Xantrex Technology 120 VAC/60 owner manual Ac Source, Installation, Page

INSTALLATION

AC SOURCE	NEUTRAL-TO-GROUND “BOND” is
	provided by an external AC source for
	the entire AC system

INVERTER

(AC Terminal Block)

AC HOT IN

AC NEUTRAL IN

EARTH GROUND

CHASSIS GROUND

RY1

AC HOT OUT

AC NEUTRAL OUT

NEUTRAL-TO-GROUND SWITCHING RELAY (Provided in the AC installation): Connects the neutral from external AC source, and neutral of the AC panel loads together when AC is applied to the inverter input.

AC PANEL
(RV/Marine)
HOT	NEUTRAL	The neutral conductor
		should not be
		connected to the
		equipment grounding
		conductors or
GROUND		enclosures.

Figure 13, Neutral-To-Ground Bond Switching: External AC Source Connected

Figure 14, graphically shows the current path if no ground switching was employed in a multiple AC source system. If one neutral was tied to the AC subpanel ground buss and another neutral tied to the vehicle or chassis ground, the two different ground points would now form a current carrying conductor with the frame/hull (chassis ground) acting as the “wire” between the two different ground points. This means any ground point in the vehicle or boat becomes a potential current carrying conductor, which could result in an electric shock. Any form of Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) such as those found in bathroom outlets, will pop if a ground loop (a situation where a voltage difference exist between multiple ground points) is created.

If, however, the ground switching system were in place, it would ensure that there is only one ground point in the system at all times. This would be either the vehicle/boat ground or the external AC source ground, but never both at once.

NEUTRAL-TO-GROUND “BOND” is provided by the external AC source

AC SOURCE

INVERTER

(AC Terminal Block)

NEUTRAL-TO-GROUND SWITCHING RELAY (Provided in the AC installation): Connects the neutral from external AC source, and neutral of the inverter output (AC panel loads) together when AC is applied to inverter input.

GFI AC HOT IN

	AC NEUTRAL IN
GFI’s will	EARTH GROUND
nuisance trip
with multiple	CHASSIS GROUND
Neutral-to-
Ground bonds
	AC NEUTRAL OUT

RY1

AC HOT OUT

AC PANEL		Another NEUTRAL-
(RV/Marine)		TO-GROUND
HOT	NEUTRAL	“BOND” is
		incorrectly provided
		in the AC panel.
		The neutral
		conductor should
		not be connected to
GROUND		the equipment
		grounding
		conductors or
		enclosures.

Figure 14, Neutral-To-Ground Bond Switching: Neutral Bonded To Ground

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 2001 Xantrex Technology, Inc.	Telephone: 360/435-8826	SW Series Inverter/Charger
5916 - 195th Street N. E.	Fax: 360/435-2229	Part No. 2031-5
Arlington, WA 98223	www.traceengineering.com	Rev. C: February 2001