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Inverter help please

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by demonata08, Jan 15, 2016.

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  1. Jan 15, 2016 #1
    demonata08

    demonata08 Bobtail Member

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    Jan 15, 2016
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    Hey guys. I'm just curious here. I have a 1500 watt cobra inverter and I'm trying to hook up a desktop computer that's rated for 435 watts and everytime I plug it up it immediately flashs opp and I have to shut it off then it flashes olp. I've been really frustrated with it and have decided to buy another one. Does anyone have any tips or know if there's a specific one I need to be looking for.
     
    demonata08, Jan 15, 2016
    demonata08, Jan 15, 2016
    #1
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  3. Jan 15, 2016 #2
    uncleal13

    uncleal13 Road Train Member

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    How do you have the inverter wired? What size wiring?
    Some electronic items won't work on cheaper modified sine wave inverters, you may need to get a pure sine wave inverter.
    Although I ran a computer with a 17" monitor off a modified sine wave inverter before without a problem.
     
    uncleal13, Jan 15, 2016
    uncleal13, Jan 15, 2016
    #2
    flood Thanks this.
  4. Jan 15, 2016 #3
    demonata08

    demonata08 Bobtail Member

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    I didn't wire it personally. It came with the truck and. I know little more then its a 2016 freight liner with a 1500 watt cobra power inverter. I bought a brand new power supply for the computer and I plugged it in without hooking it up to the computer and it'll flash opp. How do you know if it's it's pure sine inverter?
     
    demonata08, Jan 15, 2016
    demonata08, Jan 15, 2016
    #3
  5. Jan 15, 2016 #4
    uncleal13

    uncleal13 Road Train Member

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    "OLP" = overload, too big of a load.
    "OPP"= short circuit, or load too large.
    A computer power supply not hooked up would draw very little power, so that should have worked. Other people haven't had issues with modified sine wave inverters powering a home computer. Cobra does not make a pure sine wave inverter.
    Does the inverter work for other items, like a microwave?
    I'd suspect a problem with it, or the wires supplying the inverter are too small.
     
    uncleal13, Jan 15, 2016
    uncleal13, Jan 15, 2016
    #4
  7. Jan 15, 2016 #5
    demonata08

    demonata08 Bobtail Member

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    Jan 15, 2016
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    It works with a 750 watt microwave and a 6.1 cubic feet deep freezer. I'm completely perplexed on why it's doing this
     
    demonata08, Jan 15, 2016
    demonata08, Jan 15, 2016
    #5
  8. Jan 15, 2016 #6
    demonata08

    demonata08 Bobtail Member

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    Jan 15, 2016
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    I managed to get it to work by ignoring the opp and cycling it in and off. I have no idea as to why it sometimes says opp and turns off. when it did work it was only using 120 watts. Really confusing
     
    demonata08, Jan 15, 2016
    demonata08, Jan 15, 2016
    #6
  9. Jan 16, 2016 #7
    Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    It is because the power supply in the computer ... doesn't like the inverter (I am not kidding) due to the modified sine wave design and ... because the startup current needed in some of these power supplies are greater than normal because they are cheaply designed and built (the reason why the power supply doesn't like the inverter).

    Solution?

    there are two

    first try to see what you have in hard drives in the computer, replacing them with smaller (2.5) ones that are made for light power consumption.

    Second try getting a 12 volt power supply for the computer, they are not cheap but they work and they have the protection built in for a car.

    http://store.mp3car.com/collections...igent-dc-dc-psu-power-supply-unit-6-34v-input
     
    Ridgeline, Jan 16, 2016
    Ridgeline, Jan 16, 2016
    #7
    uncleal13 Thanks this.
  10. Jan 16, 2016 #8
    tech10171968

    tech10171968 Medium Load Member

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    Ridgeline is right. Pure sine wave inverter = cleaner power source, and actually much kinder (and safer) for your electronics.
     
    tech10171968, Jan 16, 2016
    tech10171968, Jan 16, 2016
    #8
  11. Jan 16, 2016 #9
    David Schwarz

    David Schwarz Light Load Member

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    +1 on modified sinewave being your problem. For the most part (and I've owned several inverters, and several laptops) I've never had a problem. You have a picky power supply with your laptop. Although buying a 12 volt supply is an option, you could also buy a different AC power supply right at Walmart and see if your inverter will accept it without a problem, which it probably will. I've never personally seen anything reject modified sign wave yet.
     
    David Schwarz, Jan 16, 2016
    David Schwarz, Jan 16, 2016
    #9
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