12v Power Inverter, wont run...

it's going to be one of two things, either one, the inverter's plug isn't getting a good connection to the power outlet (bout a cheap one from target and everytime i hit a humb, it would loose the connection, ended up wedging a paper clip into the socket along with the plug to keep it tight, or the outlet may not be putting out enough amps to power the inverter properly. to test the second theory, check to see if your inverter came with the aligator clips to connect it directly to the battery, and do just that to see if it works.. if it does then you'll need to find a high amp fuse socket not being used (i'm currently using the socket dedicated to the optional radio amp (it's rated at 20a) and rig it into there.

 

ok for the paper clip, it's not dangerous.. the 12v plug only has two contact points, (the cup/outer ring, and pin). if you look at the 12v plug you'll notice two clips (one on each side) and a button right on the tip.. as long as the paper clip doesn't touch the cup and pin, at the same time you'll be ok..

so much for the amp rating, there's really only two ways to tell, either get a multimeter or just pop open the fuse panel and find out which fuse goes the the 12v outlet.. it'll tell you the fuse amp rating, and there for the max amperage on those outlets. if you have multiple outlets, they all share that rating.. so if the rating is 3amps, and you four outlets, then those 3amps are shared among those four outlets.

the outlets are limited because of the wiring in the truck.. the more amps you pass through a wire the bigger (thicker) the wire has to be, if not it'll start getting hot, and could possible melt or worse start a fire.

to find a high amp fuse socket, pop open the fuse panel and look at the diagram, it'll show the position of all of the fuses, what they control, and what size fuse is supposed to be in there. the fuse is the safety device, if it's a 12amp fuse and some one tries to pull 20amps from that source, the fuse will blow, cutting power to that outlet for safety reason.

look through the diagram until you find a socked that says it's supposed to have a 20amp fuse but is empty.
*Example* under my sleeper bunk there's a fuse panel, the diagram says there's supposed to be a 20amp fuse in the FM Radio Amplifier socket, but i have no Radio Amplifier and therefore that socket is empty, but i know it can handle 20amps. So i just plugged my inverter into that socket, and hooked my negative clamp to the grounding stud and everything works fine. i hope it's clear as mud.

 

Trucks are getting smarter all the time, my Volvo, if the voltage is low from sitting with a draw on the batteries, will start shutting things off and down. Perhaps yours is doing this too?

 

Cig Lighter socket is usually 20-30 amps, the ones in the back are usually about 5 amp. The one for the refrig I am not sure about. You could call a dealer and give them the model of truck and they can tell you.

I always used a plastic fork tong wedged between the connector and the socket to hold it tight.

Thanks,
Mark

 

I have used a piece of heavy paper folded to "tighten" up the socket.

 

lmao... ya know, it's just funny as all heck how when mines kept wiggling loose, the first and only thing that popped in my mind to stick in there to wedge it was a paper clip, and now after reading these post, i can see about forty other things i could have stuck in there that won't conduct electricity...lol, well i'll just say it was cause i was in a rush seeing as how i was doing it in the middle of I95 while traffic was stopped.