Voltage drop on PowerPoint socket

[El_Terco86]

Hi guys how's everyone doing I am new to this forum but I hope to continue using this website.. anyways my big problem I'm having I have 2006 Ford F-350 King Ranch 4x4 6.0 V8 I am having problems using the PowerPoint Socket with my inverter my batteries have been tested and they have 100% charge I have a new alternator I do have a sound system on it I also have a capacitor (that comes with my sound system) that has a digital reading of the voyage its receiving the voltage on that shows 14.2v around that area but I have a power inverter that I try to use to charge my laptop with the inverter itself has a digital reader and that shows only 11.7v without anything connected and when I connect my laptop to it it will short out causing my inverter to stop functioning can anyone help with this thanks in advanced and hope to hear from you'll !

[ve7fet]

Originally Posted by El_Terco86

Hi guys how's everyone doing I am new to this forum but I hope to continue using this website.. anyways my big problem I'm having I have 2006 Ford F-350 King Ranch 4x4 6.0 V8 I am having problems using the PowerPoint Socket with my inverter my batteries have been tested and they have 100% charge I have a new alternator I do have a sound system on it I also have a capacitor (that comes with my sound system) that has a digital reading of the voyage its receiving the voltage on that shows 14.2v around that area but I have a power inverter that I try to use to charge my laptop with the inverter itself has a digital reader and that shows only 11.7v without anything connected and when I connect my laptop to it it will short out causing my inverter to stop functioning can anyone help with this thanks in advanced and hope to hear from you'll !

The wiring to the power point is pretty thin... I wouldn't try running an inverter off of it.

As you have already experienced, because the wire is so small, when you try to pull any current, the resistance in the wire will cause a significant voltage drop, triggering the low voltage shutdown in your inverter (by the sounds of it).

The power point is intended for things like GPS, cell phone charger, MP3 player, etc.

You may have better results with trying to use the cigar lighter. Even then, it doesn't have much better current capacity.


Lee

[El_Terco86]

Thanks for your reply but I actually forgot to mention I have a friend that has a 05 F-350 and I can use thr same inverter and my laptop and it chrges my laptop just fine and the voltage reader on my inverter while chraging my laptop reads 13.8v thats whats throwing me off guard is there a way to upgrade the wire to the PowerPoint?

[ve7fet]

Originally Posted by El_Terco86

Thanks for your reply but I actually forgot to mention I have a friend that has a 05 F-350 and I can use thr same inverter and my laptop and it chrges my laptop just fine and the voltage reader on my inverter while chraging my laptop reads 13.8v thats whats throwing me off guard is there a way to upgrade the wire to the PowerPoint?

Well, in that case, you may want to look for corrosion inside the power point, and pull off the dash trim and check the connections to the back. You can also check the voltage while you are back there to see what it is.

Not much point in trying to upgrade the wiring to the power point, as it is all in the harness.

You do have some other options though.

If you have unused upfitter switches (one of the 30A ones), you could pick up and aftermarket lighter socket and wire that in to one of your upfitter switches. The wiring is easily accessible up by the fuse box (CJB). It is a convenient source of switched and fused power to use.

Otherwise, you could use one of the passthrough wires that come through the firewall and run power direct from the battery (through a fuse) in to the cab to power an aftermarket lighter socket.

That would let you use some heavier wire (like #12AWG or #10AWG) to reduce the voltage drop to power your inverter.


Lee

[El_Terco86]

Ok I will try to do that this weekend I do have the upfitter switches and I will try to do that I will update when done thanks for the information!