"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
03/15/2018 at 22:31 • Filed to: Miatafications
3
23|
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
03/15/2018 at 22:31 • Filed to: Miatafications | 3
| 23 |
Li-ion tools are too expensive. Problem solved. The Miata is now a mobile workstation. I have some *lowers voice* bigly plans for the little roadster over the next few weeks, and this will help immensely.
Tools were the main reason for the purchase, but not quite the ONLY reason. See, I have this dream. Drive up to the top of a beautiful mountain miles away from civilization, and people. Plug in half stack. Plug in pedal board. Plug in guitar. Play some metal until nightfall. I will be doing that this summer. One way or another. Shame I sold my half stack...
I was trying to decide if I should mount it in the trunk, cabin, or engine bay. I’m still unsure, but.... I remembered these sweet neodidlyum magnets I’d picked up off Amazon and decided to use those along with some 40# foam tape for mounting purposes. Now I can move the inverter wherever it needs to be. Oh and these magnets are insanely strong. One nickel sized round held my 20lb Dumbell. So with five of the magnets, wherever I put the inverter, it’s not going anywhere. It also doesn’t cut into usable trunk space currently, which is a huge plus.
The cables it came with seem much to thin (like 14 gauge) so I used jumper cables for testing purposes. Worked like a charm. I’m thinking I’ll just cut off the clamps on one end and attach ring terminals so the connection on the inverter side is more secure. Is this all sounding reasonable and safe?
Oh and I used more of those magical magnets and foam tape to secure my airbag cover. It will be nice to be able to drive in a spirited manor without the damn thing flying off. The stereo system is now 99% invisible, which was a major factor in the way I decided to set it all up. Yay!
I don’t feel like I’ve been a very good typical Miata owner lately with all of these “convenience” “comfort” and weight-adding mods lately. But, uh... Don’t worry. I’ll be making up for it very soon ;)
Eric @ opposite-lock.com
> AestheticsInMotion
03/15/2018 at 22:37 |
|
Just be aware that this will draw your battery down really fast. You also do not want to leave it on when not in use (it’ll draw your battery down fast).
I love inverters, but they’re not magic.
|
AestheticsInMotion
> Eric @ opposite-lock.com
03/15/2018 at 22:45 |
|
I was planning on using it primarily with the engine running to keep the battery charged up. But good point. Lots of new gadgets drawing from the battery lately, at some point I’m planning on revamping my current power situation but that’s still a little ways off
As far as leaving it on... I’m undecided on whether I should hardwire it in with a switch or just stick to the jumper cables as needed...
|
Eric @ opposite-lock.com
> AestheticsInMotion
03/15/2018 at 22:48 |
|
It could also draw more than the alternator produces, which could still allow your battery to run dead. In the long run you might actually be better off with a big battery...
MM54
> AestheticsInMotion
03/15/2018 at 22:51 |
|
Neat! Too bad you’re on the other side of the country or you could borrow my half stack (I used to play guitar, got out of it while in college and just never picked it back up). 50 and 100W heads available (Marshall JCM900 and an almost-2550 Jubilee I built, respectively).
|
AestheticsInMotion
> Eric @ opposite-lock.com
03/15/2018 at 22:55 |
|
Oh very true. I wired up a lcd voltage meter to be able to keep track of this kind of thing, hopefully it’s not an issue! So is the inverter always drawing from the battery at it’s “maximum rate” whenever it’s switched on or does it vary depending on how much power the items plugged into the inverter are drawing?
Bigger battery is my eventual goal. If I hadn’t needed the emergency battery swap a few months ago, I would have a bigger battery already but I couldn’t wait for the one I really wanted to be delivered... That, and an FD rx7 alternator (which is a direct bolt-in) is my plan. Probably after the turbo setup
Aremmes
> AestheticsInMotion
03/15/2018 at 22:58 |
|
Oh, I’ve done this kind of thing before, first when I lived in an apartment and more recently at my current townhouse devoid of garage and driveway. At least now I can just run 100' of power cord to the car, but the tools don’t carry themselves from the basement.
|
AestheticsInMotion
> MM54
03/15/2018 at 23:01 |
|
Ohhhhh might be worth the trip!
Wait, how am I supposed to get the cab to fit... I’ll get back to you.
