First gen 12v outlet question

04 Tacoma, mostly stock (no mods to 12v outlets or anything)

I have a 150 watt 12v DC to 110v AC converter that I'm trying to use to charge my drone batteries. When the truck is on but not running, the batteries charge. When the truck is running, the batteries do not charge.

I just bought a 200 watt charger off Amazon (

$26 FOVAL 200W Car Power Inverter DC 12V to 110V AC Car Inverter with 4 USB Ports Car Adapter for Plug Outlet Converter

https://www.amazon.com/Foval-Power-Inverter-Converter-Charger/dp/B074KWP2HJ) and tried it out, same exact issue. Anyone know why this might be happening? I need to be able to charge the batteries while I'm driving, kinda pointless to only be able to charge with the truck parked draining the truck battery...

 

The socket your plugging the Inverter into is switched power meaning only energized with the ignition in run or acc.

Perhaps run a new fused circuit from the battery for the inverter so it can charge all the time.

 

From my understanding, A "cig lighter" is either powered all the time or when the key is on(in accessory) and while the vehicle is running.

For it to be powered while the key is on, but not powered while the vehicle is running is very weird.

If you can't find the cause of power loss while the vehicle is running, I would just run a new power wire for the "cig lighter" from a high amp accessory power source under the dash(fuse between the tap and cig lighter) and ground from chassis.

 

Thanks but I believe you're misunderstanding the issue.

To clarify, I should note this happens with both 12V outlets and the cig lighter. Other chargers (eg. laptop, DSLR battery) work when the truck is running, just not the drone battery charger for some reason. Could you elaborate a little more on your suggestion? What would be a high amp accessory under the dash to tap? What if I run power straight to the battery with an inline fuse?

 

If every other charger works while the truck is running, except the drone battery charger...Then I would say the drone battery charger is the issue. Contact the manufacturer and tell them whats going on and see if they have any insight.

 

I reached out but DJI customer support is worthless. I just can't figure out why it would work other times but not when the truck is running...does the amperage change or something along those lines? I also read about "pure sine" inverters, maybe I need one of those?

 

Wow I sure read that wrong must not have had enough coffee

 

When you're just on accessory your getting about 12-12.5volts(whatever voltage your battery is resting at), when your truck is running you should be getting around 14-14.5volts.....Don't know if the bump in voltage goes to the cig lighter/12v port while the vehicle is running, I've never had a reason to check.

Everything works on your cig lighter/12v outlets while running, except the DJI battery charger....

My best guess is the DJI battery charger doesn't like whatever is going on with the trucks charging/electrical system while the vehicle is running...

I would just buy a female cig lighter plug(around$3-$5) hook it up straight to the battery (fuse the + wire with a 5/10amp fuse), plug your inverter and charger in.
It should charge..This mimics you it being on accessory power. Then have the truck running and see if it works.

 

Thanks I will try this. I'll test it first just taping wires to the battery and +/- on the inverter to see if it works before running the wires.

 

Might be too high a voltage when your truck is running, some 12v RV type appliances-TVs and such will shut down if the voltage gets above 14.5v?
Have you confirmed that it is the charger and not the inverter? Some chargers use a pulse which can overload the inverter and cause it to reset- cordless tool batteries will do that.
Could also be that it is the inverter that is shutting down with the high battery voltage- might look into that.
Good luck...

I have an RV flat screen in my off grid cabin and it will shut off on very sunny days when the input voltage to the battery bank goes above 14.4v . A good hint to get outside......