Correctly Install a Power Inverter in Your Car
Intro: Correctly Install a Power Inverter in Your Car
For the person in the go, this is how you can both run and/or charge your electronics!
STEP 1: Puzzle Pieces
-Inverter
-Wiring
-50amp fuse and housing
-Crimps and Loop Terminals
-Wiring
-50amp fuse and housing
-Crimps and Loop Terminals
STEP 2: Mounting and Connecting
Find a good place to keep your inverter. Mine fits perfectly between the rear seat cushions. This location also makes me think of the flux Capacitor in Back to the Future!
It is held in place by some 3M 5lb foam tape. First, wipe off the surface to be taped with an alcohol pad. Then, connect your RED+ wire into the red terminal, and your BLACK- wire to the black terminal.
Route your wire from the Inverter's location and into your engine bay. This part may be a little tricky, but do your best to do a clean job.
It is held in place by some 3M 5lb foam tape. First, wipe off the surface to be taped with an alcohol pad. Then, connect your RED+ wire into the red terminal, and your BLACK- wire to the black terminal.
Route your wire from the Inverter's location and into your engine bay. This part may be a little tricky, but do your best to do a clean job.
STEP 3: BLACK- Wire
Connect this to either the BLACK battery terminal, or to any metal bolt that contacts the metal body panels of your vehicle.
STEP 4: RED+ Wire
Connect the red wire to the fuse housing by stripping the ends of the wires to be connected, and crimping them together (make sure to use electric tape as an insulator if you aren't using wire crimps.
The other end of the fuse housing should be connected to the RED+ battery terminal. I crimped loop terminal to the end of my red wire, and just screwed it into place.
The other end of the fuse housing should be connected to the RED+ battery terminal. I crimped loop terminal to the end of my red wire, and just screwed it into place.
STEP 5: Check Connections!
Make sure your inverter is powered OFF.
Open your fuse housing and install the 50amp fuse. Close the fuse housing and enjoy having viable power in your ride:)
Open your fuse housing and install the 50amp fuse. Close the fuse housing and enjoy having viable power in your ride:)
3 Comments
TerryI 8 years ago
This is a nice idea . Of course it could be adapted to power tools. Would running welding plant be too dangerous ?
TRISTANC26 3 years ago
1. Welding machines watts should match or be less than your inverters wattage (Volts*Amps=Watts)
2. Inverter wire size (There are charts available online).
A low power inverter that plugs into a cigarette lighter will not run a welder, or I should say, will not run it well, or for any decent amount of time without burning up your fuses.
I have a 2000 watt inverter, and as a safe practice, I consider it an 1800 watt inverter. Before I attempt to run any power tool off of it in a remote location where I could be stranded, I figure out the wattage: Volts*Amps=1800 or less watts
Horence 6 years ago
Wow, thanks for you direct guide to teach us how to install a power inverter in car. The way for me to use bestek 300w power inverter is to connect with car cigarette lighter charger outlet. So I don't need to think more about how to install it in car. But now I have acquired the method about installing.