Hand-built amps are the best. I’ve yet to try that, but building pedals has been a lot of fun. I sold a Marshall JCM TSL2000. Loved that amp, but it broke if you looked at it wrong. I got tired of replacing fuses, resoldering connections, blowing up tubes, etc. Some guy bought it—in a not-working state—for his son to tinker with. All three of us came out of the deal with a smile on our face
Wacko
> AestheticsInMotion
03/15/2018 at 23:49 |
|
You can remove airbags and remain street legal?
|
Eric @ opposite-lock.com
> AestheticsInMotion
03/15/2018 at 23:59 |
|
They draw as much as they need depending on their load, plus some amount of loss overhead. That is, the latter.
I was thinking more just a battery that you top up in your condo and roll out to the car when you need it. Like maybe multiple deep cycle batteries wired in parallel strapped to a hand cart or something. It’d also keep you from any risk of building up too much CO somewhere from idling and you could use it when you’re working on the engine/in the engine bay.
|
AestheticsInMotion
> Wacko
03/16/2018 at 00:03 |
|
...maybe? No safety inspections in Seattle, just emissions. Haven’t been given any trouble about it, hopefully it stays that way!
And after removing the airbag sensors... Good god. I’m so glad I went to rollbar/harnesses/fixed back seats. Maybe it shouldn’t be surprising at 24 years old, but not a single sensor worked...
mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
> AestheticsInMotion
03/16/2018 at 00:07 |
|
You’re making me miss my Marshall half stack. Well actually it was my friend’s brother’s that I borrowed. So f-ing loud.
Now... Are those speakers in your vent holes??
HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
> Wacko
03/16/2018 at 00:11 |
|
This is a car sold before airbags were even mandated. Also most DOTs don’t do real safty checks.
|
AestheticsInMotion
> mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
03/16/2018 at 00:20 |
|
I think I turned mine up to 3? Once? Hell, even my 5 watt tube amp could EASILY get the cops called on me...
Yep! The tweeters from a set of components. I wanted to make things look as OEM as possible, so I ditched the heat, although the lower vents still work just fine. That, hidden amp, molded passenger footwell sub also hidden and a 90's OEM-look headunit. All together, it sounds pretty good for a convertible with zero sound-deadening and loud exhaust
|
Wacko
> HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
03/16/2018 at 00:23 |
|
Not this one since it had a passenger air bag
|
Wacko
> AestheticsInMotion
03/16/2018 at 00:25 |
|
I’m not too sure your insurance company Would like that
|
HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
> Wacko
03/16/2018 at 00:43 |
|
In the words of Coach Klien “what mama don’t know can’t hurt her.”
|
AestheticsInMotion
> Wacko
03/16/2018 at 01:27 |
|
Well shucks. There goes my plan to donate the car to National General. But seriously though, I’m more concerned with safety than legality. And in a tinbox car like this, I’ll take a modern-day, race-derived safety cell over an OEM design for a three decade old budget convertible.
Actually my insurance agent would LOVE this car. She’s got a heavily modified Terminator Mustang parked out side her office, and a 3000gt Vr4 that I’ve seen a few times. Definitely not what I expected!
tpw_rules
> AestheticsInMotion
03/16/2018 at 04:48 |
|
Modified sine? Those are pretty hard on motors cause of the gnarly wave they produce. They run less efficiently and so get hotter. If you can, I’d highly suggest investing in a pure sine unit.
https://www.altestore.com/blog/2015/10/pure-sine-wave-vs-modified-sine-wave-whats-the-difference/
|
mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
> AestheticsInMotion
03/16/2018 at 09:38 |
|
Haha yeah half stacks are gig ready as is. I was spoiled with it for like 2 years and now went back to a little peavey practice amp. It’s... ok.
Also, is Seattle that nice that you have no need for heat?? No one would ride with me if I ditched the heat haha. Already no a/c, but here in NC heat is not optional!
|
AestheticsInMotion
> mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
03/16/2018 at 10:55 |
|
I use the defrost to warm up the cabin with the top up, works like a charm! And yeah Seattle doesn’t get too cold. I’m just in the habit of dressing warm when needed haha
|
AestheticsInMotion
> tpw_rules
03/16/2018 at 11:27 |
|
This is why I love Oppo. Thanks for the heads up, I’ll probably return this and look for a pure sine unit
|
MM54
> AestheticsInMotion
03/16/2018 at 18:50 |
|
Yeah the TSLs are very finicky like that. It’s been a while since I’ve played guitar or worked on amps, but I once went as far as designing, building, and briefly selling my own. It’s cool stuff for sure
|
mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
> AestheticsInMotion
03/16/2018 at 20:08 |
|
Yeah to be fair I usually only run with the defrost setting in the winter anyway... it’s such a small cabin, you really don’t need more than that. Unless a girl is riding along with haha...