Powering a PS2 with the factory power inverter

[dice]

Hi everyone,

I was thinking about installing a PS2 in my 4th Gen and plugging it into the factory power inverter located inside my center console. Now the input power ratings on the PS2's power brick say "100-240V ~1.5A" and I remember Rando saying a few months back about plugging in a laptop:

"Look at the power brick for you laptop. It should indicate the maximum input power rating. It will say something like 100-240V ~1.5A. In the U.S. this equates to rougly 110V * 1.5A = ~165W max. Unfortunately because inverters generally output a modified sine output signal, the power consumption of your device might actually be higher or lower -- depending on internal circuitry in the power brick.

Even if the maximum is higher than your inverter can supply, it may still work fine. Your laptop is unlikely to consume the maximum power at all times. Typically a ~100W inverter is just about right for a laptop. If you need more power than the OEM system can deliver you can always get a cheapo (Coleman etc) 400W inverter for ~$40. You'll may need to wire it to the battery though since the 12V (cig lighter) adapter can only supply 15A (~180W) max. Due to inverter inefficiency (typically 60% or less), 180W at the input equates to roughly 110W output power."

So now my question is, will plugging in a PS2, with these power ratings, into my factory power inverter for a prolonged period of time (i.e. a 4 hour road trip from Las Vegas to Los Angeles or longer or even just having the PS2 plugged in indefinitely) cause any serious damage to my electrical system or put me at any other potential risk? Or am I better off hard wiring an aftermarket power inverter to my battery?

Thanks in advance for your help guys. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

dise.

 

[Spider5]

My kids have used the PS2 for several months on 6-8 hour trips with no problems using the 120v plug. The fuse will just blow if the circuit demand becomes too great. I have not had this happen. To clean things up I bought a 12v power supply so that I can hard wire the power cleaning up some of the wiring. I was trying to wire it into a circuit under the seat that used the ignition so that the PS2 would not be left on but could not find one. Now its wired into the 12v circuit in the rear and it has work fine on a 2 hour road trip.

 

[dice]

Thanks for your response Spider!

Can you elaborate a little more for me about how you hard wired the power supply as well as tell me which kind of power supply you used? Did you have to modify your PS2 in any way for this to work? Also, do you happen to have any pictures of the install?

Thanks again!

 

[Spider5]

I bought the INTEC 12v power adapter for the PS2 and removed the plug section and soldered in two longer wires and tapped into the back of the 12v power socket in the rear of the Runner. I initially had it just plugged in to the socket but I kept hitting it with items and I felt it would break pretty quickly and I didn't like the look. I made a mount for the PS2 from some light guage metal scraps to place the unit under the seat. I removed the door sills and pealed the carped back a little to run the power wiring to the b-pillar and than behind the plastic panel to the back of the socket in the rear. I ran the monitor output to an adapter under the seat and than to the vizualogic headrest LCD's. Than I used the wireless controllers to eliminate the last of the wires. Since everythiing is well hidden it will be difficult to get pictures unless I take everything apart again. The only thing you would be able to see now is the face of the unit peaking from under the seat with the wireless controllers and the game disk drawer if I opened it.

 

[dice]

That's an awesome description! I really appreciate all your help with this. I just had a couple more questions -- so have you noticed any drain on your battery or any other issues with having the power adapter hard wired to your 12V in the back?

From your post, you said that it did a 2 hour road trip without problem -- do you think the 12V wire will be able to handle the PS2 being on for even longer than that (possibly for like a 5 hour road trip) without any heating issues or the car catching fire =P?

And lastly, if we were able to find a ACC line somewhere that powered on only when the key was in the ignition, how would you wire the power adaptor to that so that it would only come on when the engine was on?

Thanks again for all your help!!!

 

[Spider5]

The circuit in the back I tied into does switch off with the ignition. The battery is not the source of the power unless the engine is not running (ie. no drain worries). Two hours or five makes no difference. The circuit is protected with a fuse should anything go wrong (ie. no fire danger). The only caution I have is to keep the monitor(s) circuit seperate from the PS2 because this could max the single fused circuit.

 

[dice]

Hey thanks a bunch! This seems like such a simpler (and safer) alternative to installing a power inverter. I'll probably try and find a INTEC power adaptor and try to figure out how to wire to the rear 12V outlet this weekend. Thanks again for all your help!