when starting car(cranking) inverter loses power...

**Mitch25** · 11-27-2006, 09:46 PM

Hey Everyone,

Been reading here quite a while and finally decided to join. I have been wanting get my CAR PC project going for months now, and have finally started.

I am using the epia m1000 mini itx motherboard in a travla case, power supply was included, and am powering the unit through an inverter which I have connected to a constant 12v power outlet.. When I shut the car off, the inverter stays on as it should and the computer stays on (eventually I will want it to go into standby). However, when I go to start it, as soon as it begins cranking, the inverter restarts and for that split second the computer loses its power.

Is this in issue with the inverter, in that there is to much power getting drawn to it causing it to restart? If so, or not I guess, what do you recommend do to resolve this. The specs for the inverter says that it has 200-400w peak power

I appreciate any help and if any further info is needed from me let me know

Thanks.

**dupa2** · 11-27-2006, 10:26 PM

if you use the power from cigarette lighter, it gets cut off when you crank the engine, try to tap into radio connector, you'll find 12V supply uninterrupted, and also ACC wire.

**Mitch25** · 11-28-2006, 12:31 AM

Thanks for the reply. I am not running the inverter off of the cigarrete lighter, (apologies if it sounded like that), the Mazda3 does not come with a power outlet, just an accessory outlet that is only powered when key is turned to ACC.

Using a volt meter I was able to find a constant 12V power source from the head unit that gave 12V when car was both off, key not in, as well as when car is on. That is why i do not understand why that power gets interrupted when the car is turned on.

I spliced into the 12V line off the head unit to create a constant 12V(cig lighter adapter). The inverter then plugs into that.

Thanks for the help

**billmee** · 11-28-2006, 04:19 AM

Originally Posted by Mitch25

Using a volt meter I was able to find a constant 12V power source from the head unit that gave 12V when car was both off, key not in, as well as when car is on. That is why i do not understand why that power gets interrupted when the car is turned on.

I spliced into the 12V line off the head unit to create a constant 12V(cig lighter adapter). The inverter then plugs into that.

Thanks for the help

Mitch

When you start the car your battery voltage drops due to the immense load of starting the engine. The inverter is probably hitting it's low voltage cut off something like 10 volts for an instant, and turning off. Once the engine starts and the alternator starts spinning the voltage applied to the battery and head unit and everything else comes back up to a regulated 13-14 volts.

You should definately run a power wire directly to the battery or a better source of constant 12v, the larger the gauge the lower the voltage drop.

Post or search for Mazda wiring help, you should be able to find a gooder connection point.

**com2soft** · 11-28-2006, 10:37 AM

my setup was similar to yours. m10000+inverter(200W)+ATX psu(200W). i don't have this problem.

i wired the inverter to the distribution block. my ATX psu is wide input 100-240V

**bcw757** · 11-30-2006, 08:19 PM

I had the same problem, and I had the inverter directly connected to the battery. I fixed the problem by hooking a UPS up to the inverter and then hooking the computer and monitor up to the UPS.