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JF Lux
Member Since: 08 Sep 2007
Location: A little country in Europe
Posts: 3522
  
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| Inverters - how do you have them fitted...? |
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As the title says...
Might go and get a (smallish - 300w or 600w) inverter. The ones I have seen have about 2 meters of 8wg (?) cable.
If I run a direct feed off the Optima and place it in the back of the D3, then it has been recommended that I use even bigger cable...which could be a wiring problem ie. getting it through the firewall (keeping in mind I already have a Traxide kit and cables taking up space).
And I need an earth ? I would think I could use one of the earthing points at the rear, in the side cubby-whole thingy.
But - if I want a laptop plugged in at the front, then I can't have the inverter at the back of the car. So any ideas for a good place to put it around the front / middle (not forgetting the earthing problem)...?
So - where/how have people fitted theirs? And any other pointers re: cable rating, size etc if I do use about 5m of cable run to the rear ? The next American ex-pat that calls it a "truck" is going to find out what 2.7 tons feels like on their foot...
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 21st Aug 2009 10:51 pm |
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SJR
Member Since: 09 Aug 2006
Location: East Manchester
Posts: 4030
 
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Underneath the middle seat in row 2, it doesn't move so you would need to remove and reinstall to do it properly, but it would give access to both front and rear, is out of the way, and would be easy to get to an earthing point and is well ventilated for cooling  I believe that every human has a finite number of heart-beats. I don't intend to waste any of mine running around doing exercises.
Buzz Aldrin (1930 -
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| 21st Aug 2009 10:58 pm |
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xtc
Member Since: 27 Mar 2007
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 1072
  
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Ideally you should run 2 cables back to the battery. It is not good practice to draw heavy currents through the bodywork of the vehicle as this may cause all sorts of earth loops for other kit as the copper in it's wiring is a far better conductor than the steel of the car. It's fine for the odd bulb or low current kit though.
If it's only a laptop & phone charger etc you want to run then a Handy Mains plugged into the rear center console cig socket and stashed under the passenger seat will suffice.
Go for the Handy Mains or similar, not the el cheapo of Eblag. (Or better still a pure sinewave out).
http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/searchB...;R=0597481
Sure cheaper places to buy, for info only!
As UNG says though, if laptop only use a DC-DC converter and save all that inefficiency 
Maplin are good and also some others here:-
http://www.action-replay.co.uk/Computing/laptop_power_adapter.htm Off Roading is OK.... But I'd rather be Boating!
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| 22nd Aug 2009 11:18 pm |
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caverD3
Member Since: 03 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
 
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I would ask Tim (drivesafe) the question.
He would know whether the cable supplied with the kit should be able to take the current. I would think it would be OK for a 600 watt inverter though.
It does take 50 amps:
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| 22nd Aug 2009 11:36 pm |
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Ent
Member Since: 12 Oct 2007
Location: In the cack
Posts: 6485
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Touching on the point made by XTC I have the traxide kit fitted but when I bought the sankey trailer I needed to charge 440aH batteries from the Yellow top. I decided to splice the twin 8mm cable together and use it as the positive feed and took my negative off the earth stud at the drivers side rear via a 16mm link To the Anderson plug. I've not had any issues so far even when the batteries have pulled
35 amp for extended periods. TBH never give the earth loop situation a second thought, I just thought that the chassis was at earth potential all the time regardless of what was connected. Sometimes I suppose ignorance can be bliss. Club Exped trailer
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| 22nd Aug 2009 11:48 pm |
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xtc
Member Since: 27 Mar 2007
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 1072
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Not critical, but if starting from new best to use 2 wires. Up to 30 amps it's prob OK but once you get into 600-1000w inverters ie could be 100amps + then you may well also get voltage drops via the chassis, especially if using the small 6mm studs scattered around the vehicle. Winches etc always have a -ve feed for this reason. Don't forget a nice suitably rated trip close to the battery! 
Saying that I run all my kit in the back, fridge, GSM modem, rack lights and radio chargers from the 40a permanent trailer feed and 6mm stud thats already in the back locker! But why practice what you preach  Off Roading is OK.... But I'd rather be Boating!
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| 23rd Aug 2009 12:11 am |
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