I will be installing an air compressor in my max. I need to find out where can i draw power from safely. I don't want to run it from the battery directly, is there a plug i can piggy back off of anywhere in the trunk or inside the car.
Thanx for ur help

 

Well you have a few options, the only thing you have to consider is how much power you are going to need. You wont beable to run it off any of the lighting circuits cause you wont get enough power to run the compressor and if you run it off the stereo, which Im not suggesting every time you want to use it you will have to turn on the stero (not suggesting this at all just an idea). Now if you have an aftermarket amp installed you can pull power from the incoming power for that. But unless you install an on/off switch it will constantly draw power and you will burn out the compressor so at this point you best option is to go from the battery even though thats not what you want to do but it seems like the only option. But if you give me some specs I can come up with something better for you. Ok later,

Bruce

 

Air compressors take a lot of juice, run a seperate line straight from your battery and make sure it's fused correctly.

 

This is true I would agree 110%.

Bruce

 

thanx for the help. Its a 20 amp compressor. I will also have a 1 gal tank so the compressor won't have to run alot. I want to wire it correclty so i dont burn the car up. Compressor does have an inline fuse, but i 'll probably need more protection just in case. I was thinking maybe running some power from the fuse box. But i am not sure if thats a good idea. Do you have instructions on how to run power from the battery to the trunk correctly.
thanx

 

Yeah I will pm you with the way I have found the best for me.

Bruce

 

get a digital 1.0 farrad capacitor we use for automotive sound systems. this will fit the requirements you'll need. it'll cost you about 100 dollars. it will have a digital meter letting you know how much electric potential you are getting from the battery, and it'll also act as a second battery. It contains three connectings: ground, battery, and remote. you can ground it to the car chassis, power wire to the battery, and connect the remote wire to any ingnition initiated signals. i'd do it from the audio fuse in the fuse box.

 

i really hope youre kidding about the capacitor. you should run straight to the battery, 8 or 10 gauge should be fine.

 

I curious how I can draw power for a solder iron?

 

For the soldering iron, use an extension cord from your house. Or get a butane fueled one from Radio shack for about $20.00. It's a small, very handy item to have. And it comes with a small torch tip for heating small areas, too.

Dave

 

Here pick one of these up, they work great and come in a nice convenient carrying case

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/tools/69d3/

Bruce

 

i saw this on TV. do you have one? does it work as advertised? what is the pro and con?

 

Yeah it works, I have one and it does everything it says and I really havent found anything bad about it. Just dont go and soder and then put it right on your arm you might burn your self. also if you use it for a prolonged period of time it will stay hot a little longer than a few seconds. Just use your common sense.

Bruce

 

You just got me into ordering one. One more question, how long does the battery last? did you use it for soldering wires?

 

Not really sure I got mine a few weeks ago. I use it at work and at home. On mostly computer stuff and small wiring projects. I have a nother guy here at work who has one and he likes it too.

Bruce

 

thanks buddy.