I've been carrying around an emergency jump start pack in my trunk, but it occasionally needs to be brought into the house and plugged in for charging. I want to provide a 12v outlet in the trunk compartment which I can plug an inverter into. I plan to keep the jump start pack plugged into this inverter.
Before I go running new cables for this project, can anyone tell me where there might be an ignition controlled 12v power source I can tap into which is already in the rear of the car? I'm thinking I can use a wire from the alternator or something. I only need the inverter to be on when the car is running, this will keep my jump pack topped off in case I need it for myself or to help someone out.
There should be a wire going to the fuel pump relay & A/C relay that turns hot with key on. Its on the firewall near the air cleaner on 2.8's.
Spoon
------------------ "Kilgore Trout once wrote a short story which was a dialogue between two pieces of yeast. They were discussing the possible purposes of life as they ate sugar and suffocated in their own excrement. Because of their limited intelligence, they never came close to guessing that they were making champagne." - Kurt Vonnegut
Does your jump pack have a 12v. power plug? If so, you can just wire the 12v. source to plug into that & it should keep it charged up - no need for a 110v. converter (which draws a LOT of current). ~ Paul aka "Tha Driver"
Does your jump pack have a 12v. power plug? If so, you can just wire the 12v. source to plug into that & it should keep it charged up - no need for a 110v. converter (which draws a LOT of current). ~ Paul aka "Tha Driver"
It does have a 12v power plug, but I thought that was a power "output". I'll pull out the manual when I get home this weekend to confirm that its bi-directional... would be great if I can use it!
My Husky Powerstation™ can charge through the plug, and you can use things from the plug, hopefully yours is the same way. I don't love DC to AC inverters because they can create voltage spikes and damage electronics you have plugged into them. This is only the case if you have a square wave Wave inverter, which are way less expensive than a sine wave inverter (simulates what power company supplies in wall socket).
Stolen from electronics website:
quote
Cheap inverters are square wave / quasi-square wave. Avoid them at all costs for PC/sensitive equipment unless u have a PC power supply that is able to cope with higher input harmonic content. i.e. HUGE capacitors on the input filter. These inverters produce a square wave output where the RMS is about the same as the wall socket voltage, but it is VERY noisy. OK for apps like lighting, heating, running motors etc.
Sine wave inverters are the best. They utilize sinusoidal PWM to produce a CLEAN sinewave which is representative of that found in the mains wall socket. The circuitry is a lot more complex than the square wave, but they don't produce any "hum" or "noise" when connected to sensitive equipment like hifi's, PC's, medical equipment etc.
Bottom line ... get the sine wave .... its less likely to mess up your equipment.
One more thing ... be wary of the various power ratings for inverters. The one to trust when sizing an inverter is the RMS/Continuous rating.
EDIT: Add image
[This message has been edited by mitchjl22 (edited 12-10-2013).]
Originally posted by perceptionist: I've been carrying around an emergency jump start pack in my trunk, but it occasionally needs to be brought into the house and plugged in for charging. I want to provide a 12v outlet in the trunk compartment which I can plug an inverter into. I plan to keep the jump start pack plugged into this inverter.
Inverters often fails, cheap ones even more so. You hope it only blow fuses or circuit opens. A bad inverter can melt and even cause fire w/o blowing fuse. Having battery pack w/ 120vac charging in trunk is likely not a good plan.
Unless 12v port is made as a charge port... Many are not. Having connected to car can have big problems too. Many have Li___ batteries. Lithium base batteries need own chargers. They will shut down charging if full, too hot/cold, etc.
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
My jump starter has a 12v socket and came with a double ended male plug to charge it. If I was you, I wouldnt leave it a permanent connection. If you get a short in the car and it kills the battery, it will also kill the jumpstart battery. I also have a little nicad pack I bought that charges at home or from 12v socket. It only needs charged every few months for a few hours. To jump your car, you just plug it into the car socket and wait about 10 mins. In most cases of just a low battery it will charge it enough for a start. It also has a 12v socket you can run 12v devices from if you want. It was like $15 @ HF.
Again, I wouldnt leave a jumpstarter connected. If you really want something permanent do what RVs do and put in a second battery wired thru a battery isolator (basicly just a solenoid). When the key is on both batteries are charged, when its off the aux battery is disconnected. Both my limo and motorhome has this setup. If the vehicle battery is dead and wont start, you just push a switch on the dash to engage the aux battery and start it up.
