Wiring, Stereo & Electronics Audio Components | Radars | Alarms - and things that spark when they shouldn't

Hardwiring a Power Inverter

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-08-2002, 11:43 PM
  #1  
TECH Resident
Thread Starter
 
WEASEL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: the third rock from the sun!
Posts: 770
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default Hardwiring a Power Inverter

When I cut the plug off the inverter power wire, that fits in the cig lighter, how do I know which wire is positive and which is negative or does it matter?

I want to hardwire it, maybe to the battery, and permanently mount it somewhere to use with my laptop.

Thanks! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

<small>[ June 08, 2002, 11:44 PM: Message edited by: WEASEL ]</small>
Old 06-09-2002, 12:30 AM
  #2  
TECH Resident
 
RTCamaroSS's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Fremont, CA
Posts: 829
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Hardwiring a Power Inverter

Usually one side of the wire will have a white trace on it... That is the potive wire im pretty sure. Or.. check the voltage of your outlet with a digital voltmeter, it will show -12 volts if you have it hooked up wrong or +12 volts if its right.. when you have it right.. follow the center contact through to the wire and there you go... I also want to do the same thing.. Any good prices on a good inverter?
Old 06-10-2002, 01:06 AM
  #3  
TECH Resident
Thread Starter
 
WEASEL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: the third rock from the sun!
Posts: 770
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default Re: Hardwiring a Power Inverter

Thanks for the info. Got one more. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> Is it necessary to add an inline fuse since the inverter chassis already has a replaceable fuse on it?

All the inverters that I've seen are within $5 of each other and look to have similar specs. The 175watt ones run about $30 and the 300watt ones run about $55-60. The only down side is the smaller one only had one receptacle and the bigger one had two.

Those were at Walmart and Crutchfield. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
Old 06-10-2002, 01:33 AM
  #4  
TECH Resident
 
RTCamaroSS's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Fremont, CA
Posts: 829
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Hardwiring a Power Inverter

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by WEASEL:
<strong>Thanks for the info. Got one more. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> Is it necessary to add an inline fuse since the inverter chassis already has a replaceable fuse on it?

All the inverters that I've seen are within $5 of each other and look to have similar specs. The 175watt ones run about $30 and the 300watt ones run about $55-60. The only down side is the smaller one only had one receptacle and the bigger one had two.

Those were at Walmart and Crutchfield. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No need for an additional fuse if you already have one in the box itself.. If you want to do overkill safety measures.. then you could add one.. But its definately not needed...
Old 06-10-2002, 07:28 PM
  #5  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (7)
 
slow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Orlando
Posts: 6,151
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default Re: Hardwiring a Power Inverter

fuses protect the wire, not the device, so if your tapping off a non fused power source, you must fuse it, if its a fuses source, i woudl reccomend fusing it, so if you do have a problem, you blow that fuse, not the car circuit, that could power something you need.

Ryan.
Old 06-11-2002, 01:41 AM
  #6  
TECH Resident
Thread Starter
 
WEASEL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: the third rock from the sun!
Posts: 770
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default Re: Hardwiring a Power Inverter

'preciate it guys. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

<small>[ June 11, 2002, 11:00 AM: Message edited by: WEASEL ]</small>




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:41 AM.