Blown fuses with DC/AC converter

[ntar827]

I am trying to use my notebook by plugging into a coverter in my accessory or cigarete lighter.

 

Every time I try after a few minutes I blow the 20 amp fuse. I have tried three different converters and also two different notebooks.

 

This must be a Chevy problem.

 

Any help out there?

 

Thanks

 

Nick

[bobcat5544]

it actu simple, the cig lighter circuit is not design to handle a converter, specialy if the computer is pullying a high draw from it, the best thing you can do is hard wire the converter to your battery with a inline fuses, this works best.

 

I'v blown the cig lighter fuse with a 100 amp converter before, now I hard wire to the batery and no problems, now I run a 5000 watt converter

[snoman]

it actu simple, the cig lighter circuit is not design to handle a converter, specialy if the computer is pullying a high draw from it, the best thing you can do is hard wire the converter to your battery with a inline fuses, this works best.

 

I'v blown the cig lighter fuse with a 100 amp converter before, now I hard wire to the batery and no problems, now I run a 5000 watt converter

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

I agree that converter is to big for socket. If it is a big one it draw a good bit of power idling and is not efficent in this usage. A smaller one with a 100 to 150 watt capacity tops should work though. Also make sure fuse blade are snug in socket because if they are loose it will cause heat and allow fuse to below normal rated load.

[ntar827]

it actu simple, the cig lighter circuit is not design to handle a converter, specialy if the computer is pullying a high draw from it, the best thing you can do is hard wire the converter to your battery with a inline fuses, this works best.

 

I'v blown the cig lighter fuse with a 100 amp converter before, now I hard wire to the batery and no problems, now I run a 5000 watt converter

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

Please explain more.

 

What size wire? How attach to battery?

 

What size Fuses?

 

Get extra cigarete lighter?

 

Plus and minus sides of battery?

 

 

Thanks

 

Nick

[ntar827]

it actu simple, the cig lighter circuit is not design to handle a converter, specialy if the computer is pullying a high draw from it, the best thing you can do is hard wire the converter to your battery with a inline fuses, this works best.

 

I'v blown the cig lighter fuse with a 100 amp converter before, now I hard wire to the batery and no problems, now I run a 5000 watt converter

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

I agree that converter is to big for socket. If it is a big one it draw a good bit of power idling and is not efficent in this usage. A smaller one with a 100 to 150 watt capacity tops should work though. Also make sure fuse blade are snug in socket because if they are loose it will cause heat and allow fuse to below normal rated load.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

 

Problem happens with 75 watt or 150 watt converter. Fuses are very tight.

 

Thanks

 

Nick

[bobcat5544]

it actu simple, the cig lighter circuit is not design to handle a converter, specialy if the computer is pullying a high draw from it, the best thing you can do is hard wire the converter to your battery with a inline fuses, this works best.

 

I'v blown the cig lighter fuse with a 100 amp converter before, now I hard wire to the batery and no problems, now I run a 5000 watt converter

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

Please explain more.

 

What size wire? How attach to battery?

 

What size Fuses?

 

Get extra cigarete lighter?

 

Plus and minus sides of battery?

 

 

Thanks

 

Nick

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

12-10 gauge wire is fine, or go to lowes/home depot and get house eletric wire 18-16 guage stranded (not solid) get a regular fuse insert 20-25 amp. run red to battery positive or there is a little red box under the hood between the engine and left fender well. Open it up and connect red wire there. then run black wire to groung some where.

[snoman]

it actu simple, the cig lighter circuit is not design to handle a converter, specialy if the computer is pullying a high draw from it, the best thing you can do is hard wire the converter to your battery with a inline fuses, this works best.

 

I'v blown the cig lighter fuse with a 100 amp converter before, now I hard wire to the batery and no problems, now I run a 5000 watt converter

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

Please explain more.

 

What size wire? How attach to battery?

 

What size Fuses?

 

Get extra cigarete lighter?

 

Plus and minus sides of battery?

 

 

Thanks

 

Nick

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

12-10 gauge wire is fine, or go to lowes/home depot and get house eletric wire 18-16 guage stranded (not solid) get a regular fuse insert 20-25 amp. run red to battery positive or there is a little red box under the hood between the engine and left fender well. Open it up and connect red wire there. then run black wire to groung some where.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

 

To run a 5000 watt inverter to full capacity you would need to feed it with double ought wire anf you would have a draw on the battery of between 500 and 600 amps at rated load which the battery might support for 90 seconds or so. I think you have your numbers messed up here. Basicall for each 100 watts of inverter output, figure on at least 10 amps of draw at 12volts (likely a bit more) fo a 300 watt one would draw about 30 amps at full load and a 500 watt one around 50 amps. 10ga would work well for a 300 watt unit (12 would be narginal) but you really need 8ga for a 500 watt unit.

[snoman]

it actu simple, the cig lighter circuit is not design to handle a converter, specialy if the computer is pullying a high draw from it, the best thing you can do is hard wire the converter to your battery with a inline fuses, this works best.

 

I'v blown the cig lighter fuse with a 100 amp converter before, now I hard wire to the batery and no problems, now I run a 5000 watt converter

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

I agree that converter is to big for socket. If it is a big one it draw a good bit of power idling and is not efficent in this usage. A smaller one with a 100 to 150 watt capacity tops should work though. Also make sure fuse blade are snug in socket because if they are loose it will cause heat and allow fuse to below normal rated load.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

 

Problem happens with 75 watt or 150 watt converter. Fuses are very tight.

 

Thanks

 

Nick

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

 

Beg, buy or borrow a clamp on current meter and see how much current is flowing in the feed circuit from fuse to lighter socket. You might try a 25 amp fuse too because those blade type one are gone at at before their rating so they can go before 20 amps. A clamp on current meter would clear this up.

[renolaw]

for all heavy applications, i use welding wire, guage zero. never a failure. the cig lighter is near non-duty rated and if the fuse doesn't trip, the plug will melt down and short out. hard wire a new cirsuit from the battery, add a relay, a switch and ur assessory.

 

or get like a KC lights or similar lighting relay kit... all prewired and apply that to ur application, but the heavier u can go, the better.

 

good luck

 

mb

[snoman]

for all heavy applications, i use welding wire, guage zero.  never a failure.  the cig lighter is near non-duty rated and if the fuse doesn't trip, the plug will melt down and short out.  hard wire a new cirsuit from the battery, add a relay, a switch and ur assessory. 

 

or get like a KC lights or similar lighting relay kit... all prewired and apply that to ur application, but the heavier u can go, the better.

 

good luck

 

mb

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

Nothing is gained by using larger wire than needed for job, that is why they have different wire sizes instead of one size does all. Using bigger wire than you need adds mothing to performance and makes routing more difficult too.

[Frozen001]

Beg, buy or borrow a clamp on current meter and see how much current is flowing in the feed circuit from fuse to lighter socket. You might try a 25 amp fuse too because those blade type one are gone at at before their rating so they can go before 20 amps. A clamp on current meter would clear this up.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

Make sure you use a DC clamp on meter or else you will it will not work