So the first time I had the inverter connected directly to the bicycle but I didn't know what way the wires were - on the connection I used - and I fired that inverter as I pedaled the bicycle. There was a lot POP! and a lot of "magic smoke."
But the next two inverters I fried - there was no smoke and no "pop." So this time I hooked up the Multi-meter to the DC output on the Chafon generator. I was getting a negative reading and so I realized that the wire I was using had the negative and positive switched around! I have read of this happening with products from China. And I remembered that I had smoke from this same problem before - so it must be the same wire. I'll look up that blog post....
So now I figured out just WHY I kept breaking the car inverters. Since there had been no smoke and no "pop" - I couldn't figure out why they were not working. But obviously crossing the wires will fry them.
I might be able to just replace a fuse or something but just to figure out what kind of fuse and track down buying it - is a lot of trouble. I'll watch the car inverter repair playlist I have set up....
All I had to do was replace the above fuse. Just to make sure though I took the inverter apart and destroyed it by accident.
https://elixirfield.blogspot.com/2019/01/finagling-my-first-buzz-charge-from-diy.html
But I realized I had to use an "output" port off the Chafon and then into the charge controller.OK so that explains why the wires are reversed. So I need to mark that cord - wow - very dangerous. I think I fried the tape recorder connection now also.... (tape recorder still works!)
So then I had the DC output powering into the Harbor Freight charge controller - and as I held the cord to keep the positive and negative from touching - I got a buzzing sensation! Not too strong but strong enough to surprise me. Still no power from the charge controller!!
So I realized the Harbor Freight charge controller must be broken - it must have never worked in the first place, and I would have to return it. Suddenly I remembered how when I first considered the Chafon connection to the charge controller, I noticed that the wires were turned around from the positive to the negative. This really surprised me - but it had to do with the adapters being used causing the male and female to switch around. Then I had discovered a review on Amazon pointing out the same thing. The person stated they had to make their own wire connections to connect the Chafon to the solar charge controller and they did not get any power. But then they reversed the wires and they got power.
So I took a leap of faith based on my own previous discovery of the wires seemingly being switched and this review comment I had read corroborating my discovery. Sure enough I got power to the charge controller - and NO buzzing charge sensation!!
...........................
The wires were reversed for the power going OUT of the Chafon to then power into the charge controller. But for the DC motor generator then I was sending power back INTO the Chafon. Which means the wires should be normal since the power direction was reversed.
Holy smokes! So then I got out the multimeter to see what my 18 volt limit was for speed on the bicycle and it was the SAME as before - the lowest speed on the bicycle. So that is good - I was getting a charge signal back again on the Chafon.
The Reversed Polarity cord that fried at least TWO car DC inverters (maybe three got fried - I lost count) |
OK so then I tested the AMPS coming out of that DC power output. It says it's 3 amps per outlet - and so 12 amps total. I was getting OVER 12 amps and the multimeter was getting super hot about about to fry! The reading limit is supposed to be only 5 amps!!
Amazingly the Multimeter did not seem to fry - it just got super hot and the wires almost melted....
So these are the specs for the inverter I got. This inverter is sold as several different brands in the U.S. I'll see if I can find it on the wholesale China site... https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/100-watt-dc-to-ac-smart_60692458479.html?spm=a2700.galleryofferlist.0.0.90371e1fetweRa&s=p
- Converts 12VDC power from vehicle cigarette lighter socket to 120 VAC power
- 100 watts continuous
- 140 watts max output
- Single AC Outlet
- 2.1A 5 volt USB Outlet
- LED power indicator
- Fan
- Lightweight design
- Over temperature shutdown
- Low battery shutdown
- High battery shutdown
- Overload protection
- Input short circuit protection
- AC output power
- 120V Waveform
- modified sine wave
- DC input voltage 10-15V
- Low battery shutdown 9.5V +/- 0.5V
- High battery shutdown 15V Frequency
- 60Hz No load current draw - <0.7amps
- Over temp protection - 140 F
- Dimensions (LxWxH) - 5.5" x 2.75" x 1.5"
- Unit weight - 0.4 lbs
- Ship weight - 1 lb
So it says "customized logo" - so there are several companies in the US selling this same inverter!!
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