Our company limits the size of an inverter to 1000 watts. I asked why, and all I was told is that "larger inverters cause electrical problems." I am thinking that a 1500 or 2500 watt inverter would be perfect for what I want to do, and that a 1000 watt inverter might be too small.

I want to power a small 1.7 cubic foot refridgerator, a 700 watt microwave, and a 13" TV/DVD combo. The TV/DVD combo is working fine with a 400 watt invervter that plugs into the lighter socket, but I want enough power for the other two appliances.

Does anybody have any experiences (good or bad) with inverters larger than 1000 watts? How hard are they to wire to the batteries? It looks like they just have the red (positive) and black (negative) cables. Our company insists that they install the 1000 watt inverters and they charge us $150.00 to do it, and $75.00 to remove when you change trucks. THANKS!

They charge you $150 to install it and $75 to remove it? That's a joke right? OMG.

All you have to do is drill one hold into the floor of your truck on the driver side (if that's where your batteries are) and run the cables. It's really that simple. They connect right to the batteries. I think they are robbing you. It would probably be cheaper to have a truck stop shop install the cables for you. This is obviously to deter you from doing it in the first place.

1000w may be enough for your needs but you may have to unplug the fridge in order to run the microwave, which really isn't a big deal since you'll generally only need the micro for a few minutes at a time...

Our company makes sure when they assign you a truck that the cables for an inverter are already installed in the truck for you. All you have to do is install the inverter and then connect the cables that were already run down to the battery. Just don't connect the cables to the battery unless the inverter is hooked up, this will keep the cables from touching each other and causing an electrical issue.

I just can't believe they gouge their own employees like that...wow!

That seems to be a fairly common requirement for companies: any inverter over 1000watts has to be installed by their own shop.

The best way to get around that is to install two 1000 watt inverters. You can use the same battery cables if they are big enough. Just put a jumper from one to the other. That way you do not have to unplug anything. Also you could use a 450 watt and a 1000 watt..

Just my two cents worth..

Alan

My .02 worth. If you not sure or don't know. Have someone install it for you. I have seen a couple trucks burn to the ground because the driver installed it wrong.
If you do install it or have someone install it for you. Make sure there is a fuse link between the connection of the inverter and the battery terminal. Some people will probably disagree on that. The cost for a fuse link and fuse is like $20. Its worth the protection. Also, if you do drill a hole in the floor. Make sure you install a rubber grommet to protect the cable's from wearing against the metal. Hope that helps......

__________________

Yeah I would agree it needs to be installed by their own shop, but charge the employee $150 to do it?? Doesn't sound like an employee friendly company to me...

Nope, not a joke. They really "roehl" us for that! I didn't think that it was that complicated to install just 2 cables. I'm not one to pay for something that I can do myself. I like the idea of adding a fuse to the line just to be sure. I checked out the floor of my truck (an '06 Freightshaker Columbia) and it already has a nice hole with a rubber grommet just beggin' for a pair of inverter cables.

I ran my 800 watt microwave on a 1000 watt inverter. just get a good one not a cheap one. I was worried about the startup load being too high but a 1000 watt inverter will usually swing to 2000 or 2500 but it won't hold it.
Keep the 400 wat cig lighter plug in one for your tv and your 1000 watter should run a small fridge just watch the power useage. it will usually be on the box.
Just unplug the fridge when you want to use your microwave. I have this cool little switch I bought that is technically for a garbage disposal at your home good store.
It has a plug where you can plug it into the power source. Then it has two plugs on the box and a push button switch that works on air psi when you push the switch. Anyways what it does is puts power to one of the plugs or the other each time you hit the push button so you can hook two high power use items up and they will never both be on at the same time. I had originally bought it for a garbage disposal and an under sink water heater which together were too much for the circuit. It works great for what I'm telling you to do and you wouldn't have to physically unplug and replug the fridge all the time

LOL, my trainer had to do the plug and unplug thing. I never gave it much thought about the switch your talking about. But I have seen it in construction work.

__________________

1000W would run most items.. It would run all the items you mentioned. Perhaps not all at once (turn TV off and leave fridge and microwave, turn microwave off and run fridge and tv..)

Its the quality that matters.. (and peak wattage) most of the inverters sold have poor performance and have great up and down signals (output)
A good one will have a level signal (output) (delco Remy makes a great level output) a poor out put (up and down) will destroy electronics (not right away but a degenerative effect)
More sensitive electronic (computers ext..) will be effected sooner...

Always have a professional install your inverter.. This way when your truck burns to the ground you at least have a receipt.. This also may cover you if your a O/O and you can prove it was the inverter installation..