I am going to be hard wiring in a DC-AC Power Inverter but just had a quick question as I have never used one before.

If the Power Inverter is rated at, lets say, 400 Watts, does this mean that it is ALWAYS(when on), consuming 400 Watts? Or, does it only supply what is needed based on whatever is plugged into it? For example, if I only plugged something in that consums 50 Watts, will my cars battery and charging system only be forced to supply the 50 Watts, or the 400 Watts??

Make sense?

I'm just a little worried because I'm primarly wanting to run just a home DVD player. The DVD player states that it runs on "20VA" which I believe is the same as "20 Watts". I was thinking since Power Inverters are relatively cheap, I figure I should just get a 400 Watt one for future possibilities. BUT, I don't want my charging system to be strained of the 30 AMPS(400 Watts / 13.5 volts) ALL the time.

Anyone know the answer?

THANKS! [img]smile.gif[/img]

 

There will be a small power draw when not using and it is connected but it will not use more power then needed until you plug in what needed.

So to your question 50 watts plus the slight extra is right.

I don't know what 20VA. But 20 watts seems reasonable.

X

 

Great thanks! [img]smile.gif[/img]

So when the specs say "400 Watts", it just means that is what it CAN supply, but unless you have things plugged into it that actually require 400 Watts, it will never be using THAT much power...

 

YES [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

X

 

But then again you're not supposed to be watching it while driving it anyhow

 

ps2 works fine i play it in my buddies supra while driving all the time.