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Thread: I got the Power!! sorta

  1. 08-02-2002, 10:15 PM #1
    eleslie
    eleslie is offline
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    I got the Power!! sorta

    Okay, not doing any research whatsoever, My friend and I went to Radioshack and bought a 140W RMS power invertor that plugs into your cigarette lighter adapter in the car. We were planning on hooking up a cheapo computer to play mp3z.


    then we proceeded to hook everything up in my car
    (87 Volvo 240) and it worked beautifully. Everything was just peachy, we were listening to music, it was great. wE were running the computer, and a 15" moniter.

    But then the power cuts out and Everything turns off.
    I unhook everything and turn the car back on, But neither the PowerSUpply Or the CD DECK TURN ON!!!!

    I tried the power supply in another vechile and it works fine, but it won't work in mine!
    What really puzzles me though, is that when i took off the removable faceplate off the deck, the security light still is blinking, meaning that it is still getting power.

    The lights and all other electrical aspects in the car work fine, except for the lighter adapter and the CD DECK, what do i do?
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  2. 08-02-2002, 11:37 PM #2
    cybuch
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    Sounds to me like you blew a fuse that goes to the acc. portion of you radio and to your cig lighter. Check all the fuses in the panel.
    Steve
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  3. 08-02-2002, 11:57 PM #3
    eleslie
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    lol, it cost 19 cents to fix.

    blew a fuse

    whats the right way to do this computer setup anyways?
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  4. 08-03-2002, 04:57 AM #4
    Electronicsuk
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    Power supplies

    I have never liked the idea of using an inverter to get power for your computer. Alright it is easy, but it's also a total waste of time creating mains voltage and stepping it back down again. Not only that, inverters aren't exactly that efficient. If you were drawing 140w from the inverter that makes 14A load on the cigarette lighter socket. With your stereo running and any other devices that use the accessory line that's quite a big load.

    If you do want to use the inverter it would probbably be best to hook up a relay to the accessory line (perhaps a car headlight relay) and then wire the contacts directly to the battery (through a fuse of course). The other side of the contacts would go to the inverter. That way you would have very little load on the accessory line.

    You could make a 12v power supply and get rid of the inverter. Take a look round on this forum, there are lot's of designs to make or even buy.

    Best regards,
    Matthew
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