Using jumper terminal for temporary power
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As I found out last week......the clamps on jumper cables don't really make a good enough contact for a higher powered inverter, and most cables are not robust enough either. So for lower powered devices why bother when they can be run off the 12 volt power point?
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It will work fine. I blew up 3 rafts this past weekend. My blower easily draws 30 amps.
As with any jump start or whatever with clamps, you have to work at making good connections.
I didn't have any trouble with the positive connection but the negative post coming out of the inside of the fender took a minute to twist the clamp around and back a few times to knock off overspray and dirt.
Sawyer
As with any jump start or whatever with clamps, you have to work at making good connections.
I didn't have any trouble with the positive connection but the negative post coming out of the inside of the fender took a minute to twist the clamp around and back a few times to knock off overspray and dirt.
Sawyer
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I put in a bypass electrical supply to the two ports on the dash. Each of them are fused to 20 amps. I'm not sure what size wire runs to the ports but it isn't large. So much more than 20 amps for any period of time is going to heat up those wires. They aren't designed for heavy loads for long periods.
The owner's manual:
http://www.manualslib.com/manual/745073/Ford-Transit-2015.html?page=106#manual
says:
"Note: Do not use the power points over the vehicle capacity of 12 volt DC 180 watt or a fuse may blow."
12 volts times 15 amps would equal 180 watts, right?
:s
PS -- I don't believe there is any difference in the various 12 volt power points (no "cigar plug" lighter circuit as such IMO), but not sure about this. Indeed the manual cautions: "Do not use the power points for operating a cigar lighter element."
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Traditional cigarette lighters in vehicles operated on two principles.
One, traditional resistive heat. The element in a plug is just like any other electric heater, more or less.
Two, the expansion of metal when it heats. The female part of the plug had slots and ridges that made a pinched connection. The male part had a compression spring. So that when the element heated and expanded the compression spring overcame the pinch and the male portion popped out a bit and broke the circuit.
As the modern power port usually doesn't have the slots and ridges, the compression spring has no catch and accordingly can't pop out and break the circuit. So a male unit would sit in there until something got hot enough to melt and break the circuit. Most likely it would be the fuse...
One, traditional resistive heat. The element in a plug is just like any other electric heater, more or less.
Two, the expansion of metal when it heats. The female part of the plug had slots and ridges that made a pinched connection. The male part had a compression spring. So that when the element heated and expanded the compression spring overcame the pinch and the male portion popped out a bit and broke the circuit.
As the modern power port usually doesn't have the slots and ridges, the compression spring has no catch and accordingly can't pop out and break the circuit. So a male unit would sit in there until something got hot enough to melt and break the circuit. Most likely it would be the fuse...
Yeah I knew they are not really lighter receptacles any more, I still call them "Cigar" plug power points because they are such a stupid standard for 12 volt power points because this huge plug many times with a pretty rinky dink spring and fuse holder inside is now way past what should have been it's time.
The only reason for the huge diameter is to fit a cigar, and you can't even do that. I'm using SAE 2 pin for all of my 12 volt connections after the power point. Of course not for the inverter.
But I am probably going to return it and get a pure sine wave unit instead. If I can't run motors or electronics and it is less efficient and effectively much lower than rated power why bother? I'll spend the extra$ to have one that should be way more useful.
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I ran a big drill and and all our computers on ours. No issues so far and it's a modified wave Inverter.
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