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MG MGB Technical - Inverter

I recently purchased an Inverter which allows me to install a more modern radio to my positive ground 65 MGB.

I know of the switchover to negative ground is fairly straight forward however for historical reasons I wish to leave it positive ground while enjoying a cd once in a while.

Can anyone tell me if they have used this inverter and does it work properly or not.

Regards,

Dino
Dino Zappi

Dino,
I used them back in the 1970's and found that although they do work, the output wattage may not match that required by modern stereos. Mine used to "clip" at low engine RPM's and at high stereo volumes. That is, the unit would cut in and out in rapid sequence because of the low output of the inverter. This was especially true when I installed a power booster. I understand your leanings toward originality, but isn't installing a modern radio in your dash more obvious than switching to negative ground? Converting your tach to negative ground, maybe switching the wires on your fuel pump(depending on what type you are using) and re-polarizing your generator is all you need to do. As far as the tach goes, you can just swap the internals from a 1968-1969 tach into your can an off you go. Hope this helps and enjoy your car.
David
David

Thanks for the advice Dave.

Speaking of Florida, I can't wait to be there next week for a short break, you see it's 24 deg/F here and we just got dumped with about 10 inches of the white stuff. Kind'a makes you forget about ragtops!

Thanks, Dino
Dino Zappi

Dino,

Where are you going to be in Florida?

BTW, it's 32 degrees out this morning. Our local club is having its' first cruise of the year today. My top will be up!!

John
John Staub

John,

Will be in Melbourne from the 9th to 14th. If you guys are having a "get together", I like to attend and follow in my rental, if your not too embarassed to be followed by a Japanese or a Korean compact !

Regards,Dino
Dino Zappi

Hi Dino,

Nope, nothing going on up here then...Don't know about our brethern down in the lower part of the state..Maybe someone will jump in here.

We're located up in the panhandle, mid-way between Pensacola and Tallahassee.

Hope you have a good trip!!

John
John Staub

Dino, I too wished to keep my postive ground system on my 64 B, even thought in my case conversion to negative ground would be even easier with the mechanical tach. When the last AM radio station playing "oldies" moved to FM, I had nothing to listen to. I used the ground inverter from JC Whitney and installed an inexpensive Radio Shack 2 shaft AM/FM cassette player to keep the look as "period" as possible. The inverter works great on this low power system although the radio lacks the power make itself well heard over the road / engine noise. Better when listening to tapes. I just tape any of my favourite CD's. Have yet to try my daughter's portable CD player with a cassette adapter.

...Ron
Ron Bland

Ron,

You just convinced me that installing the inverter at least works fine.

I'm not looking for a "boom" box effect like some of the rice rockets around just simple am/fm/cd piping through an upgraded center speaker.

Tell me Ron, can a cigarette lighter be adapted using this inverter to plug in say a cell phone charger ?

Dino
Dino Zappi

Dino,

I can't comment on the cigarette lighter as I havn't tried it. However, I can't see any reason why it wouldn't work for low power accessories ... probably should avoid using it with the actual lighter, I imagine the current draw would be substantial. Maybe pose this question on the other thread about Positive Ground and Electrical Accessories.

I used 2, 5-1/4 inch speakers mounted horizontally facing down under the dash. They are attached to an "L" bracket attached to an existing bolt on the firewall and to the square section tube that runs under the dash.

...Ron
Ron Bland

This thread was discussed between 03/01/2003 and 07/01/2003

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