The IET is carrying out some important updates between 17-30 April and all of our websites will be view only. For more information, read this Announcement

Rules and Guidelines
Want to participate in the discussions? Please read our Community Rules and Guidelines. Need some help? Visit Support and Answers.

  • State Not Answered
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 94 replies
  • Subscribers 31 subscribers
  • Views 5849 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
You may also be interested in
This discussion is locked.
You cannot post a reply to this discussion. If you have a question start a new discussion

Installation of a generator for a house.

Tomgunn
Hello all,


I'm moving house, (been here for over 42 years'!!), and one of the first items on my mind is installing an electrical generator.


SO; I guess there will be contactors / switch gear etc as I would like it to be 'automatic', (OR, maybe 'manual' too), changing from incoming to the generator.


a; What would be the best type of generator to purchase? Load wise? I'm not too worried as the bigger the load the bigger the           generator would need to be as long as I could run the basics within the house.


b; What switch gear would be appropriate?


I would't fancy the idea of switching tails around on a Henley block each time I needed the generator to be in use!!


Thanks, in advance!


regards... Tom
Parents
  • 0
    Sparkingchip:

    How long can you run a central heating system for off a car battery and small inverter?




    Central heating systems vary a lot in electricity consumption. 150 watts might be a reasonable average. 

    150 watts output from an inverter will be about 15 amps input at 12 volts.

    A typical modern car battery will supply 15 amps for about an hour (they are optimised for engine starting, not storage capacity and are often only about 30 to 35 ampere hours. Half that if discharged quickly)

    A deep cycle leisure battery of say 100 ampere hours will supply 15 amps for about 5 hours (the full capacity is only achieved at slower discharge rates)

    About a dozen deep discharges will kill a cheap car battery, a single deep discharge may finish off a car battery already in marginal condition.

    A deep cycle battery should survive at least 100 deep discharges, or many hundreds of shallow cycles.


    Ensure that your central heating is supplied via a plug and socket to facilitate easy connection to an inverter.

    You will need a "true sine wave" inverter to run the sophisticated electronics in a modern boiler. Avoid "modified sine wave" inverters they the polite term for square wave.

    Cheap inverters are probably rated in chinese watts, buy one with a nominal capacity of twice the actual power needed.


    It would be best to measure the actual electrical loading of your central heating rather than to rely on my estimate.


Reply
  • 0
    Sparkingchip:

    How long can you run a central heating system for off a car battery and small inverter?




    Central heating systems vary a lot in electricity consumption. 150 watts might be a reasonable average. 

    150 watts output from an inverter will be about 15 amps input at 12 volts.

    A typical modern car battery will supply 15 amps for about an hour (they are optimised for engine starting, not storage capacity and are often only about 30 to 35 ampere hours. Half that if discharged quickly)

    A deep cycle leisure battery of say 100 ampere hours will supply 15 amps for about 5 hours (the full capacity is only achieved at slower discharge rates)

    About a dozen deep discharges will kill a cheap car battery, a single deep discharge may finish off a car battery already in marginal condition.

    A deep cycle battery should survive at least 100 deep discharges, or many hundreds of shallow cycles.


    Ensure that your central heating is supplied via a plug and socket to facilitate easy connection to an inverter.

    You will need a "true sine wave" inverter to run the sophisticated electronics in a modern boiler. Avoid "modified sine wave" inverters they the polite term for square wave.

    Cheap inverters are probably rated in chinese watts, buy one with a nominal capacity of twice the actual power needed.


    It would be best to measure the actual electrical loading of your central heating rather than to rely on my estimate.


Children
No Data

Join us to get the best from IET EngX.

Joining EngX lets you personalise your experience so you stay up to date on the topics that interest you, plus you’ll be able to make connections who are looking to collaborate, exchange ideas and more.

Join us Not now

Community Rules & Guidelines