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Doesn't the amp kit contain a lot of stuff I don't need?

 
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yes it does. you'll be fine with the 12 gauge (can handle 20 amps), it is not using more than 15 amps, so if you don't want to do it with relay, just tap in cig lighter 12v + wire and go to the inverter + terminal and put the - terminal on inverter on ground. the 12v cig wire is only like 16 gauge, so if derrik put it in the radio circuit and never had problems, you'll be fine with 12 gauge

 
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you could check with a DMM how much current it is using, the decide what size wire you need, but you already bought the 12 gauge, so just use that

 
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All I need is some 12 gauge wire, some new (bigger) ring terminals for it, and I'll post pictures after the install!

 
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DON'T tap the cig lighter for power to the inverter, run it from the battery

sure 12ga is enough for 20 amps, but the 18ga wire on the lighter IS NOT.

a DMM isn't for measuring current other than small amounts. a current clamp is what you need for that.

sure the amp kit might contain some stuff you don't need. but it will contain everything you DO need, all for 10 bucks.

 
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i know a DMM can test only up to 10 amps, but derrik said he had it on the radio circuit (wich is only what? 10-15 amps) and he didn't blow fuse yet, so obviously it is not drawing more current than that. i told him to do it with a relay, but he doesn't want to. even if he puts 12 gauge from the t-tap on the lighter wire to the inverter it doesn't matter, cause if he goes over the amperage of the circuit, it will blow the fuse

 
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and i know for a fact that it will not overload the lighter circuit, because i trid my ps2 on it and it worked fine

 
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even if it didn't blow the fuse, it's still overloading and really unsafe. it's about creating a fire hazard, not about blowing fuses

yes it WILL overload the lighter circuit, and even if it didn't, it's not the proper way to install

 
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I'll be using the add a circuit, not the cigarette lighter.

 
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i know, told him to do it with relay, but i think he wants to do it the easiest and cheapest way possible. i had that same power inverter and it had a cig lighter plug with it, so it is safe to be pluged in the lighter or they wouldn't put a cig. plug in the packaging.

 
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too bad, it would have been nice to see somebody do something right

 
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i know, some people don't want to put the effort to do something that looks good, or connected right, but what can we do? lol

 
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If I permanently mount the inverter, I'll set it up with the relay in the future.

 
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haha you may have your wish with the relay!

I got the inverter installed with the ground wire run and hooked up. I was hooking up the power wire with the add-a-circuit and realized our cars have the mini narrow fuses. The add-a-circuit doesn't fit in any of the holes under the steering wheel! So is there a smaller add-a-circuit or this is it?

Or.....about the relay......do I have to solder to the pins? I don't have a solder kit which is the main thing holding me back from doing it.

 
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there is smaller add a circuits, but relay is really best way, it's easy, you can buy relays with the harness, so it plugs in the harness, and they are cheap

 
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go get the 12volt relay, and an inline fuse (20 amps), get some 12 gauge, a t-tap (i think you already have that), and then if you need more help, i'll tell you how, but the diagram is pretty easy to understand.

 
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i pay 4$ for a relay + harness, so in U.S., probably 2$, really cheap, if thats what you were worrying about.

 
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I'm actually in Calgary. I was at Canadian Tire today looking for relays and didn't find any. I seen the inline fuses for a couple of bucks but no relays. I'm picturing a black cube with metal pieces down the sides you can attach wires to. That right?

 
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Also, I did get a smaller add-a-circuit and I'm experimenting with it to see if it'll work temporarily. But when I plugged it in, the inverter wouldn't turn on. I got the add-a-circuit in the fuse slot for the radio, the inverter's grounded real good, I turn the key, the radio doesn't come on (expected) but the inverter doesn't either. The switch is in the on position. When I move the fuse from the B slot to the A slot in the add-a-circuit and turn the key, the radio works fine. So everything's hooked up right, but for some reason the inverter's not coming on. I tried with all the fuses - 3, 5, 7.5 and 10. None work.

 
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got a multimeter or test light?

i still highly recommend running from the battery, the wire coming into the fusebox isn't very hefty, another 20a of fusing on it could be overkill

 
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Still trying to find out if I need a solder iron if using a relay.....

 
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you need to put in both fuses in the add a circuit for it to work

 
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no u don't need to solder for relay

 
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in the add acircuit, the first fuse feeds your radio circuit and the second fuse, then second fuse feeds your new circuit, so you need both fuses to make new circuit work

 
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Really? The instructions said to plug in the new fuse for the inverter, test it, and if it works, plug in the other fuse too. I'll give that a try.
Which fuse should I be using?

 
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i wasn't saying to tap in cig. lighter circuit and putting 20 amp fuse on that for the 12 gauge (that would be wrong), i meant the 20 amp in line fuse from the battery to power up inverter

 
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same size you have for circuit you replaced, they will be same size fuses in both slots

 
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I put in both fuses, powered up, worked awesome. Then when I take the key out, it's still going....the stereo didn't turn off and the monitor didn't go back into the dash. I couldn't get it to go back in at all, until I flipped the switch on the inverter back to the on position. I thought that was wierd so I left the inverter in the on position and tried it again......now it works perfect, monitor slides back in soon as I shut the car off. So I have to leave the inverter on for some reason and it makes a high pitch noise when I turn off the car. I'll work on that relay over the next week or two.

 
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that high pitch noise is from the inverter, i had the exact same inverter for my ps2, and it made that sound also when powering off, cheap inverter, got that at canadian tire for 30$

 
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*****, I paid some punk at work $25 for it. Guess I got scammed.