AC inverter connected to running engine battery

[bp71k5]

I've had a brand new cobra 2000W inverter for a couple years and I decide to use it for the first time on my camping trip to inflate an air mattress. The pump consumes 115W max so it's plenty of power. I connected the inventor to the battery on my minivan and left the van running because I'm paranoid about draining the battery.

Once I switched the small air pump on, the inverter starts crazy smoking instantaneously and I pulled the battery cables to disconnect it.

Any ideas on whether I hooked this up wrong or it's just bad from the factory? I bought this to power stuff in my blazer but I'm glad I tested it on the minivan first.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Double check YOUR connections. I have been running that same inverter for years now without any issues.

 

[rampage]

2000W continuous or peak? What's the model number? All the inverters that Cobra lists on their site have reverse polarity protection, so it's pretty much idiot proof. Is this the first time you used it? Could be a bad capacitor in side that fried, they tend to create lots of smoke.

 

[bp71k5]

I turned it on prior to plugging in the air mattress and it seemed to be ok. It was flashing a few different codes, but I'm not sure what they meant. It's 2000W max, 1000W continuous. I'll double check everything, but not sure I want to hook it up again.

So nothing wrong with hooking it up to the battery while the engine is running?

 

[4X4HIGH]

I turned it on prior to plugging in the air mattress and it seemed to be ok. It was flashing a few different codes, but I'm not sure what they meant. It's 2000W max, 1000W continuous. I'll double check everything, but not sure I want to hook it up again.

So nothing wrong with hooking it up to the battery while the engine is running?

If you're only running a single battery in your vehicle it is advisable to have the engine running so you don't end up with a dead battery and nothing to start your vehicle with.

I run an auxillary battery in my Blazer and my inverter is hooked to it so I don't have to worry about a dead primary start battery.

 

[bp71k5]

I hooked it up again this time with nothing else.

It cycles through three displays showing input voltage and output wattage, then output kW. Input voltage was reading 14.4V, and output wattage started at 0, then fluctuated around 10-20W and then a weird beep or rising high pitched noise started after 30 seconds. Right when that noise started, smoke started bellowing, same as before.

Looks like I'm going to try and warranty it. It was hooked up correctly.

 

[bp71k5]

If you're only running a single battery in your vehicle it is advisable to have the engine running so you don't end up with a dead battery and nothing to start your vehicle with.

That's exactly my thought as well. Something must be wrong internally.

 

[K85 Octane]

bummer

I hate buying something DOA and not finding out till a couple years later

 

[Fordum]

Sounds like a shorted capacitor or an another internal short.