Power Inverter Problem

iheartfaye · Mar 13, 2005

Hi Gang,

I need help with a power inverter issue. I use a y-splitter from my cigarette lighter. One of the females I plug my cb or cellphone charger into. The other I plug my power inverter into. Coming home the other night, I was moving the female plug I use for my cb around and it made contact with some metal in the cab. There was a spark and my power inverter starting beeping like it does when the voltage has gotten too low and it is warning me to start the engine so I do not drain my battery.

There is no reset switch of any kind on the power inverter, just the on/off switch.

I can still plug in my cellphone charger or cb into the cigarette lighter and they work fine.

The inverter will not however work in my van.

I plugged the inverter into my car and plugged in a radio and it works just fine.

I hate to buy another inverter without knowing the real problem. It seems there is nothing wrong with the cigarette lighter because other appliances work in it. And the inverter seems to work as long as it is not plugged into my van.

What gives? I cannot bear the thought of heading back out without being able to use my laptop or tv.

Thanks in advance to all who reply.

Brian Cunningham
Panther Cargo Van
Since 11/04

Glen Rice · Mar 13, 2005

Sounds like the surge fried your unit. The next time I suggest you run hard line directly to inverter with of course a inline fuse. Better buy the new unit and send your toasted unit back to manufacturer to see if it can be repaired. At least you'll have a back up unit for the future. Good luck.

davekc · Mar 14, 2005

Inside your inverter there is a bank of fuses. Sounds like one in the bank may be blown. That is why it is working in your car and not your van. The amperage demands between vehicles are probably different.

Open the inverter and look for the bad fuse.
Replace and it should be fine as long as there is nothing burnt in the unit.
Make sure unit is unplugged from EVERYTHING prior to service
After repair use inline fuse for future mishaps
Hope that takes care of it
Davekc
owner
20 years

iheartfaye · Mar 16, 2005

Thanks for all the feedback.

This is pretty crazy but hey, it worked.

Even though I did not think it was the inverter, I bought a bigger one on Monday on my way to Kokomo. It would not work in the van either but I didn't have time to mess with it, had to get to Chrysler.

Later in the day, I hooked it up directly to the battery of the truck instead of the cigarette lighter. Worked perfectly.

So, I took out the cigarette lighter and checked all the connections. The only thing I did that seems to be the key is that I wiggled the ground wire where at the ground giving it a connection at a different angle.

That was the trick!

Brian Cunningham
Panther #2635
Since 11/04

davekc · Mar 16, 2005

Good deal.
90 percent of electrical problems can be traced back to some type of grounding issue.
Davekc
owner
20 years

NEVERHOME247 · Mar 17, 2005

Just some advice. I would stay away from running a inverter off your lighter receptical. I know you are in a van. And probably running a smaller inverter. But i would find a small unit that you can hard wire directly to your battery with a in-line fuse link. Will protect your inverter and the risk of a FIRE. Inverters under load pull alot of amps and will burn the wires. Isn't worth burning your van to the ground. Just some food for thought. Good Luck!

davekc · Mar 17, 2005

Good advise!
Davekc

iheartfaye · Mar 18, 2005

I am actually going to run the inverter directly to the battery once I get home because the new inverter I bought will not work at full power unless it is a direct connection.

I definitely need some longer cables and a way to run it through the firewall...never done this before. Any suggestions would be great. I actually want to get a second battery and an isolator to run all accessories off the second battery, but first steps first.

Brian Cunningham
Panther Cargo Van
Since 11/04

davekc · Mar 18, 2005

Direct electric lines can be purchased at autozone. If you want a real decent grade and gage, go to any rv dealer.
Davekc
owner
20 years

NEVERHOME247 · Mar 19, 2005

BIG GAGE WIRE IS THE WAY TO GO. TRY TO KEEP WIRE LENGTH SHORT AS POSSIBLE. LIKE DAVE SAID A RV SHOP WILL HAVE ISOLATORS AND ALL THE PARTS TO DO THE JOB.

cat can do · Mar 21, 2005

Local stereo shops and Best Buys have 4ga wire and very nice sealed fuse blocks along with all the connecters. They use the stuff for multi-amp car stereos that require a-ton of amps, I know this first hand I tried to use to small of wire one time and the draw was so much that it would melt the insulation off the wire. Or like DAVEKC and NEVERHOME said a RV dealer.

davekc · Mar 21, 2005

When using the rv dealer, have them run a meter on your connection. Sure fire way to make sure you have the right gage wire.
They do this all the time and the service is usually free.
Davekc

Big Al · Mar 24, 2005

Always remember the saying KISS. It is applicable most of the time when you go to troubleshoot problems. I ran a van for 4 years with a sealed box under the bed with 2, 27 series deep cycles, 1500 kw inverter and tapped into the towing charge lines with an isolation switch and it ran great.
I also used a small 300 watt inverter on the power point socket to charge phones etc

iheartfaye · Mar 24, 2005

Thanks Big Al, that one sounds like a winner. I should be getting a new truck in the next couple of weeks so I am trying to figure out where to put all the gadgets I want (spa, widescreen tv, etc)

Brian Cunningham
Panther cargo van
Since 11/04

theoldprof · Mar 25, 2005

Hey Bil Al, could you elaborate a little more on the sealed box under the bed of a van that the batteries rode in? Also, what is the towing charge lines?

Thanks :+ :+

Big Al · Mar 25, 2005

>Hey Bil Al, could you elaborate a little more on the sealed
>box under the bed of a van that the batteries rode in?
>Also, what is the towing charge lines?
>
>Thanks :+ :+

Sure, I made a box from plywood, with a lid over the top, I used polyropalane (sp?) over all surfaces then I lined it with a heavy flexible plastic (about the thickness of a carpet runner).

I also drilled a good size hole on the lower edge and attached a clear plastic hose to a plastic pipe elbow and vented it thru the van floor. I could lift the lid off which was fastened with leverage type brass fasteners. The bottom of the lid had weather strips on it to seal it to the top of the box. I ran battery cables from the positive post of one battery and the negative post of the other battery to the inverter.Then battery cables from positive to postive and negative of each battery. This made for a pretty good reserve capicity.

Charge lines are on the drivers side of my van running back for a trailer charge. There is usually a wiring harness for vans equiped with a trailer towing package. It only charges at a little over 5 amps or so and I have considered taking a line straight off the altinator; however, I'll probably seek professional help for that and I 'll need a circuit breaker.

Hope that helps