$50 Center Console Power Inverter Install

Hi, so I got for my birthday the parts to install a power inverter in the cab of my truck. I mostly did this because I was going to get a cell phone, but that was going to be like 30 bucks, and for 50 I could get a 500 watt inverter with 2 120 volt outlets and a USB powered outlet to charge my iPhone. Heres the install.. I'll answer any Q's I can.. Sorry I didn't do a DIY. I wasn't completely sure of my plan to begin with. As I spend more time doing these things, I'll more confident in doing DIY's. ( I just turned 18 a few days ago ).

Here it is. I used 3M double stick tape to secure it on the side of center console.

I ran a male to male stereo wire from the dash board under the center console ( upholders, shift surround, etc ) and into the bottom of the center console, so I can leave my iPod or iPhone connected and charge and play music while it's hidden if I leave it in my truck charging.

My original plan was to mount the inverter behind the rear seats and run extension cords around under the trim, but because the inverter has an on off button on it, I had to put it in an accessible place.

The little power lights on the inverter kinda light up the center storage spot when it's dark.

I ran the power for the inverter through the bottom of the center console and to my fuse block by the battery.

 

Me likey this, where did you buy that outlet from?

 

Looks good!

 

dont put that thing under any amount of load. the wire running to your fuse box looks sketching and is def not heavy enough to run that inverter at full load.

 

The outlets from home depot. It's a black and decker. 40 bucks.

It's fused at 30 amps. So 30 amps x 12 volts = 360 watts.. so that's the most I would ever run it at. Still, I really only plan to use it for cell phone charging / computer charging so like 40 watts at most. I am going to get a better cable to go from the battery lead to the fuse block. I am using 12 gauge wire on whole job. It came with 12 gauge wire and alligator clips to connect it to the battery.

All the electric tape between the wires and the fuse block is instead of heat shrinking where I soldered the wire to the O connectors that get strewed into the fuse block..



What are your reasons that I shouldn't run it under any load?

 

The wires running to the battery won't be able to support the inverter at full load.
Need bigger wires. Lots of guys run AWG 4 but thats a bit TOO big for this.

Also, where did you get your extra fuse block?

 

It's a blue sea fuse block from Amazon

what awg would you recommend?

like I said above, the wire it came with was 12 gauge. I used 12 gage. I talked to 2 people at home depot the separately recommended 12 gage.

After talking to a few people and studying what it came with, I was pretty sure 12 was good. The wires I used are almost all wire, with not a ton of insulation. I ran them inside plastic tubing from the fuse block to the cab.

I'd like to get correct gage wire to run 350 watts. What would this be.

 

so I should be able to use it at 240 watts. So maybe I'll go put it on a 20 amp fuse till I get bigger wire.

 

Yeah you definitely don't need AWG 4, thats way to big for your needs haha. 12 gauge actually sounds okay for what your doing, but if you plan on running anything big off of it, I would upgrade the wire just several sizes bigger at least. I mean it wouldn't hurt.

 

yeah, I think I'll put a 20 amp fuse on it and leave it for now.. the most that'll be run of it are chargers of sorts... If I find I need more wattage and I blow out a fuse, I'll upgrade my wire. The only reason I won't upgrade it tomorrow is the time it would take. I wish I'd gone with bigger wire today... oh wellllllll :/

I'm still happy with how it all came out.

 

Yeah I like how you did it. I had a 2000W inverter on order but cancelled it because that were out of stock. I was gonna get that mounted and run an extension cord back to the bed, since my truck doesn't have the outlet back there.

 

I've got one in the back for 400 watt loads that came with the truck.

I've never really had an instance where I wanted to run more than that.. it powers my air compressor which is the biggest power tool i'd really need. It'll power a dremel.. so yeah. And in cab, it's only going to be chargers for electronics.

I've found myself on occasion running extension cords from the bed into the cab through the rear center window.. haha

 

My stock inverter has powered my heat gun on low setting, and my soldering iron. Ran the cord through the window too, to get it up to the center console when I soldered in my illuminated 4x4 switch.

 

Your inverter looks very ideal for your needs good job!

 

Do you have an aux cable plugged into the stock jack and just ran under the center plastic to the console?

 

yeah. I wish I could do it better. I'm thinking of taping into the stock aux jack behind the dash and doing it that way. Or maybe running the jack into the center console. My goal in doing this was to be able to have an iPod plugged into the inverter and the aux jack for the stereo and be able to leave it there covered without unplugging it and putting it in the glove box every time I leave the truck.

 

Yeah the idea is good. I would have it run into the center console in that box you have. Then you can charge it, use it, and hide it. Mine is in my glove box and I can control it from my hu

 

If you have a TRD your truck already has a 400w inverter under the center console. all you have to do it pull up the console and run a few wires.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/156894-how-inverter-400w-anytime-mod.html

 

I have a 400w and it came with 12 awg, but like someone pointed out for a long run it won't cut it. I ran 8 awg instead. You could wire another switch to it of you want so you don't need the switch on the unit itself. Hope that thing can breathe in that little space.

 

Nice job OP, and that is a well organized center consol! LOL, I have shit just kind of throw in there, I need something to get things strait. Did you make that organizer yourself?