Hardwiring an inverter

[Viscouse]

Ok, so go ahead & ask, why would I want an AC plug in the car? The answer is, I'm not totally sure, but I do want a place to plug a laptop in, and hey, it's bonding time with the car, right?

So after wading through th "Damn Stereo" thread, i couldn't find anyone who found a switched 12V source in the trunk, so I'm planning on using the powerpoint in the armrest, running wires to the trunk to the driver side storage (where the amp is) where the inverter will mount, then running wires BACK to the armrest. I'm going to install the AC plug right under the rear-pointing vents (lotta room in there).

Since I've just started, I'll take some pics, and walk through it.

So far, after much frutration, I haven't been able to remove the armrest (it seems to be connected as 1 peice of plastic to the whole center console, and there is some secret bolt holding it in around the ignition switch, probably for security).

But I did get to the leads for the powerpoint. There are 2 leads I'm not sure how they work.
1: a single wire going to the green LED lighting up the powerpoint. How do you get only 1 wire to power something?
2: another single wire going to the floor. What the heck is this for?

So, if anyone has any ideas or comments, lemme know :wink: .

[03_Saab 9-3]

The 12V power source to the Cig lighter should work, its about a 10-12 guage RED wire with a blue stripe, that wire is also switched by ignition being that our cig lighters don't work when the car is off. Maybe the other wire running to the base of the car is a ground not sure, but you should be able to just find a good solid metal spot in the car, use a bolt and ground it, then use a T-Tap, splice into the Red wire for your 12V route the wire, mount the inverter... boom call it a day. Hehe... hope that is some help!

[mopo]

yea definatly post pics and lots of info when you have done it.

I am currently building my wardriving box to mount in my boot and a dc-dc power supply costs more then a inverter so...

Cheers

[Viscouse]

Well, ah...

Turns out this was a bit harder than I had first thought, but I did it. :wink:

The hardest part was getting to the armrest powerpoint. It seemed so simple to take out the console, so I tried. I ripped the wood trim round the shifter (3 screws under there), the accessory holder (2 more screws), the cover under the handbrake (1 screw there), and the rubber mat in the armrest (2 screws there. SOMEWHERE, there was 1 more screw or something near the ignition cause it wouldn't come out. Makes sence when you think of it, I guess harder to hotwire?

My fingers were bleeding pretty good by then so no pix
I had to settle for digging blindly through one of the side panels & unplug the powerpoint. With it came 2 wires. One I'm going with 03_Saab 9-3 & saying it's ground. The other went to the LED that makes it glow green. Oh BTW, it was NOT a red wire, it was a black and a yellow w/blue stripe.

The picture attached is the best I got. From left to right: Ground, powerpoint, green LED.

I have GOT to find some of these T-taps. I used wire nuts wrapped in lots of electrical tape. I had to be careful where I ran things cause the mechanism for the handbrake is in there.

I ran 5 wires to the trunk with little trouble (ripped the carpet a bit (no one'll notice )

Had a bit of difficulty finding a secure way of mounting the inverter into the rack, so I just made a set-screw & jammed it in there.

I think instead of a hard outlet (since it will only mount to plastic trim & rip off if someone forces the plug), I'm going to coil some extension cord in the space I said before (under the rear vents), break the attachment clips & replace them with Velcro.

You know, it dawned on me as I was replacing the fuse I blew. It mentioned there is a circuit for towing. Wouldn't there have to be switched power in the trunk for that? I wonder where they hid the leads for that. Could've made this a LOT simpler.

More pix later of the finished deal...

[03_Saab 9-3]

Well good work... sorry i should have been more specific... the one with the Red wire and Blue stripe is to the Cig lighter at the dash under the CD Changer in the ashtray.... oops. Sorry for the confusion.

[Viscouse]

All done!

No T-taps. Old school soldering :P and electrical tape. No worse than harnesses that are in the actual car.

[mopo]

looks leet. when I get some cash i will do the same.