Power inverter(400w) wont power my desktop pc

Sounds like you need more power ! If you 400w inverter plugs in to 12v plug in truck dash those can only power 150w. So that might be the problem. I have not look at lap top power requirements lately. A Pure Sinwave is better for computers not really required I would think. I ran laptops on regular inverts no problem. Look and see how much power you laptop needs if it's high end gaming laptop or video editing company it probably just need more power. I can imagine 400w can't power it but you would have run the power cables directly to batteries to get 400W.

 

I would look at the power brick for the laptop and see how many Watts it is. Then you will now of it's need more power then the inverter can make.. I had some basic laptops they only needed like 90watts or something. Running cables to the batteries is more then I know. I see lot of people need like 2 gauge wire or 4 gauge. I have seen the yellow inverters at truck stops they sell wires to hook them to batteries. Basically you can draw more power then the cable can handle. They get hot and start a fire. Or they rub when driver pass then thru the floor because they don't put any insulation to protect the cables and they get a fire.

I'm sure someone on here know how to do it correctly. It it your truck you can do that. If it's a company truck they don't like that stuff being done.

 

Love's sell some cable not sure they are the best cables but they are 2 gauge and 3 gauge and 4 gauge depending on power you need and length of the cables you need

Portable Power Inverters

 

The sad part is most people do not understand the proper gauge needed to begin with. If you are trying to run a 1500w inverter you need a minimum of a 2 gauge but ideally you should put 1/0 or 2/0 in for better over current and heat protection. As for running them directly to the battery compartment, it will require drilling a decent sized hole in the floor and a lot of finesse to get them there neatly and without chafing the wire.

 

Your desktop pulls too many watts for the inverter. Period. Most desktop computers are a MINIMUM of 500w while bigger performance ones are in the 1800w+ range

 

You won't for long. Any inverter of worth is going to require cables the size of your fingers to move power. It's also going to require the truck or APU running to support this. Real power is not free. Most people don't have much of an understanding at all of how much AC power we take for granted, especially in America where it's cheap and plentiful from the handy little plugs in our homes. Your average hair dryer or toaster pulls more power in one minute than lots of inverters can handle or can be replaced by solar panels sucking up rays all day long.