switched the neutral at the mains, which is illegal and will be reported. But at the sub main your electrician can break the neutral and active. He also should know how earthing works.Taxation as a means of achieving prosperity is like a man standing inside a bucket trying to lift himself up.
Notice. New forum software under development. It's going to miss a few functions and look a bit ugly for a while, but I'm working on it full time now as the old forum was too unstable. Couple days, all good. If you notice any issues, please contact me.
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