Thread: Invertor problem - strange!

When installing the dash plastics, you didn't damage the power cords at all? jam it between two pieces? or put a screw through it? Try unplugging all the power cables from the inverter (AC side) and turning it on. Its sounds like a dammaged AC power cord.

I'm guessing that it is cutting out when you cut the car on. If this is the case it is do to the overload protection. My inverter does the same thing, and I have to reset it once started to get it to work. I plan on putting a capacitor in parralel with the power to compensate for the loss, unless someone knows a way to disable the protection.

,Dave

Moved to Power Supplies.

The inverter can go into overload for a couple of reasons.

1. guage of the power cable is to high, ( smaller # = thicker wire)

2. The point of connection (usually cigarett lighter) (and note this varrys by car) shuts off when you turn the key to crank.

3. The car is just sucking so much power during cranking that there isnt enough left to run the inverter.

To solve - try heavier guage wire first.
Then try connecting the inverter directly to the battery. If after trying both of these, it still goes to overload / low batt :

build one of these - http://www.hjnetworks.com/car/auxpwr.htm

Its a simple circuit that adds an aux power source to supply enough power to run the inverter while the car cranks.

With some simple modifications, you can add a switch and larger battery to allow you to run the pc off the aux battery for extended periods of time (while parked w/ engine off) and still not drain the car batt.

let me guess, you have a "statpower portawatz" inverter like one of these:


It is a funtion built into the inverter that makes it not work when the voltage drops below a certain amount, like when you start your vehicle. Heres a quick fix, turn the inverter off, start the car, and turn the inverter on.