Inverter mounting
Where is the best place to mount the inverter? I have my prototype mp3 car all set up, ran it in the passenger seat (seatbelted in) off the cigarette lighter. I know this is not a smart move, as my friend blew out his car's fuse panel because of a bridging problem caused by his cigarette lighter running his. inverter. so i want to hard-wire the inverter in, but was wondering, should i run 12v high-current wires to the trunk and mount the inverter there with the carputer, or mount the inverter near the front somewhere, like under the passenger seat, and run a long 115v wire to the trunk. I know that this will be a better solution electrically, as there will be less current loss, but is it sensible and more importantly, safe?
I know all you DC power supply people are going to tell me to get a DC-DC supply and screw the inverter, i'll do that if you can tell me where to find an atx one cheap.
I'd love to get a DC-DC myself, but I'm already a few thousand over what I care to spend. I have way WAY too many hobbies..
Inverter wise, I'd be mounting it close to the comp. Having a 115v line running the length of the car makes me edgy..Besides that point, in my case I have the power line ran for the amps, so it's not a problem for me..
Other opinions?
Scott--
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The 115V wiring being long would be more efficient, but as far as safety goes I would recommend running 12V wire. Remember that you don't need to go overboard on the wire guage. Running 00 wire from the battery to the trunk is not only a waste of money, but totally unnecessary. 14 or 12 gauge wire will do fine.
Player: Pentium 166MMX, Amptron 598LMR MB w/onboard Sound, Video, LAN, 10.2 Gig Fujitsu Laptop HD, Arise 865 DC-DC Converter, Lexan Case, Custom Software w/Voice Interface, MS Access Based Playlists
Car: 1986 Mazda RX-7 Turbo (highly modded), 1978 RX-7 Beater (Dead, parting out), 2001 Honda Insight
"If one more body-kitted, cut-spring-lowered, farty-exhausted Civic revs on me at an intersection, I swear I'm going to get out of my car and cram their ridiculous double-decker aluminium wing firmly up their rump."
ARRGHH!!!!
Do not use 12 or 14 gauge wire!
Use at minumum 8!
You really will start an electricall fire if you try to use 12 or 14 and then pull alot of Amps through it.
Your better off getting the thicker wire and paying a little more.
And guys, don't give me that crap about it being harder to run. Just pull back the carpet along your floor boards, and lay it under there.
It will be infinitely safer.
12 gauge wire is what is ran through the walls in your house for AC electric.
It is nowhere near thick enough for DC uses.
DC current drops off alot more quickly than AC, so you need thicker wire for the longer you run it.
Clarion 200watt head unit w/ Aux in.
Kicker 800watt 4 channel amp
In a 96 Grand Prix SE.
Yea .. guys .. you need to re-evaluate the wire guages you use.
For a 300w inverter, I'd reccomend atleast 10 gauge.
If you are referring to a wire gauge table .. make darn sure it's DC not AC (as AC requires smaller gauges).
PS: Aaron, when running 2000w of load in the trunk, 0 (or 00) gauge is a _MUST_
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