Been searching through forums day and night looking for information regarding a way I can hook up a power inverter that would utilize 400watts.
Car = 1997 a4 2.8

Basically here's the deal, I had this old laptop that has a dead lcd. So I decided to make a CAR PC out of it. I'm taking the LCD off, looking to get a 7-10inch touch screen for a monitor. Going to use DesktopX for a interface setup, with some small voice recognition I've been working on. Will probably run audio through the tape deck for now, until I figure out where i want to go with it all. Will install some sort of GPS software with a USB GPS reciever. I'm looking to fit the laptop under the glovebox, so the a/c vent can help with cooling, plus it will be out of the way. My problem is powering it. I don't want to remove the stock stereo, and the cigarette lighter doesn't supply enough power for the inverter, so I need to power it off the car battery. I want to use the inverter, but I have a couple issues:

1. I want to keep the inverter on the passenger side, and would like to access the battery through the passenger side somewhere, but I dont know where/how to get passed the firewall on the passenger side. I've read up on two ways on the drivers side, but I'm aiming for the passenger side. I'm even willing to drill a hole (in the floor?), possibly above the passenger tire so running wire to the battery will be pretty easy that way. Just, rigging it tho..
2. I was wondering if there were any other ways to power an inverter using pre-existing wiring somewhere in the car. My biggest concern with that though is first, what exactly could be used, and secondly melting/fire.
3. My car is 10 years old now, still in great looking condition, but has 142k miles on it and I'm starting to feel as though its getting alittle too old for me .. should I just abandon my Car PC ideas because it might end up being a waste with my car as old as it is, or should I go through with it and try and get this baby to 200k miles ..

Thanks for reading, and thanks for any input. Sorry if I said anything stupid up there, I'm not really all that experienced, but I try ..

P.S. This was my inspiration: http://www.carputer.it/images/FotoPu...zioni/1299.jpg was a 1997 A4 Dash turned into CAR PC aka Carputer

 

1Find something going through the area you want the wiring to go and drill next to it on the firewall into the battery compartment and make sure the other side is clear (drilling through the floor will cause rust issues).

2 No

3 If you like the car do it.

 

I found a good spot to go through. Now I'm starting to wonder, and perhaps someone else might have better expertise on this area.. I want to power the inverter directly onto the battery, but, I don't know what wiring to use. I was wondering if I could use speaker wire, or the same wiring used for amps, or if I should just get wire somewhere else. If so, what guage wire should I use for something like this... -Joe

 

The power inverter made to run 400 watts should come with battery hookups (usually clamps) which you could cut off and wire up regualar terminals. I would say you need a different inverter that will allow you to wire it to a battery if the one you have doesn't, otherwise 8 gauge would be good for 400 watts (if it just has imputs for it with no wires run out) regaurdlessdon't cut off the cig. plug to wire in 8 gauge or it will burn up internallywhen you use too much power for the smaller original wire.

 

The inverter I have came with both battery clamps and the cig. lighter plug. I'll certainly go straight from the battery to the inverter.. but I'm still somewhat curious about the wiring people use for car amps and stereo speakers... Is amp wire that you find in amp installation kits 8guage? I can get a store discount from a friend of mine who works at wal mart on amp wire, but if not I'll just find some good 8guage.. maybe at homedepot.

 

Your going to want car stereo 8 gauge because it is more pliable unless the home depot you live by sell car sterio wire. 8 gauge is good for 500-600 wats I believe.

 

Yea I'll look for just some 8guage car stereo.. Just for the hell of it I drove by home depot down the street from me. They dont have what I need, suggested Sound Advice or Best Buy.. I'll prolly just pick something up over there. Thanks for you help!