Power Inverters

Yeah, that's how those kits are. Getting one from the stereo shop or even best buy would also probably be cheaper than the ripoff prices at the truck stop.

 

On a small inverter 1000watts or so.
If trying to run a fridge and a lot of other stuff plus a microwave. I would just plug the microwave into the inverter then everything else into a surge protector. that way when you want to use the microwave flip the switch on the surge protector and that will cut everything else off till you are done with the microwave then just flip the switch and turn it all back on again.

 

If you're really worried about overdrawing the system, go pick up a decent USB for running a computer. Plug that into the inverter and everything else into the USB. Any surges in power requirement will be drawn off the USB battery instead of stressing the inverter or the truck batteries. It will also give you more power to use on downtime when you can't or don't need to idle.

 

I think you mean UPS, not USB. I believe there was a post in here somewhere where someone tried to plug a UPS into an inverter and it didn't work.

 

Probably was too large a load for the inverter to handle. The batteries in the UPS will appear electrically like a short when highly discharged.

 

Oh right, duh. So many initialisms now. UPS's have minimum requirements depending on the model and size so you'd have to find a combination that worked. A larger inverter should be able to power a smaller UPS but not the other way around. The wiring in my grandparents old house wouldn't power the old UPS I had, come to think of it.

There's another idea I had, never tried it. Those jump start power packs that plug into 12v go both ways. They store power when it's there and provide it back through the plug if there's a draw. That could work like a UPS and might not even pass through the fuse block since those 12v outlets are wired in pairs in the truck.

 

ironpony,
Do yourself a favor,
get a pure sine wave inverter,the simulated 120 voltage is very close to land line power as seen on an oscilloscope.

That is why they make pure sine wave VS. modified sine wave inverters.
Some computers won't tolerate modified sine wave power.
Pure sine wave type= no UPS in your truck!

I have a 3000 watt pure sine wave inverter I found on
E bay, powers the refrig.,micro, computer, cell phone chargers( 2 ) , playstation,TV ,printer, and Wireless router all at the same time with no problems.
Typing this on my laptop in my truck right now.

The 12 volt amps exceeds 117 amps with all of this powered, rarely are all these devices powered.
Fuse is 175A (from a stereo place)with 0 gauge, stranded wire, THHN insulation.

Works great!

crusin

 

None of the items you listed requires a "pure sine wave." Including your computer. Maybe 30 years ago. We've been designing power inputs in equipment to tollerate the pulsed current from switching power supplies for a long time. The "reason" you can run all of that junk is the ability of the unit to handle 3000W. If you spent one dime more on that inverter than any run-of-the-mill 3000W inverter, you wasted your dead presidents. OTOH, if you have some sort of specialized medical equipment, i.e., a CPAP machine, you have a need for a pure sine output.

Going back to the use of a UPS... its basically what you have with your truck battery and inverter. Completely discharge a battery and it looks like a short circuit. Wanna little experiment? Try hooking a chunk of wire across the output terminals of your 3000W inverter, and see what happens.

BTW... I personally have no need for that much junk running all at once.

 

If you have a Costco Membership or any other "Super Store" they sell Inverters online and include the wiring Kit Costco 1500 watt/ 2500 max with kit 144.99
3000 Watt/ 5000 max with kit 199.00 OH and they even have a Warranty unlike Truck stops who EXCHANGE Them a dozen times .

 

yea, is this the one you like?

PowerBright 2300 Watt 12 Volt Power Inverter
$199.99