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Bad power inverter?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by Fullboogie, Dec 15, 2019.

  1. Dec 15, 2019 at 1:11 PM
    #1
    Fullboogie

    Fullboogie [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I've got an '06 Sport that my daughter uses. Last week I strung some Christmas lights around the top of the bed and she was thrilled. The day before a rain I told her to unplug the lights, which of course she did not do. Turned them on and smelled smoke/burning in the interior and now the bed plug does not work.

    When pushing the button on the dash, both upper and lower lights will light up for about 2 seconds then shut off. I checked all applicable fuses with a multimeter (continuity and visual) and they are fine. I have 12V going to the inverter when the button is pushed and held, but of course it then shuts off. I followed the troubleshooting in post #11 in the link below and all things test out. I'm guessing the inverter is fried - unless someone has another idea? Wondering why a fuse didn't pop.

    https://www.toyotanation.com/threads/help-please-ac-plug-in-bed-does-not-work.304273/#post-2830441
     
  2. Dec 15, 2019 at 2:17 PM
    #2
    DG92071

    DG92071 Well-Known Member

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    I have read of this exact problem before but never saw the outcome. Someone wrote that inside the inverter it had another fuse.
     
    Last edited: Dec 15, 2019
  3. Dec 15, 2019 at 2:22 PM
    #3
    BKinzey

    BKinzey Well-Known Member

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    Probably is a fried inverter. that's the best guess at this point.

    Fuses often blow during a short but that isn't their primary job so sometimes they don't and sometimes damage is already done when they do blow due to a short. Think of the GFCI outlet in your bathroom. That's also wired to a fuse but the GFCI's purpose is to trip quickly during a short. If you drop the proverbial hair dryer in a full tub you don't want to rely, or wait, for the fuse to blow.

    Not sure of earlier years but in my 2015 the inverter is in the cab under the rear of the console.
     
    12TRDTacoma likes this.
  4. Dec 15, 2019 at 2:27 PM
    #4
    Fullboogie

    Fullboogie [OP] Well-Known Member

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    The inverter is under the center console and it uses a 7.5a fuse.

    Anybody know if an aftermarket inverter has successfully been swapped in?
     
  5. Dec 15, 2019 at 3:40 PM
    #5
    GorgeRunner

    GorgeRunner Out There

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    7.5A seems low for a power inverter. Aren't power outlets(lighters)10 or 15A?
     
  6. Dec 15, 2019 at 3:52 PM
    #6
    road2cycle

    road2cycle Well-Known Member

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    The inverter is rated for 400w maximum. 400w/120v is ~3.3A.

    My Taco’s inverter is under the center console storage area.
     
  7. Dec 15, 2019 at 4:14 PM
    #7
    Muddinfun

    Muddinfun Well-Known Member

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  8. Dec 15, 2019 at 4:16 PM
    #8
    DG92071

    DG92071 Well-Known Member

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    The main fuse for the inverter is a 100 amp in the fuse box under the hood. It's labeled AC SKT.
    20191215_161416.jpg
     
    Jimmyh and Muddinfun like this.
  9. Dec 15, 2019 at 5:22 PM
    #9
    12TRDTacoma

    12TRDTacoma Powered by Ford, GM, VW, and Mercedes

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    The inverter is DEFINITELY inside the cab directly under the center console.
     
  10. Dec 15, 2019 at 5:36 PM
    #10
    Fullboogie

    Fullboogie [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Appreciate the responses so far guys. As in the original post, I'm getting 12V going to the inverter, as measured right at the harness. Doesn't that mean the large 100a fuse mentioned above is OK? Visually there is no break in the bar, but I know that's not a sure sign. Thanks again.
     
  11. Dec 15, 2019 at 5:40 PM
    #11
    caribe makaira

    caribe makaira Well-Known Member

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  12. Dec 15, 2019 at 5:46 PM
    #12
    DG92071

    DG92071 Well-Known Member

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    If the bar isn't broken it's good.
     
  13. Dec 15, 2019 at 5:52 PM
    #13
    caribe makaira

    caribe makaira Well-Known Member

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    There should be 0V dc coming from the relay to pin 2 on connector V9 of the inverter unless the inverter is ON.
    upload_2019-12-15_21-52-20.jpg
     
  14. Dec 15, 2019 at 5:56 PM
    #14
    Fullboogie

    Fullboogie [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Caribe - one of those pins is the positive, and the other is grounded nearby. When I hold the dash button down and measure across those two pins, I get 13.9 at idle. Nothing when I let go of the button. So my question is whether a blown 100a fuse would allow that to happen, or if that's a sign the fuse is good and my problem is at the inverter.
     
  15. Dec 15, 2019 at 6:03 PM
    #15
    caribe makaira

    caribe makaira Well-Known Member

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    Inverter FUBAR'd
     
  16. Dec 15, 2019 at 6:10 PM
    #16
    Fullboogie

    Fullboogie [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Gracias.
     
  17. Dec 15, 2019 at 11:32 PM
    #17
    Jimmyh

    Jimmyh Well-Known Member

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  18. Dec 16, 2019 at 6:39 PM
    #18
    caribe makaira

    caribe makaira Well-Known Member

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