Power inverter hard wire problems
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=29539
Printed Date: May 15, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Topic: Power inverter hard wire problems
Posted By: cantgetright
Subject: Power inverter hard wire problems
Date Posted: April 02, 2004 at 9:32 AM
Ok, I've taken a regular inverter and tried to hard wire, but I keep blowing fuses. Originally the inverter came with a cig light connecter as well as alligator clip connectors. What I did was clip the alligator clips off and basically trying to hard wire direct to the battery. Every time I do it I blow a fuse. I damn near burned my car up when I tried to avoid fuses altogether by going direct from the battery. Luckily I had the inverter on the ground and the wire wasn't touching much of the car, but the entire covering around the wire burned up. Why is this happening and what can I do to stop it? I have no problems when using the cig lighter connection and had none when the alligator clips were still on. I've discected the cables that I cut and I see nothing that's on them that I should have added so it must be something about the alligator clips that allows for the inverter to draw power safely. Also one last bit of info...the fuses on the inverter are not blowing it's just the fuses within my car. I'm also not using any relays or switches and have not worked with them before. From what I've read a relay may he.p me, but I want to understand how it will help me. Please somone help.
Replies:
Posted By: flatulatta
Date Posted: April 02, 2004 at 9:42 AM
maybe u should put an inline fuse holder for the inverter so it doesnt draw 2 much or to help protect the others
Posted By: cantgetright
Date Posted: April 02, 2004 at 9:45 AM
I have no problem doing that, but I'm thinking just adding another fuse would only cause 'that' fuse to blow. I'm not sure though, maybe I don't really understand fuses. It blew my 30a ignigtion fusible link. This was all just in the testing phase just to see if it worked properly which it obviously doesn't.
Posted By: cantgetright
Date Posted: April 02, 2004 at 9:47 AM
Let me add that I tried two seperate sources and it blew the same fusible link...first I tried the power line going to my head unit, then I tried the power line that goes to my cig lighter.
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: April 02, 2004 at 10:18 AM
Sounds like your inverter is shorting out.
Posted By: cantgetright
Date Posted: April 02, 2004 at 10:55 AM
What can I do to stop it from shorting out?
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: April 02, 2004 at 11:01 AM
If it's shorting out, it's defective and needs repair or replaced, sorry.
Posted By: cantgetright
Date Posted: April 02, 2004 at 11:22 AM
Well I'm prone to agree that's it defective, but like I said it was working properly when I used the cig lighter and when I used the alligator clips before I cut them off. Is there a way the inverter could be sending power back through the power wire? This was my original thought and I thought maybe a relay would help this, but I don't really understand what relays do so I can't say specifically that it will work.
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: April 02, 2004 at 11:34 AM
OK, first off, is there anything plugged into it or is it blowing fuses under no load? If there is no load on it, then throw it away and get a new one as the DC side is fried. It'd be more expensive to fix it than to replace it. If there is something plugged into it, unplug it. If it powers up under no load, then the AC side has a problem and it might be worth getting it looked at for repair. In either case, something went wrong and it is broken if you are simply hooking up the power. No, a relay will not help you. Nor will anything else, unfortunately.
Posted By: cantgetright
Date Posted: April 02, 2004 at 11:39 AM
Thanks for the help DYohn. It not a big deal about replacing it as it is brand new so I can just exchange. I did want to make sure that it was a problem with the inverter and not how I was wiring so I wouldn't just be going through the same scenario again. To answer your question though, there is nothing plugged in. I'm just putting power to it and it immediately blows whatever fuse is in it's way.
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: April 02, 2004 at 11:52 AM
OK, then it is definately toast. Take it back. Get a new one with the aligator clip arrangement and connect it up observing proper polarity. I suggest you use a fuse and a switch of some kind so it is not on all the time, because even if there is nothing plugged in it will draw some jiuce off your battery. A switch or relay that will allow you to disconnect it when the car is off is a good idea.
Posted By: cantgetright
Date Posted: April 02, 2004 at 3:16 PM
The switch is coming this was all just the test phase. thanks again for your help...when I do get the switch I may need more.
Posted By: Alpine Guy
Date Posted: April 02, 2004 at 6:01 PM
have you even tryed switching around the positive and negative?? I can't believe no one pointed out such an obvious fact!!
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2003 Chevy Avalanche,Eclipse CD7000,Morel Elate 5,Adire Extremis,Alpine PDX-4.150, 15" TC-3000, 2 Alpine PDX-1.1000, 470Amp HO Alt.
Posted By: superstreet786
Date Posted: April 02, 2004 at 6:24 PM
hmm that sounds weird... it shouldve worked i know mine did
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---- 1996 Chevy S10 ----
1 Lightning Audio S2.600.2 Amp
2 Lightning Audio 12" Subs
1 Lightning Audio 1 Farad Cap
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