a power inverter/playstation question.

Home / the12volt's Install Bay / Mobile Video, GPS, and Navigation / a power inverter/playstation question. (

Topic Closed)

Welcome Guest :)

Members

Next Page > < Prev Topic Next Topic >

vstar

Member - Posts: 8

Joined: June 17, 2004

Posted: July 14, 2004 at 2:10 AM / IP Logged

Alright I have my playstation 2 in my car hooked up to an in-dash 7in lcd monitor. The power inverter is 400w and I only have my ps2 hooked up to it which is I think about 170w or something around there. It works fine and I can keep it on for hours without any problems. Now I tryed to watch a movie in my car with the engine turned off, and the power inverter started beeping and turned off. I'm wondering if I bought a higher watt power inverter, would that solve my problem and allow me to watch movies without my engine on? Like I said everything works fine with the engine running, but I wanted to relax and watch a movie with my girlfriend after driving many hours, and I couldn't =[

Is that something that I just have to deal with or can I fix this? Thanks guys.

Teamrf

Gold - Posts: 1,031

Joined: January 13, 2004

Location: United States

Posted: July 14, 2004 at 10:32 PM / IP Logged

Well that power inverter is drawing current with the car on or off. So if you run movies with the car off guess what? Yeap, you guessed-dead battery. If you want to do something like you are talking about get a second battery.

~The Rookie~

Rookie of the year that is...

Don't let the smoke out of your equiptment..it doesn't go back in.

Jay T

Copper - Posts: 169

Joined: December 02, 2003

Location: Canada

Posted: July 14, 2004 at 11:32 PM / IP Logged

Beeping and shut off is a safety feature. When the inverter sees that the voltage of your battery drops below 10.6 it will turn off so you can still crank over your engine. Like Teamrf said.... get a second battery or one deep cycle like an optima or exide orbital to use for starting and engine-off viewing.

dxav

Silver - Posts: 314

Joined: September 11, 2002

Location: United States

Posted: July 15, 2004 at 9:21 AM / IP Logged

VSTAR,

Hey, man. Wanna super easy custom alternative? Why bother taking 12VDC converting to 120VAC, just to have a converter take it back down to 12VDC? If you have the extra cash to have 2 PS2 (one in house, on in car), open up the PS2, and take out the AC Power supply. Took me about 15-20 minutes my first time. Fortunately, the PS2 required 12VDC @ about 3.0 Amps. I wired in a 12V regulator with the proper capacitors and regulate the car's DC power (anywhere from 12.0VDC up to 14.0VDC) down to 12.0VDC for the PS2. I hooked up a molex connector so I can move the PS2, and ran 12Gauge wire from the battery (fused, of course), and power the PS2, 2 6" screens, and 1 7" screen. Make sure you fuse all the powers, too. Total cost for the regulator circuit was about $10 if you buy retail, or check Digikey.com. You have to buy more in quantity to save money, but you can offer to convert other friend's cars, too. Not sure about the XB power requirements, and I think the GC uses 12VDC (with the power inverter as part of the AC cord).

How is that for a solution? Just a little solder, and some patience, and you have a great video system. Email if you need anymore help. I have pics of my PS2 as I took it apart.

DXAV

Jay T

Copper - Posts: 169

Joined: December 02, 2003

Location: Canada

Posted: July 15, 2004 at 1:17 PM / IP Logged

Regardless of how the PS2 is wired, he still needs more battery.

dxav

Silver - Posts: 314

Joined: September 11, 2002

Location: United States

Posted: July 15, 2004 at 2:31 PM / IP Logged

Jay T, why would vstar need 'more battery'? The PS2 only draws about 4 amps max. The LCD screens are on the order of milliamps. Even with the car turned completely off the battery is still able to produce much more than 20 amps at anyone time, for a long period of time. Plenty of juice more a small video system like this. Larger audio systems in particular is a completely different story.

Jay T

Copper - Posts: 169

Joined: December 02, 2003

Location: Canada

Posted: July 15, 2004 at 2:43 PM / IP Logged

His battery is shot. If the inverter is beeping and shutting off then its senses low voltage. Its a safety feature that I also have on mine. He didn't mention anything about a stereo but chances are that his audio has to come from somewhere. You don't watch movies or play video games without sound. Which is also a draw. If he wired it your way, he'd have no safety and would run the battery dry enough to not be able to crank the engine. This is of course assuming that he doesn't have a loose wire or something else. Just needs a new battery not "more battery"

There is nothing wrong with your wiring it is great if you want to tuck it away somewhere custom. But it easier to run two wires if you already have an inverter than it is to open up the PS2 and re-regulate it. Which also voids the warranty.

vstar

Member - Posts: 8

Joined: June 17, 2004

Posted: July 15, 2004 at 5:06 PM / IP Logged

Is it that simple just to get a new battery and put it in the trunk or something?

defective

Silver - Posts: 642

Joined: August 20, 2003

Location: Canada

Posted: July 15, 2004 at 6:01 PM / IP Logged

nope... gotta get an isolator or separator.........or get four batteries (series + parrallel), i've only seen that once

vstar

Member - Posts: 8

Joined: June 17, 2004

Posted: July 15, 2004 at 6:30 PM / IP Logged

thought so thanks

Next Page >

Printable version

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Search the12volt.com

Follow the12volt.com

Disclaimer: *All information on this site ( the12volt.com ) is provided "as is" without any warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to fitness for a particular use. Any user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and use of this information. Please verify all wire colors and diagrams before applying any information.