Power Inverters

What can you typically run safely off an average size inverter?

Refrig? microwave? charge a cell phone? etc....

thanks

 

Add the wattage of all the appliances you'll be wanting to operate, simultaneously, and that total is the correct wattage of the converter you'll need.

I try to keep everything 12v. My cooler and cell phone charger are 12v. I only use the converter to operate a 13" TV, and a PS2. I get by with a 400w converter plugged into one of the 12v receptacles. Easy.

 

so you don't have a cooler or microwave?

I'm sure those probably need much more power...

Do you keep them plugged in all night while sleeping? what is the impact on your battery then?

thanks

 

Compact microwave .7 cu. ft. is 1200 watt. So if you will not take in consideration loses in your inverter current of 1200/12=100 amps will be necessary from your battery to run that microwave. And if you add loses in inverter and so on, (no electrical guy here, but that sure over 20%) you’ll end up with min current of 120 amps. from your batteries. So let say you baking potato that would take 4 minutes (=.07 hours). You’ll use 120x.07=8.4 amp.hours from your batteries, which is not a big deal. However, I’d guess current of 120 amps would not help those batteries to survive. On another hand you won’t be paying for those batteries, so …. Also your wiring should be able to handle that current. Frige wont take that much power, but probably 1/10 of it or less. There are 12V friges installed in small motor homes, boats and so, that would be better than 110V AC through the inverter.

 

In case it's still not clear, I use a 12v cooler, not a 120v refrigerator. :smt023

Overnight usage has no effect on the batteries, because the only time my engine gets shut down is while fueling, if it breaks down, or when I park at the terminal to go home for a few days.

No microwave in my truck. I let the restaurants cook my meals. :smt112

 

Folks - thanks very much for this education...


One last question - how are you able to keep your engine running all night????

 

You will find that most of the time the only way a truck is shut off is when its in the "yard" for repairs, or the driver is at home and leaves his truck in the company parking lot. My hubby brings his truck home, and it sits in the driveway running the entire time........ya just park and let it run....especially when its COLD out, in nicer weather, say 40 and above at night he will shut it off while home or parked at an idleair spot for the night.

 

Wow - I guess I'm truly showing my newbie lack of knowlegde then!

I thought it was illegal to idle?

What about wasted fuel?

 

Yes there are places that it is illegal to idle longer than the time it takes to make a delivery, and some of the anti~idle laws are based on the amount of time you can idle in congunction with the temp. outside......some of them are REALLY STUPID! So far I have found most of these "laws" to be around big cities etc, yet you dont hear much about them being enforced.....just picture a cop in the lot writting a ticket to every guy/gal that was letting his/her rig idle, there would be a "war"...LOL.

AS for wasted fule some units have a generator on them so you can shut the truck off when your parked, but its a sad fact fuel is wasted, no way to get around that one.

 

Any Swift drivers out there that know the rules on using an inverter in Swift company trucks? I hear the 12 volt refrigerators don't really work that good. Any info would be greatly appreciated. I really don't want to eat out of a can every day. Thanks