Though I'd make a quick how to guide for a remote power on switch for a DC to AC inverter.
Rational:
-I want to be able to turn off and turn on my power AC power inverter from the driver’s seat of my car.
-I don’t want to hack up my inverter so it is un-useable in another vehicle.
-I want the solution to be simple, clean and easy for a person of average skill to replicate.
-Power inverters that are plugged into the cig lighter are a bad idea.
-It has to be cheap
Parts I already had:
-350 watt power inverter
-Installed wiring kit (used for my audio amp)
-Small gauge wire I had laying around
Additional Parts Required:
On/Off switch (Junk Yard $1)
Green Light (Radio Shack $2)
DC jack – Male (Radio Shack $2)
DC jack – Female (Radio Shack $2)
Total $7
Tools Required:
Drill w/Bit
Phillips Screw Driver
Soldering Iron
Solder
Electrical Tape
This is a simple idea. An inverter is right for my application. I’m running a laptop tucked away in the trunk along with a few other AC items. I would like to make it look as stock as stock and clean as possible. I’ve already run heavy gauge wire for my amp. Other wise I’d say run 4g wire.
So to start lets gather the parts. A quick trip to radio shack and the junk yard and I’m ready to roll. I was able to snag a factory fog light switch from the scrap yard for a buck. Since I had 2 blanks in my car, I grabbed it.
Next rip apart the inverter. Check out the wiring. Notice how the DC in wire is much larger than the on switch wiring. This shows that the inverter does not run all of its power through the main switch, but rather it utilizes an internal relay. **You now need to check to see which side of the switch has the power coming in and which side energizes the relay. Also while you’re in there with your multi meter double check to make sure that wire is 12Volts
Locate a good spot for the dc jack and drill a hole. Make sure you will have enough clearance once your reassemble the unit. Now that you’ve located the correct side of the switch solder a short piece of wire between the closed side of the switch and the center pin of the jack you just installed. (Make sure that it is the wire that energizes the relay and not the 12V constant.)
Now for the dash….I installed the factory switch with a 12V input coming off a fused line from a 12V constant source. Then the switch outputs to both the inverter remote switch and the little green light that I installed in the center of a switch blank.
To finish it all off the inverter got tucked in the rear panel work.
If this type of remote on is not for you perhaps you should check here.
Linear Mode
