Wooo, no more relay for the relay

**MP3DUB** · 03-13-2002, 11:54 AM

So I was trying to work out how I could run 5 pairs of signal/power/indicators over 4 pairs of wires when I finally gave up and decided to control my inverter with a seperate cable. I'd been using a 30A 12VDC auto relay to cut power to the inverter for a long time now. Having more pairs of wires availible to me, I decided to use the two color (3 pole) led that the inverter used for normal operation/fault indication, which led me to opening up the inverter (wooo). Discovered that everything was connected with quick connects of one sort or another (American Power Inverter) and took a multimeter to its power switch and found that it only carries 150ma @ 12vdc, so a switch for a relay, and didn't actually swtich the 12vdc coming into the inverter. I have no idea if this is the case for all inverters, but I though that I'd share my findings. I now have a cat5 cable coming out of the hole that the led was mounted in, and the led and the indicator are up front with me now. I also have no idea what percentage of the inverters out there power on the same way (if this is common knowledge, just tell me that everyone knew how an inverter controlled its power

).

**Mikesz** · 03-13-2002, 01:01 PM

I use a relay to turn on my inverter that runs off an ignition wire. When i turn the key my screen comes on up front (which is powered from the computer psu) and i know the inverters on. If i listen closely, i can also here it beep.

If you do this, pick a wire that is hot in run and start. Your starter will probably kill the inverter anyway, but atleast this will give it a fighting chance.

mp3dub, if i were you i would just run wires up front from the mb for power on and hdd.

mike

**PatO** · 03-13-2002, 05:02 PM

No relay here...
I set the power switch to "on" and ran cables from the batt to a switch in the dash and back to the inverter which was mounted next to the battery under the hood.
A waste of wire, probably added noise (couldn't hear it, though), and a good way to blow an expensive switch, but it worked...

**Mikesz** · 03-13-2002, 06:08 PM

You mounted your inverter under your hood????? I hope you put it in some type of case to keep out the elements. You dont have your computer under there, do you???

Mike

**MP3DUB** · 03-14-2002, 01:35 PM

Thats got to be a pretty hefty switch if youre switching a normal (300W) sized inverter (to the tune of 15amps). My point in my first post was that it seems that the inverter has an internal relay, so whether its manually switched like i have it now, or if someone wanted to have car acc. power trip it, you dont actually need another external relay to the inverter to control power to it.

**pigseye** · 03-15-2002, 09:21 PM

Good find MP3dub!

Pigseye

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