Thread: I've soldered in my relay 4 different ways and it still won't work. Help please.

the overload is on the inverter, correct?

if so, the comp is drawing too much power, and the inverter has an auto shutdown when too much current is drawn. Your only choice is to find a way to use less power (less drives, or somthing), or just get a new one.

Yes, your correct. The problem is, the 400 watt inverter could power up the computer just fine until I finalized my relay install. Since the relay only powers the on/off switch, it should not affect the overall power drain or usage.

But yet I have this issue. It must be a loose ground or connection that has developed. I'm going to remount the inverter and relay grounds to be sure they are solid.

last note. My PC motherboard is currently not grounded. Should I take the ground from the molex connector and ground it to the same spot as my other grounds on the chassis?

The .5 amp relay is WAY too small. The current that flows through the switch on the inverter is the same current that is going to flow through the relay. Most inverters pass all of the current that the inverter draws through the switch. It is really much easier to leave the switch inside the iverter alone, and use a 30 amp relay to power the inverter on and off. Here is a diagram of how I have mine wired (mine can be powered at anytime, key on or off, so I've actually redrawn the circuit to the way that you would like it). I don't want to embed, so here is the link. http://www.bestechsolutions.com/inverter.jpg Good Luck!

i would also try removing the relay, that is odd though. Somthing may be wired wrong on your relay or be crossed or somthing. Check instructions for the meaning of the light too.

OIC your putting the relay on the actual 12v line going into the inverter. I just hooked mine up the the actual switch inside the inverter (just unscrewed 4 screws and soldered). For your app of course a .5 is way to small. Just go to the switch inside the inverter. I don't think your inverter can draw enough power through the relay.



see those two small blue wires going into the inverter? That is soldered directly to the red switch, and works like a charm for me.

If your inverter's switch is wired directly to the 12v lead (i have 2 and neither is), than i guess you are dicked. I dought they did that though. If you go through the 12v your switch has to be a big mofo too to hold the voltage.

My relay is wired just like yours. Inside the inverter and ONLY to the small on/off switch. It is NOT wired to the main 12v power from the battery so it should work, inless my inverter is weird and funnels all it's power through the ON/off switch.

I reset my grounds real good and tried grounding the relay to the stereo ground also. Still get the "overload" light on the inverter and PC tries but fails to boot.

I bet you that I still have this little relay wired incorrectly to my little red switch. Your relay is wired inline with the on/off switch right? Or are you shorting the switch with the COM and N.O. sides of the switch?
Also, can power move from N.O. ---> COM or from COM--->N.O.? Below is how I currently have my relay hooked up. Should I flip the positions of my N.O. and COM pins effectively switching the DIRECTION of the current flow.



I don't want to trouble you too much, but if you could post a picture of the inside of your inverter which shows exactly where the relay wires connect to the switch (which pole "O" or "I"), it would help me tremendously and I bet alot of others in the future too.

Originally Posted by vcbb5

I don't know the exact function of pins 4 and 8, but i would not connect a 12v lead to the com port, it will probably fry it. The little shutdown program is made specifically for the pins 4 and 8 to be shorted, not a 12v lead or another lead.

another note: the shutdown program must be set to the inverse for this to work, not reguler.

I have mine connected without a relay and it hasn't fried my comport. Supposedly these ports can handle over 20volts. It's much easier than adding a second relay and you can just use XP software which is fairly simple but doesn't give you a whole lot of options(i.e. time before shutdown, etc). I think my setup is real sweet. The inverter side of the circuit is similar to vcbb5, but I run 12v from my battery to comport pin 8(I also spliced this line to trigger the relay when I turn the key to on position). So basically I can control startup and shutdown through my radio. Or just leave the radio on and it's all automated.

Originally Posted by wonderworm

My relay is wired just like yours. Inside the inverter and ONLY to the small on/off switch. It is NOT wired to the main 12v power from the battery so it should work, inless my inverter is weird and funnels all it's power through the ON/off switch.

I reset my grounds real good and tried grounding the relay to the stereo ground also. Still get the "overload" light on the inverter and PC tries but fails to boot.

I bet you that I still have this little relay wired incorrectly to my little red switch. Your relay is wired inline with the on/off switch right? Or are you shorting the switch with the COM and N.O. sides of the switch?
Also, can power move from N.O. ---> COM or from COM--->N.O.? Below is how I currently have my relay hooked up. Should I flip the positions of my N.O. and COM pins effectively switching the DIRECTION of the current flow.



I don't want to trouble you too much, but if you could post a picture of the inside of your inverter which shows exactly where the relay wires connect to the switch (which pole "O" or "I"), it would help me tremendously and I bet alot of others in the future too.

You need a multimeter. It would answer many of your questions. I to agree that your relay is just too small. Of course you could verify or discount this with a multimeter.

If your inverter was working properly before the relay, that tells me that your relay is no good for your application. All the relay does is provide a path for your current to flow though. The coil in the relay is nothing more than an electro magnet which close the switch when charged. If the coil is closing, then it's doing what it's supposed to do. No fidling with your wiring is going to make a difference.

By the way, did you add a resistor on the coil lead?