HJ60 power inverter issues

Submitted: Sunday, Feb 19, 2012 at 21:54

ThreadID: 91970 Views:2216 Replies:6 FollowUps:4

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Naveed Merchant

I have HJ60 1986 with 2H deisel engine. Whenever i put any power invertor on my lighter which converts 12 to 220v my invertor starts bleeping and then stops charging if if the vehicle is kept on. It works fine in my other newer cars.

I am confused and unable to fix this.

Any advice or solution on this would be appreciated.

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Reply By: Member - Serendipity(WA) - Sunday, Feb 19, 2012 at 23:37

Reply By: Ross M - Sunday, Feb 19, 2012 at 23:45

Sunday, Feb 19, 2012 at 23:45

Obviously it is not blowing the fuse otherwise it would be dead/inactive.

The reason the beep happens and the invertor stops is the connection at the cig plus is possibly dirty at the connection face and under the reasonable load it won't pass sufficient current and the voltage to the invertor drops below it's threshold voltage.
If it is not dirty then the wiring to the cig socket in the dash is acting as a resistor and again it is reducing the voltage to the invertor because of it's amp draw.
I owned a 60 series and the cig plug wouldn't run much at all.
Best to operate a cig plug based invertor from a dedicated socket which is supplied from a battery supplied relay which is switched on either by a manual switch or activated when key is on.
Even then it is limited in its performance.

Remember! The 240v amp load of the appliance the invertor runs means a factor of more than 20 times is drawn from your battery to achieve this.

Example. 1 amp 240w is 240 watts but with invertor losses the dc supply line to the invertor is more than 20 amps.
Therefore only plug packs and camera chargers are really in the realm of a cig plug supply.

AnswerID: 478178

Follow Up By: Naveed Merchant - Monday, Feb 20, 2012 at 00:00

Monday, Feb 20, 2012 at 00:00

Interestingly when i plug in my Engel fridge it works well (but unsure whats happening inside the fridge incase if its slowly damaging it). but for now i cant even charge the camera and nor even operate or charge laptop.

I will try getting direct connection from battery.

Is there a way to ramp up the power, i had heard about dual battery systems, or do i need a powerful alternator?

FollowupID: 753672

Follow Up By: Member - Boobook - Monday, Feb 20, 2012 at 05:15

Monday, Feb 20, 2012 at 05:15

I would say Ross M is spot on the money.

Try it direct or use thicker wiring. The fridge will draw about 5A max. However the inverter could easily draw 10, 20 A or more. Even with say a laptop.

If you intent to use the inverter for any period when not going, then a second battery will be a must. They eat amphours like crazy.

FollowupID: 753673

Follow Up By: Ross M - Monday, Feb 20, 2012 at 10:17

Monday, Feb 20, 2012 at 10:17

G'day Naveed M
If you intend to charge and use a Laptop it is better to use a 12 convertor for Laptops.
This device availabe from Jaycar and Auto stores converts 12v dc to around 19v dc as is used in most Laptops. This means only one conversion of dc power to the desired dc voltage.
If you intend to use the Laptop long term the use of an invertor changes 12v DC to AC then supplies the Laptop power supply with 240V AC. The Laptop supply then Inverts it again down to a lower voltage from the 240V AC to 19v DC.
It looks like this: 12V DC - 240v AC 240v AC - 19v DC. This is causing more losses and if battery amp hours are at a premium then the double conversion will use much more.

While travelling if you have a GOOD supply to a suitably positioned invertor it can be used to power a battery charger to charge your batteries while driving. You get the losses but the battery charger will get the extra battery up to full charge unlike many dual battery systems. I say this because some people have and invertor and a multi stage battery charger already.

Be AWARE a 12v to 240vAC invertor is an innocent looking bit of kit but it can KILL if there is wrong wiring somewhere, be careful.

Incorrect or faulty connections means the score board reads:
Owner /operator nil v Invertor 1

Many modern devices have switchmode style internals to make these power conversions eg. 240vac to 12dc and they are designed for full wave AC not the modified crap wave as many 12 to 240 invertors are. Many Laptops and sensitive camera chargers will not start on the non sine wave power and can easily be destroyed.Check the use before going away and use FULL SINE WAVE invertor if possible. More efficient and kinder to the gear.