Inverter - PSU fault (diagnose = how?)

Samirnoff! · 04-10-2004, 07:27 PM

Inverter: Vector 400Watt
PSU: Deer 250watt

Problem:
When I plug my power supply into my inverter the fault light on the inverter starts blinking, and I recieve no use from the power supply

Diagnose:
> I plugged in other devices to see if they worked, and they do.

> Checked Vector website and instruction booklet to figure out what a blinking fault light indicates, did'nt find anything.

> Waiting for a friend to let me use one of his power supplies to test if the problem lies only within my power supply alone OR computer power supplies in general in connection with a vector power inverter.

> Asks Mp3Car forums if they know what the hell is going on

Thank You fellow Mp3Car people.

frenchnew · 04-10-2004, 11:36 PM

Have tried to plug your power supply to a wall outlet with an extension cord?

Does it work?

On your PSU, there is a label with specifications. What does it say about the current consumption on 120Volts?

I imagine that your inverter is rated at 400 Watts peaks, if that is the case and your psu runs well on an extension cord connected to a wall outlet, I would suspect that your inverter is not powerful enough or not getting enough power to energize your PSU. What type of Wires did you use to wire your inverter to your car's 12 volts system and how long are the wires?

Assuming that your inverter is 100% efficient (None of them are that efficient) it requires 29Amps at 13.8 Volts to generate 400 Watts. Add the power losses in the conversion and you can easily require over 40 Amps for the inverter to run.

Best regards

frenchnew

Quote: Originally Posted by Samirnoff!

Inverter: Vector 400Watt
PSU: Deer 250watt

Problem:
When I plug my power supply into my inverter the fault light on the inverter starts blinking, and I recieve no use from the power supply

Diagnose:
> I plugged in other devices to see if they worked, and they do.

> Checked Vector website and instruction booklet to figure out what a blinking fault light indicates, did'nt find anything.

> Waiting for a friend to let me use one of his power supplies to test if the problem lies only within my power supply alone OR computer power supplies in general in connection with a vector power inverter.

> Asks Mp3Car forums if they know what the hell is going on

Thank You fellow Mp3Car people.

el bob · 04-11-2004, 12:10 AM

I have the same problem with my Vector 400W inverter connected to a Dell XPS T600 (200W AC/DC power supply). Sometimes it works no problem (green light on inverter), but sometimes it also gives the blinkinkg red light (fault) and doesn't work. Very flaky.

Anybody else?

[bold]Is this just a bad inverter?[/bold]

BigGuns · 04-11-2004, 12:17 PM

Its not a faultly power supply, I believe you have the same problems as me, lack of voltage.
If you can get a voltmeter and test the output of the invertor. if your getting anything lower than 220volts then theres something wrong - this is where im stuck

Samirnoff! · 04-11-2004, 07:08 PM

Oh yeah, i forgot to mention i took apart my whole system, and plugged it in in my house and it booted up just fine., and its not 400 watt peak....(800). And crap, i cut off the side panel of my psu which had the specs chart on it, so it could fit behind my dash

Quote: Originally Posted by frenchnew

Have tried to plug your power supply to a wall outlet with an extension cord?

Does it work?

On your PSU, there is a label with specifications. What does it say about the current consumption on 120Volts?

I imagine that your inverter is rated at 400 Watts peaks, if that is the case and your psu runs well on an extension cord connected to a wall outlet, I would suspect that your inverter is not powerful enough or not getting enough power to energize your PSU. What type of Wires did you use to wire your inverter to your car's 12 volts system and how long are the wires?

Assuming that your inverter is 100% efficient (None of them are that efficient) it requires 29Amps at 13.8 Volts to generate 400 Watts. Add the power losses in the conversion and you can easily require over 40 Amps for the inverter to run.

Best regards

frenchnew

Samirnoff! · 04-12-2004, 06:29 PM

Aha, guys ... it isnt a voltage problem....it is because it isnt properly grounded!.... plug in any thing that connects w/ 3 prongs...(ground) - it doesnt work..... plug in anythign with just two prongs...and it does (no matter the voltage on the two pronged connection)

Problem identified.
How to fix the problem....you tell me

OdysseyPC · 04-12-2004, 06:54 PM

The problem should be solved by earthing the inverter. What does this mean?? Well i'm not an expert on inverters but i've made a few mains powerd devices before and have had similar experiences ... although I have learnt the reason for safety switches being installed.

If the inverter is a mettalic box then it should have a lug there that allows you to earth the case, earthing the case should solve your problem. This mean you'll have your positive and ground going to the inverter via the lighter socket or what ever and an extra connection connecting the chassis of your car to the box of the inverter.

Hope this helps.

Samirnoff! · 04-12-2004, 08:40 PM

Thanks Odyssey, but It is grounded...first thing i checked...and checkd over and over again, however...hate to say it but i found the solution, and it was rather simple.

THATS RIGHT GUYS (bigguns, elbob) Solution to our problems....
> After testing many different devices in the inverter i figured out that all the devices i connected with 2 prongs (w/oground) worked and the ones with 3prongs dont (with ground) ..... So, i used a 3 prong to 2 prong converter (happend to have plenty of those since our house isnt grounded) and Whoa...it worked.

I still cannot figure out why it wouldnt work with the 3prongs, since i made sure the ground was touching metal, and theoretically if the ground wasnt touching metal then nothing should work...I undid the ground to see if it was a faulty ground and the whole inverter wouldnt start (like i suspected)

falconey · 04-13-2004, 11:44 AM

I believe you could have just hardwired the inverter. I have a vector inverter also and didn't have any of the issues you guys have. I bought a 350watt version. It came with cig lighter connector and alligator clips connector. I cut the clips and wired it to the battery and grounded to the car chasis. This may have been you're problem, but then again before I modified anything I tried it in the cig lighter and it worked. Oh well.

el bob · 04-13-2004, 07:57 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Samirnoff!

Thanks Odyssey, but It is grounded...first thing i checked...and checkd over and over again, however...hate to say it but i found the solution, and it was rather simple.

When you say ground, are you talking about the wire that connects to a terminal next to the positive 12v line? If so, OdysseyPC is talking about something different. He (if you're female I apologize) is talking about connecting a third wire to the inverter that connects the chassis (unpainted metal) of the car to the casing of the inverter.

If you already had this straight in your head, then....well....kk.

thnikkamax · 06-07-2006, 09:09 PM

Sorry to resurrect this thread from the dead (gotta love Search)...

I was using one of the more up to date Vector 400W devices to power up a Dell Inspiron 9100 laptop. The laptop powered up for about 20 minutes or so before it blew out the 8A 250V fuse inside the cig-lighter plug.

My power supply states the following: 150W-AC Adapter, Input 100-240V~ 2.5A 50-60Hz, Output 19.5V 7.7A

I will try to get a new fuse and use the 2-prong adapter to see if it will work. Otherwise, what other steps can be taken to power up this machine with this inverter? Should I connect it directly to the battery using thicker gauge wire? And should I stick with the 8A 250V fuse or get something different?

Electronics pWnZ me.

JAC · 06-07-2006, 09:34 PM

Check to see if your wattage or amperage does'nt exceed it's limits because if it does it can draw to much from the cig lighter and cause a fault thus blow out the safety fuse.

The plugs with three holes(receptacle described from old posts) means that it has three holes top left usaully (+)pos/ top right(-) usaully neg/ and the round bottom hole is ground (there for safety hazards) to automatically shut down by force any device that has caused fault to protect user or itself (meaning device).

thnikkamax · 06-08-2006, 06:20 PM

i'm wondering if maybe the 750 WATT inverter would be best