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Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ] Roll On Big Mama. Forum/Discussion about Eighteen Wheeler Trucks. What truck do you like or dislike? Is your favorite truck a Mack, Peterbilt, Kenworth, Marmon, Volvo or Freightliner? Which diesel engine do you prefer; Detroit Diesel, Cummins, or...

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Old 09.18.2007
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2500 Inverter?
Too much for stock electrical system?
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Old 09.18.2007
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I thought anything over 1000 had to be hard-wired into the batteries?
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Old 09.18.2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by leannamarie View Post
I thought anything over 1000 had to be hard-wired into the batteries?
I planned on doing that.
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Old 09.18.2007
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All depends on what exactly you plan on running. If you planning on running a laptop or computer off it you might want to look into a pure sine wave inverter, its a little more $$$ but much better for computer equipment.
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Old 09.18.2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gazoo View Post
Too much for stock electrical system?
I used to have a 2500 watt continuous (3000watt peak) inverter, it lasted 3 years.
Now I have a 3500 watt (5000watt peak) and it has lasted over 4 years, but that may because of different manufacturers or better technology.

It isn't too much, but batteries can prematurely fail if the inverter is used alot while the engine is off, over an extended period of time.
I ALWAYS turn the inverter off if I am going to be parked and out of the truck for longer than 24 hours.

Also, I "hard-wire" my inverter directly to the batteries using "welding" cable, which is about 1/2 the price of "battery" cable.
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Old 09.18.2007
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It's pretty easy to figure out how much current the unit will draw & decide where to attach it to the truck.

I'll start you off by saying a 300 watt inverter will draw upwards of 450 watts from its supply in full output operation.

450 watts drawn from a 13.8vdc power supply equals a 32 amp draw from that 13.8vdc supply.

This is not something you should connect to a cigarette lighter adapter. Those adapters can barely supply 5 amps without getting too hot.

I would say that anything over a 200 watt inverter should have a good connection to the truck's electrical system.

A 2500 watt inverter really needs connected to the batterys or at least a point near them that can supply 250 amps at full draw.
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Old 09.18.2007
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Well, I am running a 800w Cobra now, hard wired using 4ga. It has served me well for the past 1.5 years. I have a 4.3 cu fridge and a 700w microwave that still works fine...BUT, she gets kinda hot so I want to upgrade. I just can't see spending $150 for a 1500w when I can get a 2500w for only $50 more. As far as the pure sine wave, maybe more than I need since the laptop is running on both battery and truck power. When I am home, I disconnect the power strip to the inverter and I have a custom plug setup to run 110 right from my shop to the truck for the fridge.

I just wasn't sure if a 2500w would be too much for a stock alternator with the truck running. I know all about what happens with too much power drain from the batteries overnight.
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Old 09.18.2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gazoo View Post
Well, I am running a 800w Cobra now, hard wired using 4ga. It has served me well for the past 1.5 years. I have a 4.3 cu fridge and a 700w microwave that still works fine...BUT, she gets kinda hot so I want to upgrade. I just can't see spending $150 for a 1500w when I can get a 2500w for only $50 more. As far as the pure sine wave, maybe more than I need since the laptop is running on both battery and truck power. When I am home, I disconnect the power strip to the inverter and I have a custom plug setup to run 110 right from my shop to the truck for the fridge.

I just wasn't sure if a 2500w would be too much for a stock alternator with the truck running. I know all about what happens with too much power drain from the batteries overnight.
I have heard of truck fires caused by an inverter (probably undersized and overworked) that got "warm". I originally started with a small 250 watt, but that got real hot just powering a TV and I saw the possibility of a fire starting.
A 2500 watt should be enough, but as long as the truck is idling, the stock alternator should be sufficient for keeping the batteries charged.
I have never used a "pure sine-wave" inverter, so I don't know about them.
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Old 09.18.2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by roadkill439342 View Post
I have heard of truck fires caused by an inverter (probably undersized and overworked) that got "warm". I originally started with a small 250 watt, but that got real hot just powering a TV and I saw the possibility of a fire starting.
I think that hubby has a 300w for his TV. EEEEKKk! I'd better warn him about the heat generated from these things.
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Old 09.18.2007
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Okay, so I have narrowed it down to a 2550 watt Cobra for $199 or a 2500 Watt aims for $239, which one should I go with?
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