my power setup

**peacefrog226** · 04-26-2005, 05:07 PM

regardless if im building a mac or pc, i think this is still a ower question

im not very worried about startup and shutdown problems.

my 'puter is a mac, and i have o problems letting it boot whie im driving

i am using this 200 watt psu http://www.mini-box.com/s.nl/sc.8/ca...it.A/id.300/.f

will this inverter work? or one like it?
http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...108&pfp=SEARCH

im new t inverters, does it have to be wired directly to the battery, or can i go from a 12v cigarette lighter type pluyg, i see in the picture it has that kind of plus so i was just wondering. since my comp will be located in the trunk it would be easier to use a cigarette lighter plug.

will this setup work?

eric

**greenman100** · 04-26-2005, 05:19 PM

that inverter will work

you can go cig lighter or direct ot battery, but if you go direct to battery, it will likely survive crank, which is good

**Bugbyte** · 04-26-2005, 05:23 PM

Wire it to the battery. Running it through the cigarette lighter is like smoking while filling your tank. Mostly, something won't happen. But it might.

The cigarette lighter will heat up, melt and possibly catch fire if you pull too much power through it. Also, the wires to the socket really ought to be beefier.

You won't be able to power a Mac Mini through the DC PSU. The inverter will work, however I've heard the the Coleman inverters are good quality and will survive cranking.

**peacefrog226** · 04-26-2005, 05:25 PM

if i dont realy care abot surviving crank, can i just start the car then start the computer?

also, is it hard to wire to the battery?

thanks

**Bugbyte** · 04-26-2005, 05:37 PM

No. Two wires. One +, one -. Keep them straight

**Bugbyte** · 04-26-2005, 05:38 PM

No. Two wires. One +, one -. Keep them straight

You'll need to put a switch in line if the inverter doesn't have one. If you leave the inverter on for several days, it could drain your batter.

**Bugbyte** · 04-26-2005, 05:38 PM

No. Two wires. One +, one -. Keep them straight

You'll need to put a switch in line if the inverter doesn't have one. If you leave the inverter on for several days, it could drain your battery.

**greenman100** · 04-26-2005, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by Bugbyte

Wire it to the battery. Running it through the cigarette lighter is like smoking while filling your tank. Mostly, something won't happen. But it might.

The cigarette lighter will heat up, melt and possibly catch fire if you pull too much power through it. Also, the wires to the socket really ought to be beefier.

You won't be able to power a Mac Mini through the DC PSU. The inverter will work, however I've heard the the Coleman inverters are good quality and will survive cranking.

the fuse should protect the cig lighter, but it's easy, you don't even have to run a negative through teh firewall.

**peacefrog226** · 04-26-2005, 06:06 PM

so, definatly wire it to the battery? i fust dont know hoe im going to get te wires into the trunk.

cigarette lighter definatly wornt do the trick?

damn

well ok whatever

thanks eric

**n8scstm** · 04-26-2005, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by peacefrog226

so, definatly wire it to the battery? i fust dont know hoe im going to get te wires into the trunk.

cigarette lighter definatly wornt do the trick?

damn

well ok whatever

thanks eric

No it wont. Just run the wire under the car along the frame rails. Then drill a hole in the trunk and use a grommet to feed the wire through. Its not that difficult. Then just ground it to anything metal. Its easy. Do not forget to fuse it. Put the fuse as close to the battery as possible.