Will an inverter run your battery down overnight?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by yzman720, Sep 5, 2019.

  1. HoneyBadger67

    HoneyBadger67 Road Train Member

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    I've got an apartment size refrigerator in my truck. Keep it full and it doesn't use as much juice. I'm running a 200w inverter and it powers a microwave, the refrigerator, a Mr Coffee and a laser printer. The refrigerator and a fan stay on all night and the truck never fails to start. Mr Coffee works just fine without starting the engine. Microwave and printer require constant voltage, so I high idle while using them.
     
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  3. 77fib77

    77fib77 Road Train Member

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    Put a solar panel on top.
     
  4. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    I'd leave the battery switch on in the winter. It's cold enough the fridge never ran while at home.

    In the summer I'd turn it off. The summer heat will have the fridge draining the batteries while at home.

    I never had the other goodies and what electronics I had ran off a 400 watt invertor plugged in to the socket. Tv, laptop, printer.
     
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  5. flood

    flood Road Train Member

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    perfect.. I have a 3.1 cubic foot refrigerator and my truck always starts after 24 hrs.. so over night will be no problem.

    IF your low voltage alarm goes off when your in bed taking your 10 unplug the fridge and start the truck. Then as soon as you can get your batteries tested because 1 or 2 of them are bad. If your batteries are good there is zero reason for the fridge to run the down overnight..

    You will also want 925+amp batteries..
     
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  6. Elroythekid

    Elroythekid Road Train Member

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    Halifax Nova Scotia
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    If your running fridge get a "pure sign wave" inverter. Your fridge will like it more. I have a Xantrex with a built in 55amp battery charger. When home you can leave the fridge on even the bunk heater in the winter, plug it in and keeps the batteries charged and warm and interior warm. Also... I once had my alternator die on Friday night 2 days from home. Stopped for the 2 nights and found spots to plug in, ran total loss next day. Kept lights and stuff OFF to reserve as much power as possible. Couple stops during the day I managed to get places to let me plug in. Made it home and changed the alternator myself. Worth it's weight in gold if you ask me. A little more up front, but we'll worth it.
    Edit; been thinking about grabbing a small 2000w inverter generator for my side box just incase. It would keep the batteries up all night if I loose an alternator again.
     
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  7. yzman720

    yzman720 Light Load Member

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    Dumb question but - how will the low voltage alarm go off if the truck is off? Referring to night time with truck off and fridge on. The alarm won’t go off unless key is on will it?
     
  8. 77fib77

    77fib77 Road Train Member

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    It goes off in my truck. With the dome light. It beeps then 2 minutes later it turns off the lights in the truck. Now my inverter is hard wired to the battery so it by passes the trucks computer.
     
    Bean Jr. Thanks this.
  9. Trucker186

    Trucker186 Medium Load Member

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    Your right I think 3000 is a little much eh ?
     
  10. uncleal13

    uncleal13 Road Train Member

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    I have a 2500 watt pure sine wave inverter. I always run the truck for high current loads, microwave, coffee maker, toaster, stove top plate.
    A fridge draws the most current only while firing up, once running they don't draw very much. Plus they don't run constantly.
    I accidentally forgot to shut off my fridge one weekend, but left the door open slightly. I discovered it on Sunday, but the truck still started. Outside temps were around 60 degrees.
     
    rabbiporkchop Thanks this.
  11. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    White County, Arkansas
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    Actually no. We had about that big more or less installed in a FFE truck by Freightliner on our cost after 8 company officers specifically signed approval. We ran engine up to 1500 idle to feed it when it's working hard. Otherwise no problems.

    Except one.

    She started eating alternators. Where in the world is a alternator with enough bawls to feed all that.
     
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