Power Inverter 450W (fuse, regulator)

**eagleslayor** · 12-07-2007, 01:31 PM

Hi car enthusiasts,
I have another thread in the general forum, but I think here it is more appropriate.
I just wanted to know if I'm going to connect a 450W inverter to my computer, will I need a fuse between the inverter and the car battery and will I need a DC-DC regulator for the peeks.
Thanks

**pokki** · 12-07-2007, 04:59 PM

No dc-dc regulator should be required - that's what the PC powersupply does when converting AC to DC.

Yes you shoudl fuse it. The fuse on the power wire is to protect your car from catching on fire - the size of the fuse should be based around the size of the cable.

**eagleslayor** · 12-07-2007, 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by pokki

No dc-dc regulator should be required - that's what the PC powersupply does when converting AC to DC.

Yes you shoudl fuse it. The fuse on the power wire is to protect your car from catching on fire - the size of the fuse should be based around the size of the cable.

Thanks for the reply,
You said that the DC-DC regulator isn't needed, but will the power inverter manage with the peeks?
What cable size do you recommend for a power inverter?

**pokki** · 12-08-2007, 12:21 AM

but will the power inverter manage with the peeks?

What peaks?

What cable size do you recommend for a power inverter?

For a 450 watt inverter, 8 guage cabling as the minimum.

**eagleslayor** · 12-08-2007, 05:23 AM

Originally Posted by pokki

What peaks?

For a 450 watt inverter, 8 guage cabling as the minimum.

I read in the forum that car battery output isn't constant 12V, sometimes less, sometimes more, that's the peeks I'm talking about.

For this cabling, what fuse should I use.

**h3rk** · 12-08-2007, 05:44 AM

Here's some information that may help, especially if you want some background to be able to decide for yourself what the right answer is.

Follow the two links on post 5 of this lnked thread for a more complete answer.

EDIT:
Found this site from another thread, I like it better than the ones I posted in a linked post from that^ post. It haunted me until I found it (it's still missing some automotive grade cable classifications, damn him, even after he said he'd add them)
http://www.bcae1.com/wire.htm

**eagleslayor** · 12-08-2007, 06:57 AM

Originally Posted by h3rk

Here's some information that may help, especially if you want some background to be able to decide for yourself what the right answer is.

Follow the two links on post 5 of this lnked thread for a more complete answer.

thanks, will take a look

**eagleslayor** · 12-09-2007, 06:03 PM

i bought my power inverter and noticed something that says 40 amp fuse...should this be enough?

**h3rk** · 12-09-2007, 09:40 PM

That's a little more restrictive than I would have thought, that makes me think that they didn't really design it for 450W continuous, but if they recommended a 40A I'd go with it. Just be sure to supply the inverter with 8AWG or larger. If you used 10AWG (or smaller) you'd have to knock your fuse rating down to 30-35 (or less) to be sure that you weren't overheating the supply wire.

**drutort** · 12-23-2007, 02:52 AM

i have a question, can you use 2 8awg wires and that total awg would be close to 4? or no O_o i think i would have to do some math but i did not see no calc values for such attempt heh, the problem is that i think i could fit more or at least 2 8awg but something like 4 or even say 0 would be hard to fit... i would have to find some new place to route the wire, my audio cables are already taking i think 80% of the space were i plan to pass them through.

I’m also curious to find out what a typical sound system speaker wire awg is rated at… I don’t think my is300 has typical sound system… but I guess ill find out sooner or later