Looking to put in a permeant power inverter wired in to battery.
Mostly to charge things and run laptop.
Couple of questions whAt would be a good size thinking like
300-400 watts also what gauge wire should I run from battery.
Thinking of mounting in tray on bottom of console.
Anyway thanks for any input.

 

size - need to check the things you want to plug into it to determine the size. A laptop charger will tell you its draw.

I'd be worried about killing the battery... do you have one of those emergency car jumper systems where it stores enough energy to start the truck?

Also - do you realize that laptops run off DC electric... so by buying an inverter you would be taking a DC voltage (truck battery) and inverting it to AC so you can plug in your laptop charger and covert it back to DC...

Same thing with cell phones and every thing else you would be "charging".

So perhaps the better option is to buy a car adapter for your phone and a car adapter for your laptop (I assume they must make them?)

This would be a more efficient use of the energy.

But perhaps there are other things that you need for an inverter?

Just my thoughts.

 

Yes, they do make them, although depending on what laptop he owns, it will cost twice as much as an inverter. My laptop runs on 19v DC.

I would like to see the install when this project is completed, I've thought about doing the same thing on my truck.

 

So does mine, actually every modern laptop I've seen uses 19v DC. I've never seen a car adapter for a modern laptop. The easiest solution would be just to mount an inverter big enough to supply your standard AC charger for the laptop.

He could build his own setup but that would require using an inverter feeding a full wave bridge rectifier, then into a voltage regulator for each device he wants to power.

Going from 12v DC up to 19v DC is not as simple as running it thru a step up transformer, a x-former needs AC to operate.

 

I'd go bigger than 400 watts just in case. I had a 400 watt power inverter to run my xbox 360... killed the battery and 2 alterantors. I didn't do the install; I'm not an electronic guru by any means. I had the shop upgrade me to a 600 watt power inverter that runs off 2 optima blue tops with a battery isolator to gaurantee that It'll start every time.

 

I have a 400W inverter in my truck. I don't have it hard wired though. It stays under the rear seat until I need it. It came with a 12V plug and 10 guage cables to connect directly to the battery.

I considered buying an auto adapter for my notebook, but never got around to it. I believe it was $90.

 

That is my thought instead of all the adapters if I mount an inverter I can just use my home chargers for everything.
I was thinking 300-400 will not be doing any thing like and xbox.
I thought about using on with a light plug but was not sure if it would be safe to run 400 watts thru the light wiring?

Any thoughts on the biggest you can run thru a lighter adapter?

 

Mine came with it, and that's what I use the majority of the time. It's a small Black & Decker 400W. It says it powers up to 3.48 Amps, but I don't know if the power connection makes a difference.

 

I was thinking around 400 watts. It has not melted the wires on your lighter jack or anything? I am thinking now maybe go that route but mount it somewere in cab then when I need it plug it in and use it. I really want the clean look of it mounted and wired to battery but not sure If I want to do all the work. maybe easier just to plug it into light when I need it. just did not want to overload the wiring harness to lighter jack.

 

I have one in my truck. It's mounted behind the radio and I wired up an outlet snide my center console. Completely hidden and out of the way and priceless when you need it. One of the best mods you can do for under $30 IMO.

 

Did you wire it out to the bat.?