Xmas Lights On My Jeep - Help..??

[ItsMeKO3]

So I jumped on the bandwagon and put some Xmas lights on my roof rack today. They are a set of 100 LED lights, connected to an extension cord, which is plugged into a 100W inverter. They light up, but for some reason, they flash on and off randomly. I can't seem to find a pattern to it, and I can't figure out why they are doing. Any ideas? Thanks guys.

[hoaxci5]

Plug them into an extension cord from the house and see if it still happens, if not replace inverter. If it still happens, try a different extension cord on the jeep. If it still happens replace lights..

[ItsMeKO3]

Well I plugged them into an extension cord going into the house. They seemed to work fine. So I used that same extension cord, and a couple others, plugged into the inverter, and they still flashed. I did have one short extension cord, that I just plugged in and ran out the truck window, and that one seemed to work. But its not long enough for me to use. I guess tomorrow I'll pick up a different inverter and try that. The inverter I'm using I bought today, so it just doesn't make sense that the inverter would be the problem.

[Sal-XK]

It worked because your using a smaller extension cord. The inverter is not big enough that's the issue. 400 watts is really not a lot of power, it's just enough to run a laptop as long as you don't use the laptops DVD player that might be pushing it.

[ItsMeKO3]

Well like you said I'm pretty sure its the inverter. I plugged them into my bro in laws 12v in his truck and they worked. Then I plugged my inverter in his cig lighter and they flashed again. The box says they only put out 4.8w. So I figured a 100w inverter would work. You think I need a bigger one? I'm only going to use the inverter to run these led xmas lights. After that I won't have any other use for it. I guess ill try to pick up a larger inverter tomorrow. You think 400w is what I need?

[Sal-XK]

Man your going to make me think now LOL not cool. The longer extension cord didn't help either more resistance more power needed. 400w one should be fine just for lights especially LED lights and there usually cheap enough as well there about the $30 dollar ones. When I over load my inverter it does the same thing what its doing is turning on and off repeatedly thats whey its flashing. They come in handy there worth the money. This is what I did with my cheap inverter it comes in handy runs laptops charges phones and stuff http://www.theultimatejeep.com/showt...ull=1#post5230

[hoaxci5]

Could just a be a cheap inverter with crappy wiring.. I doubt that the lights are drawing more than 100 watts no matter what, even old school Christmas lights are only supposed to draw like 26 watts or something I read..

I have no real reason but I don't like the cigarette lighter inverters, and by that I mean the all in on self contained units. I've had really good luck with a BS 400 watt unit that I bought years ago, but it's a corded cigarette lighter plug. So the inverter is separate from the plug if that makes sense.

[Sal-XK]

He losses a power using a really long extension cord. So he might start out with 100% power but the cord will eat some of that up. On my inverter I can't plug my mattress pump in to the extension cord either the inverter turns off and on like his is doing. I have to plug the pump directly into the inverter and it works.

[GPintheMitten]

Voltage drop will increase amps, but I doubt it would be enough to go over the rated amps that you have.

[ItsMeKO3]

Well I think I have on of the cheap inverters mentioned. The plug part is directly connected to the rest of the inverter. There are no cords. If I pick up a 400w inverter and use the longer extension cord that I planned on using, do you guys think it will work?