Power Inverter Questions
Thread Starter
Leeds.io
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,604
Likes: 409
From: White Mountains
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Power Inverter Questions
Hey guys,
I'm looking to get some outlets in my Z because apparently the gas fireplace I installed needs an AC plug to ignite the gas. Long story.
...I also need to be able to power my 15" rMBP laptop (highest draw) and a few low draw cameras.
Anyway... I had a couple questions.
1. What's the max power I can safely and continuously run through the cigarette lighter?
2. Are the two cig lighters (near the shifter and in the trunk) rated for the same amount?
3. Does it make more sense to simply hardwire the unit instead of running it through a lighter port? If so, what's the best way to achieve this?
4. Is there any risk or problem associated with keeping an inverter hardwired to the car?
5. Most of these units come with an internal fuse built in for protection. What should that fuse be rated at?
6. Anything else I should know?
Thank you!!!
Best,
Gene
I'm looking to get some outlets in my Z because apparently the gas fireplace I installed needs an AC plug to ignite the gas. Long story.
...I also need to be able to power my 15" rMBP laptop (highest draw) and a few low draw cameras.
Anyway... I had a couple questions.
1. What's the max power I can safely and continuously run through the cigarette lighter?
2. Are the two cig lighters (near the shifter and in the trunk) rated for the same amount?
3. Does it make more sense to simply hardwire the unit instead of running it through a lighter port? If so, what's the best way to achieve this?
4. Is there any risk or problem associated with keeping an inverter hardwired to the car?
5. Most of these units come with an internal fuse built in for protection. What should that fuse be rated at?
6. Anything else I should know?
Thank you!!!
Best,
Gene
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,849
Likes: 1,859
From: St. Louis Metro East IL
I believe the lighter fuse is 20 amp. So you should be just fine drawing up to 15 amp @12 vdc for a while without the engine running.
The lighter plug in back is the only one that is hot with the ignition off.
Ron
The lighter plug in back is the only one that is hot with the ignition off.
Ron
Pro
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 683
Likes: 140
From: Cookeville TN
Power Inverter
Hey guys,
I'm looking to get some outlets in my Z because apparently the gas fireplace I installed needs an AC plug to ignite the gas. Long story.
...I also need to be able to power my 15" rMBP laptop (highest draw) and a few low draw cameras.
Anyway... I had a couple questions.
1. What's the max power I can safely and continuously run through the cigarette lighter?
2. Are the two cig lighters (near the shifter and in the trunk) rated for the same amount?
3. Does it make more sense to simply hardwire the unit instead of running it through a lighter port? If so, what's the best way to achieve this?
4. Is there any risk or problem associated with keeping an inverter hardwired to the car?
5. Most of these units come with an internal fuse built in for protection. What should that fuse be rated at?
6. Anything else I should know?
Thank you!!!
Best,
Gene
I'm looking to get some outlets in my Z because apparently the gas fireplace I installed needs an AC plug to ignite the gas. Long story.
...I also need to be able to power my 15" rMBP laptop (highest draw) and a few low draw cameras.
Anyway... I had a couple questions.
1. What's the max power I can safely and continuously run through the cigarette lighter?
2. Are the two cig lighters (near the shifter and in the trunk) rated for the same amount?
3. Does it make more sense to simply hardwire the unit instead of running it through a lighter port? If so, what's the best way to achieve this?
4. Is there any risk or problem associated with keeping an inverter hardwired to the car?
5. Most of these units come with an internal fuse built in for protection. What should that fuse be rated at?
6. Anything else I should know?
Thank you!!!
Best,
Gene
2) Power outlets in cabin are ignition controlled (on timer) by ECU 10mins or open door, trunk or hatch is live 24/7 I believe.
3) I have always hard wired my inverters allows for a cleaner install
4) It will run down the battery if you fail to turn it off
5) Depends on the unit (MFG) 5-20amp is fuse sizes Fuse in the circuit your going to use is probably already rated at 20amp
6) If using it to light Fire Place it will run your battery down for sure, weak batteries are bad for the starter on cold mornings,
the size inverter you need for fire place may not be practical for the space in the car.
Hope this gives you a starting point.
Thread Starter
Leeds.io
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,604
Likes: 409
From: White Mountains
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,761
Likes: 240
From: Saint Louis MO
St. Jude Donor '14-'15
Actually, using the LG 55" as an example, with an ADL of 20%, the power consumption is 78 Watts @ 115v AC.
So, that gives us 78/115 = ~0.68A AC. Converting to 12v (not 14v, since the car is obviously off to hear your favorite show), we're at ~7.2A DC. Assuming a conversion factor of 1.1 (since, of course, you will run a pure sine wave inverter to go along with that expensive OLED) we're at ~8A DC.
So, barring an overheating situation (which shouldn't be the case on a smaller inverter), you could watch that OLED TV for a good long while (well, around a half day) on the C7's battery power.
Now we've all learned something else about our cars. Ah, using higher education for the purposes of comedy is enjoyable. I just had to!
So, that gives us 78/115 = ~0.68A AC. Converting to 12v (not 14v, since the car is obviously off to hear your favorite show), we're at ~7.2A DC. Assuming a conversion factor of 1.1 (since, of course, you will run a pure sine wave inverter to go along with that expensive OLED) we're at ~8A DC.
So, barring an overheating situation (which shouldn't be the case on a smaller inverter), you could watch that OLED TV for a good long while (well, around a half day) on the C7's battery power.
Now we've all learned something else about our cars. Ah, using higher education for the purposes of comedy is enjoyable. I just had to!
Thread Starter
Leeds.io
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,604
Likes: 409
From: White Mountains
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Actually, using the LG 55" as an example, with an ADL of 20%, the power consumption is 78 Watts @ 115v AC.
So, that gives us 78/115 = ~0.68A AC. Converting to 12v (not 14v, since the car is obviously off to hear your favorite show), we're at ~7.2A DC. Assuming a conversion factor of 1.1 (since, of course, you will run a pure sine wave inverter to go along with that expensive OLED) we're at ~8A DC.
So, barring an overheating situation (which shouldn't be the case on a smaller inverter), you could watch that OLED TV for a good long while (well, around a half day) on the C7's battery power.
Now we've all learned something else about our cars. Ah, using higher education for the purposes of comedy is enjoyable. I just had to!
So, that gives us 78/115 = ~0.68A AC. Converting to 12v (not 14v, since the car is obviously off to hear your favorite show), we're at ~7.2A DC. Assuming a conversion factor of 1.1 (since, of course, you will run a pure sine wave inverter to go along with that expensive OLED) we're at ~8A DC.
So, barring an overheating situation (which shouldn't be the case on a smaller inverter), you could watch that OLED TV for a good long while (well, around a half day) on the C7's battery power.
Now we've all learned something else about our cars. Ah, using higher education for the purposes of comedy is enjoyable. I just had to!
p.s. That's the TV I have. I took out the hood liner and put it there.
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