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Hardwiring a Power Inverter

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Old Jun 8, 2002 | 11:43 PM
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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>
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Old Jun 9, 2002 | 12:30 AM
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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?
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Old Jun 10, 2002 | 01:06 AM
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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" />
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Old Jun 10, 2002 | 01:33 AM
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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...
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Old Jun 10, 2002 | 07:28 PM
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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.
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Old Jun 11, 2002 | 01:41 AM
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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>
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