I'm looking to install a 1200 watt power inverter under the back seat on my Ram to power 2 head rest monitors and a sony play station . What is the best and safest way to wire this? A friend of my wifes wired one directly to the battery and it worked fine running or not running in the driveway, but the first time I tried it while running 60 mph , it blew the sucker up ! Big Pop and lots of smoke.
Can it be done?
Thanks everyone

 

I am wondering if that wasn't a matter of the inverter he bought not being able to handle the charging voltage (typically 13+V on most vehicles, not sure what typical is on the CTD), or there was a spike in voltage (electronic voltage regulator unable to keep up with spike or something along those lines). Either way, if he did not use a fuse, or an appropriate fuse type (amp rating, break speed, and other VERY specific specifications) this is a good posibility to have happen. I don't think there is anything in particular with these trucks that prevent it, it might be the setup he had (wiring, fusing, or just the inverter itself).

 

Probably a cheap inverter.

 

A running vehicle will provide about ~14.5 volts so any inverter that you get should be able to handle that as a minimum.

On the 1200 watt note, that seems like overkill for 2 monitors and a PS2(?), just the PS2 is about 80 watts or so. Inverters tend to be ineffficient when running at less than 65-85 percent of capacity so you'll actually probably be dumping as much power as heat as you draw for the electronics. Also, If you actually want to be able to provide 1200 watts just be sure to put in large fused cables as at full draw that sucker will pull ~110 (or more) amps.

 

Also depends on the way it was wired. If may have been wired for 24VDC. That would blow it.

 

I had one in my car for a long time. I just t-ed off of my amps power wire. All was good. If I was you I would go to wally world and pick up an amp kit. The wire is thick enough and flexible enough for you to use. Also I wouldconsider setting up some sort of relay/switch system. Obviously you will not have the monitors and ps2 running all of the time, right? A small switch somewhere will save your inverter from just running all of the time. Bottom line you need to wire it where it will go off when you shut the truck off.

 

1200W isALOT OF POWER!!!

A1200W continuous rated inverter is going to handle approx twice that as a surge current (depending on manufacturer) and is going to be fused for somewhere in the neighborhood of 100-120 amps.

As mentoned already inverters are somwhat inefficient and one that large will make alot of heat (thus the reason most of them use the entire outside case as a heatsink.

1200Wis greatly overkill for two monitors and a video game system.

HOWEVER, if you decide you want to put onethat large in, so if you ever need that much power...I would run a FusedHEAVY gauge wire (dont have a chart handy but I would guess #4AWG at a minimum, maybe #2AWG) to the engine compartment and power it via relay that is only powered when the truck is running, that way the alternator is giving you a fighting chance, because there will be a large current draw on the battery when in use.
In fact I would probably fuse the cable both under the hoodAND at the Inverter just to be safe, because I have seen large gauge wires short through under the carpet and melt through the carpet and/or start a fire and not blow the fuse until it had caused serious damage.
Good luck.