Ok first, thanks for reading my thread. Here is my trouble that I would like someone to help suggest a good solution:
I drive a fair bit for work in my full size cargo van. Which means I have added a fair number of toys to it. I have a nice head unit, good speakers, added two self powered subs, 120v power inverted (150watts), and some really bright driving lamps. Here's where the problem starts, the driving lamps are 100watts each, there are 4 of them. I wired them off a relay which recieves its 12v+ input from the high beams. So when I turn on the high beams the driving lamps illuminate providing me with some incredible high beams. Great! But, when ever my power inverter is on and powering a device, if i turn on the high beams, the surge causes the inverter to fault (i guess from the lack pf power at the battery when the other draw robs its 32+amps for driving lamps). So, how do i go about getting the necessary power to the inverter, without just driving along with regualr highbeams?
Here's my idea. Call it crazy or say it makes sense: Run a power line from batt to inverter, but put a capacitor, like a 1 fared in line, then go to the inverter. Would this not allow proper power to get to the inverter, due to the fact the the inverter will run while lights are on, however for that sudden burst to get the 32amps of light on it seems to just fault the inverter to off.
ANyone else have a better or another idea that could work before i go out and buy a really expensive cap?
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JB
Get a high output alternator or get the stockone rewound for a higher output. This will eliminate extra wiring for a cap and thei will ensure enough power to the entrire electrical system as opposed to just when you have your high beams on.
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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA
Well, I have the high ouput altenator already onboard, I just have lots of draws onboard also... what size altenator do you call high output? like 100amp?125?145?200+?
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JB
I consider a high output alternator between 150 - 200 amp.
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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA
Ok, great.. i will have my mechanic test the altenator and see what the output really is... but you think by simply adding output amps to altenator that should fix problem of surge... doesnt altenator only output via the regualtor enough to satisfy the system as a given moment still causing small 'surges' anyway? or having high enough output stops this from happening?
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JB
It's not the surge of power rather the amperage draw that you are wanting the alternator to produce when you have an additional 32 amps when the high beams are on. If you only have a 100 - 125 amp alternator, the driving lamps require 32 of those amps, the inverter will require another 10 - 20 amps, the van will require a minimum of 50 - 70 amps to run ( more if you have your HVAC on ). So far you have about 120 amps of minimum required amperage so when your audio system kicks in, the amperage requirement increases even more.
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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA