Indash TV + Power Inverter

[Andrew21]

Just wanted some of your oppinions on Power inverters with InDash Tv setup's...

I will be running a Sony XTL- W7000 7" Indash TFT Screen and i am planning on hooking up my xbox to it. (placed under the passenger seat).
Im told i need to obviously buy a power inverter...

As advised, a 300Watt inverter is plenty to power the Xbox..

Now here's were my main question lies.

a) Im told some inverter's can generate "Noise" and the picture is not the best. I will be most probably getting this jaycar model : http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=MI5104&CATID=&keywords=inverter&SPECIAL=&form=KEYWORD&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=&Keyword2=&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=

Does anyone have any feedback on this model? I know Jaycar are generally decent quality...

b) Am i able to leave the inverter powered on all the time ( it will be hardwired to the battery) and just turn the xbox on whenever i need to use it e.t.c ? Or will this cause my battery to go flat ?

Has anyone run this setup? Your input would be great !

Thanks

[D4rk4n63l]

noise will depend on the inverter itself.. having never used jaycar inverter before I cannot comment on that particular model..

inverter will consume power even with no load, so its best to leave it off if ur not using it, plus it will generate heat and noise from the fan. If your deck/screen has remote wire (blue +12v), you can always create a relay for the inverter so it will turn on when you turn on the deck/screen

[Andrew21]

Well i was going to have the Inverter 'hard wired' to the battery, not via the cigg lighter... I dunno - sounds like a bit of a pain in the ass to have to turn both units on and off everytime i turn the car on and off ?

[D4rk4n63l]

like said, create a relay circuit so that it will turn on when the screen is on.. most if not all screen will have ACC wire so it will turn on and off with the ignition and so does the inverter with the relay...

[Andrew21]

Thanks for the input.

I had a car audio place wire it all up... He wired up a relay from what i can see ( under the handbrake compartment) and the inverter turns on when the stereo is turned on only... Everything is fine- My only problem is that the bloody relay is abit noisy ?? Is that normal... I initially thouht it was the inverter but when i looked closer its actually the relay making the "buzzing" noise...

Besides moving the relay somewhere else, is there anything else i can do ? Is it meant to be making these noises?

[stanleym]

u sure u need xbox like i said in pm

[Andrew21]

The Xbox acutally ended up being about 1cm too big to fit under my passenger seat comftably, so i swapped it with a PS2 with my cuzin and that fits in there perfectly... My only real problem is the noise generated by that relay as described above... Is that normal for relays to buzz like that?

[D4rk4n63l]

yeh its quite normal because relay contains a magnetic coil and a metal plate that will create some sort of hum when it operates. Why not just relocate the relay? say under the hood with some relay rubber case...

[stanleym]

is it a ps2 or ps2 slim??

if its ps2 slim u can use this car adapter and hard wire it to the battery etc..
http://www.modchip.com/ps2/caradapterorder.php
i assume it would work the the normal ps2 but u would need to cut wires and solder new fittings to them etc.. and if u dun kno whot o do it prob not worth the hassle...

i got this for my ps2 slim and it works a treat

[Andrew21]

D4rk4n63l - Yeh i think i might have to relocate the relay, i mean its not THAT bad but i know its there in the back of my head !! lol

stanleym - Its a Ps2, that car adapter ur talking about is only applicable to the Slim, they run on less power hence the adapter is available for it.

Thanks for all the input though...

[stanleym]

is it a ps2 or ps2 slim??

if its ps2 slim u can use this car adapter and hard wire it to the battery etc..
http://www.modchip.com/ps2/caradapterorder.php
i assume it would work the the normal ps2 but u would need to cut wires and solder new fittings to them etc.. and if u dun kno whot o do it prob not worth the hassle...

i got this for my ps2 slim and it works a treat

i do note that i wasn't sure on the power usage etc of the normal ps2... but worse coems to worse u cuold prob sell ur ps2 and get a slim for rather cheaps and it will then fit in glove box

[D4rk4n63l]

where did you put the inverter?.. I'm more annoyed with the noise the fan makes, although I dont have a relay to worry about since I dont really like the idea have 240v in the car all the time.

[JaCe]

i was gonna post (but it's too late)... isn't the xbox a bit big?

also don't try it with a 360 (to anyone reading this) as.. movement with the disc inside can cause serious problems =( ... heaps of ppl (including myself) have had to get another 360 because the console moved (just a bump) with the disc inside. Even if the console is off and not spinning, it can still happen ><

[Andrew21]

where did you put the inverter?.. I'm more annoyed with the noise the fan makes, although I dont have a relay to worry about since I dont really like the idea have 240v in the car all the time.

Inverter was mounted under passenger seat. The Jaycar inverter is actually pretty much dead silent. And i must note very good quality too.. Picture quality is crystal clear !!...

Here's one question i have for everyone out there with a Ps2 or DVD in there car.

1. At the moment, if im watching a DVD thru the Ps2 and i switch off the car, obviously everything powers off, however when i turn the car back on ( or power up the devices ) The DVD starts right from the start and does'nt resume last played position...

1A- Now from what i gather, the only way to overcome this with the Ps2 setup, would be to have the Inverter Hardwired to the battery so it always has constant power and just make sure i turn the switch on the Ps2 off when finished....therefore Ps2 can save the resume point ( because it will still be getting power ). One of the tech's at Jaycar reckons it wouldnt make the battery flat unless i didnt drive the car for like a week...
How does everyone else do it with a Ps2 setup ?? Because it's F#@kn annoying to resume a DVD ur half way thru when u stop to fill up !!

Im assuming that a normal Single DIN DVD player setup would automatically resume the DVD as they are hooked up to constant + accessories power?

[Andrew21]

Anyone ???

[stanleym]

pretti much wat u said man ....

but as u said gotta remember to turn it off at the main power switch everytime or else ull b a sorry cookie