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Where to draw 90W 12V from?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by electricitylikesme, Apr 18, 2008.

  1. electricitylikesme

    electricitylikesme New Member

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    I'm in the middle of installing a car computer in my Prius (running to a separate touchscreen mounted in the map slot).

    Currently I have all the power systems for the LCD running to under the passenger seat where it's spliced into the Nav System power connections (the touchscreen only draws something like 6-9W when powered up so I figured the wires could bear it).

    However, the Nav Systems power connections are kind of small, so I'm concerned about using the same connections to power the whole PC which could (but is unlikely to) draw up to 12V/5A (~90 W).

    Does anyone who's installed other high power accessories in the Prius have any thoughts on where to draw so much power from? I know I could tap the battery direct, but I'd rather not have to run a wire from the back to the front - are there any suitably capable connections up the front of the car?
     
    #1 electricitylikesme, Apr 18, 2008
  2. Presto

    Presto Has his homepage set to PC

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    Connect it to the battery is the best way to go. I have a fused, 4 guage going from the battery to a distroblock that feeds the amp and carputer. You could try the tapping the power from the 12 volt in the console, I believe that circuit has a 15 amp fuse, but you'd have to mod it to be always on, which may be an issue if you're using that for the remote power signal.
     
    #2 Presto, Apr 19, 2008
  3. electricitylikesme

    electricitylikesme New Member

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    Sounds like what I should do then - how did you tap it to the battery exactly? Is is possible to clamp a second wire to the actual clamps on the battery poles or should I look at some sort of adapter for this type of thing?
     
    #3 electricitylikesme, Apr 20, 2008
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