Two in one out switching advice needed.

[ellal]

Thanks for the replies, but I'm still confused as to which switch would suffice.
Tbh I don't want to lay out that much on the TLC item if it's not necessary.

And this..

What are you supposed to do with the earths?

It's always been a question that the 240V output shows up an earth fault even when both methods of earthing suggested by the inverter manual (System earth or earthing rod) don't seem to work.

 

[flameport]

but I'm still confused as to which switch would suffice.

Any of them

Tbh I don't want to lay out that much on the TLC item if it's not necessary.

The Fusebox one is £50 - pretty much as cheap as you will get for such a thing.

The only other safe method is to have the whole garage on a suitably rated plug, and then have 2 socket outlets, one from the mains supply and the other for the inverter.
Changing over involves unplugging from one supply and plugging into the other one.

 

[ericmark]

The old idea with a generator was a 16 amp socket on the generator and a 16 amp socket from the grid, and you manually decide which to plug into.

and

The only other safe method is to have the whole garage on a suitably rated plug, and then have 2 socket outlets, one from the mains supply and the other for the inverter.
Changing over involves unplugging from one supply and plugging into the other one.

means that any other supply can also be used, like hire a generator.

But I want automation, and today most inverters have some method to automate. Most portable inverters will work as an UPS, so any power taken from those built in sockets, will be supplied from the mains if the unit is plugged in, and revert to battery when unplugged. Larger units have more options my inverter

can be configured for mains or generator, with mains, I can set it to charge batteries over night and in the day first solar, then batteries, and if they are not enough then it will allow use of the mains. It also has a dedicated output which will not fail if the mains fail, but most of the house will fail with a mains failure.

With a generator it can auto start and stop the generator, and ensure when the generator is running, it has a reasonable load.

But it is either/or it will not work with generator and mains.

And this is the same with plug in inverter/battery packs, what they can do, varies pack to pack. Including the use of current transformers (CT) to decide what it should do.

There are units which do more than mine. But power cuts are not frequant enough to be worth the extra expence.
I also have a very old battery pack/inverter only 300 watt, and simulated sine wave. OK also will jump start a car, the compressor long since failed.

But basic the more it does, the more it costs, and one has to decide how far to go. I fancy the new breed using drill batteries etc. But I don't really need one. I built a lead

so with a power failure I can use any 12 volt battery to power things which will go in a cig socket, like USB charger, and that is enough to keep me going with a power cut.