Voltage going through inverter switch?

**CoCa** · 03-29-2004, 03:32 AM

I moved the power switch for my inverter overhead where your garage door opener would go. My question is what voltage is running through that switch while the inverter is on? I would like to put an LED in line with it so I could see if the thing is on or not instead of runing another line ALL the way up there form the led on the inverter itself. Thanx for any help with this.

**Enforcer** · 03-29-2004, 04:18 AM

I would say 12V as that is the source voltage.

If there is a light in the swicth that may be a different circuit and be 240VAC.

put a meter across it.

**CoCa** · 03-29-2004, 10:14 AM

Thats pretty much what I was thinking, just figured I'd ask before testing it.

**Defiler** · 03-29-2004, 11:01 AM

Throw a voltage tester on the outs and see.

**icet** · 03-29-2004, 03:55 PM

u can use 12v....
i powered it aux headunit wire and from the battery...
icet

**wizardPC** · 03-29-2004, 04:09 PM

you might wanna put a relay on the inverter and run those wires to the switch. Voltage isnt gonna be your problem, amperage is. If you put an LED on a line that needs 4A, the LED is gonna pop (and I mean explode)

**eCar™** · 03-29-2004, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by wizardPC

you might wanna put a relay on the inverter and run those wires to the switch. Voltage isnt gonna be your problem, amperage is. If you put an LED on a line that needs 4A, the LED is gonna pop (and I mean explode)

If you put too much voltage thru an LED it will overheat. I personally have never seen one explode though.

Doesn't really matter how much current the circuit has. You wouldn't have the LED in series anyhow. You'd have the LED in parallel, and it would likely have to have a resistor to get the voltage right. But when you put the correct voltage to the LED, it limits the current with it own internal resistance (typical LED is 20mA).

**aleromaster** · 03-29-2004, 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by eCar™

If you put too much voltage thru an LED it will overheat. I personally have never seen one explode though.

I have blown up plenty in my days. Its fun to watch but boy does it ever stink

**MP3DUB** · 03-29-2004, 05:22 PM

I cant speak conclusivly for all inverters, but they all seem to have pretty tiny switches, meaning that they all have very little amps running across the switchs, as if you tried to run 4a or 10a @ 12vdc across the little switches, they'd melt. And I'd also assume the switch to either be 12vdc or 5vdc, depending on what it does on the board (relay or some signaling voltage). I simply extended both the switch and the bicolour led for my inverter with some solid core cat5 922ga) and haven't had any problems.

**CoCa** · 03-29-2004, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by eCar™

If you put too much voltage thru an LED it will overheat. I personally have never seen one explode though.

Doesn't really matter how much current the circuit has. You wouldn't have the LED in series anyhow. You'd have the LED in parallel, and it would likely have to have a resistor to get the voltage right. But when you put the correct voltage to the LED, it limits the current with it own internal resistance (typical LED is 20mA).

Wouldn't running the LED in parallel defeat of the purpose of the switch? I palnned on puting it seris with the switch.