Wiring A Inverter

GADGETMAN · 12-06-2006, 09:35 AM

Has anyone wired a inverter to there vehicle for the car pc yet and if so how did you do it.

DarquePervert · 12-06-2006, 10:18 AM

Many people have wired an inverter to their car.
And how you wire it really depends on what you want. The one that's currently in my car is wired directly to the battery.

treetop777 · 12-06-2006, 10:55 AM

Just cut off the cigarrette lighter plug (noting the polarity) and hook up the positive to a 12v source and the negative to ground. I have a relay (fed by an ignition lead) in between the 12v source and the inverter 'cause i can't easily reach the switch on the inverter.

Legacy · 12-06-2006, 02:09 PM

i have 8 gauge wire running directly from the battery

iceking69 · 01-02-2007, 12:04 PM

i Have a 1400 watt inverter. It will run just about anything. I have carpc setup. Tied in to the switch on inverter and ran that to ashtray. Installed hidden switch there. Did same thing with computer switch. I like manual control. Sometimes I want car off but still want my computer running. Inverter powered straight to battery. Can run negative to frame of car anywhere. I was getting feedback through sound from computer. Grounded negative side of sound out on computer. Helped alot.

spiike · 01-02-2007, 12:52 PM

When i have my inverter on, I can't listen to the radio cause of static. goes for the stock radio hooked up to the antenna or my usb tuner hooked up to the antenna. So according to iceking, I should ground the inverter to the car body? Static

iceking69 · 01-02-2007, 02:34 PM

Can you take pics of install and show us. Sounds like you need a better ground to start with though. You shouldnt be getting that much static.

spiike · 01-02-2007, 11:03 PM

pics are in my sig for the most part.

basically the stock antenna which runs from the rear windshield (wierd lexus defroster doubles as an antenna) goes along the floor on the driver side to the head unit. I spliced the wire with coaxle cable to extend the antenna wire which sounds wonderful. That's all by the glovebox.

Inverter is in the arm rest plugged into the 2nd cig lighter. There is an extension cord I fished under the carpet and under the seats to the trunk. I connect my laptop from that extension and lilliput to the inverter directly. everything sounds fine with the headunit until I switch on the inverter. Then static overwhelms the sound.

Quite freaking frustrating.

parksgm · 01-03-2007, 08:56 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by spiike

When i have my inverter on, I can't listen to the radio cause of static. goes for the stock radio hooked up to the antenna or my usb tuner hooked up to the antenna. So according to iceking, I should ground the inverter to the car body? Static

Well, I discovered that my inverter (Jensen 300 watt...not the best) sends a 20V AC current down into the car's and computer's ground when switched on, preventing me from connecting the computer to my stock headunit's Aux inputs.

After some research on this forum, I found that some inverters are apparently more electrically isolated than others. I would guess that your inverter is not as electrically isolated as it should be, and is introducing radio/electrical interference into the antenna system.

You could buy a different inverter (different brand) from Walmart to see if another inverter reduces the noise...if not, just research and buy a proper 12V power supply (like the Opus, M1 or M2) available here or elsewhere on the web.

@Darque: Shouldn't this question be moved from the "input devices" thread to "power supplies"?

spiike · 01-03-2007, 12:37 PM

oh man, that would explain it and also the difference with a 30 dollar inverter from target (like mine) vs the 150 dollar one from bestbuy. btw, I think this should be moved to the proper section as well.

This is a nubular question, but can you connect a laptop to an opus? I thought those were only for desktops.. Also the lilliput, dvd player, and phone charger go through the inverter.

DAMBRO24 · 01-03-2007, 07:05 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by iceking69

i Have a 1400 watt inverter. It will run just about anything. I have carpc setup. Tied in to the switch on inverter and ran that to ashtray. Installed hidden switch there. Did same thing with computer switch. I like manual control. Sometimes I want car off but still want my computer running. Inverter powered straight to battery. Can run negative to frame of car anywhere. I was getting feedback through sound from computer. Grounded negative side of sound out on computer. Helped alot.

HOW did you ground the "sound out?

iceking69 · 01-03-2007, 07:18 PM

Hey Dude Im glad I could help you out!!

I have 3.5mm plug to 2 RCA females coming out of sound card soldered wire to outside of metal on rca plugs. I then ran that to ground on frame of car..The feedback comes through the ground side most of the time. Hope that helps.

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/imag...ies/friday.gif

parksgm · 01-03-2007, 10:11 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by spiike

This is a nubular question, but can you connect a laptop to an opus? I thought those were only for desktops.. Also the lilliput, dvd player, and phone charger go through the inverter.

They are for desktops.

toxiclows · 01-07-2007, 04:16 PM

I have most of my noise gone with nice rca cables and a isolator but will remember the solder onto the - side of rca in case any problems pop up. . . . good info . .

NavyGuns · 01-14-2007, 04:47 PM

I have a whistler inverter 200w (purposely small to avoid high demand on the cars electrical system) I have it grounded to chasis, and an 8 guage back from the battery. I have no issues when the computer is on (which is all the time when the car is on) also, i dont know if this makes a difference, but the entire carpc system runs off the inverter, the monitor doesnt run off straight 12v, but it might be one of the reasons i see no problems with the monitor.