Help with a Power Invertor :)

[Darren]

hey there i got my power invertor today for the PC and was wondering instead of using the cables that came with it with the crocodile clips to the car battery could i safely use my amp power and grounding points as it would save weeks of work

 

[J]

Hope u've got you self a big battery PC runnig off 12V is gonna drink and maybe over strain the alernator too.

 

[Waderider]

Invertor power source

In an idea world no, but in theory yes. You need to know the maximum current the inverter will draw, and then add this to the maximum current your amp will draw. Then ensure the wiring supplying the amp is able to carry this load. Additionally then the fuse already in place for the amp will need upgraded to blow beyond this expected total current.

The danger you run is that with only either the invertor or the amp running you'll in effect have a circuit with too heavy a fuse i.e. the fuse won't be so good at doing it's job.

And if you're an audio purist you really don't want to be attaching an inverter across your amp. Inverters can create some odd noise effects as the DC load fluctuates and electromagnetic interference is a factor with the inverters AC output.

So if it were me I'd run it to the engine bay.

I'm an electronic engineer with no knowledge of car electronics, just know the theory, so someone may come along to correct me....

 

[Darren]

the PC is a 12v system anyway only 80watts total usage

and yup i thought that there would be some draw back with hooking it up to the audio but i do have a fairly good wiring and protection system in place im running 4awg cable with a 200Amp circuit breaker not a fuse and an uprated battery

 

[Waderider]

Total current

The total current that will be drawn by the invertor is not the same as the total current drawn by the PC, even if the PC works of a 12V supply. Invertors can be pretty inefficient. Your invertor manufacturer should be able to tell you what the invertor will draw with an 80watt (say 7 amp) load on its outputs. Or build in a safety factor yourself, say assume a max load of 10 amps on the invertor power supply.

 

[J]

How is the PC 12V? The PC power supply converts 240V AC into usable 12V's to power the motherboard and components. Therefore I'm assuming ur setup is:
Car Battery > Power Inverter > PC Power Supply > Motherboard + Extras. Unless you are using something different. As I say with all this equipment running you are really gonna strain the battery and alternator. It's not so much the voltage I'm concerned about is the current you plan to draw.