DC-AC Invertor power loss question

**doomzday** · 10-13-2004, 12:14 AM

I used to have a SIMA 300 watt DC to AC inverter with 2 3 prong AC outlets. (Used to as it got flooded with water and died) The thing I really liked is that the the DC leads from the ciggarette lighter had ring terminals on one side and the AC Outputs on the other. I taped right into the DC side to power my monitor.

My question is by tapping into this DC voltage at the beginning of the invertor will it lower or make the current unstable for the AC devices?

Im considering buying this invertor or type again because it was cheap and simple.

**VanMan69** · 10-13-2004, 12:27 AM

The current from a modified-sine wave inverter is pretty dirty/"unstable" as it is, hooking up the monitor won't have any effect on the inverter. Just make sure that the wires between the inverter/monitor and the cigarette plug can handle the total current draw of the inverter and monitor. Since you say it has ring terminals/posts, though, you can just use your own wire to connect it. 10ga should be okay.

**doomzday** · 10-13-2004, 09:52 AM

cool,
Its the cheap temporary solution till down the road($35). Inverters are nice to have too. When you say dirty, is it a dangerous level? Does it spike like a car batery does during starting?

**VanMan69** · 10-13-2004, 01:35 PM

Nah, it still stays at 120VAC during crank, if it's capable of surviving a crank. The 175W inverter I used to use (not for comp, for other stuff) would shut down during crank. I don't know much about which inverters can survive a crank.

I'm no electrician, but I can give you two basic examples of what "dirty" AC does:
1) An electric clock will not keep proper time.
2) I've plugged my tower computer into my inverter, and the PSU (460W) hums like a mudda fukka (it's a 1250W inverter). The computer still runs fine, though.