Inverters and generators... Need info

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Dino soar, Feb 18, 2021.

  1. Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

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    Do you have a model number for that? Is that a gas or diesel generator?
     
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  3. Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

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    What is the mini split?
     
  4. Hulld

    Hulld Road Train Member

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    It’s a harbor freight 2000 watt inverter generator.
    I run synthetic 10w 30 motor oil in it and I have been running it for about 3 years now.
    It was cheap enough that if it had a major failure I would just throw it away and get another one.
    Here are a few more pictures of my set up. EC77FAEF-C83E-44AD-85F0-25BD50041931.jpeg F7FB0F7B-9123-4E80-885E-DEE782B8A67A.jpeg 254B09CD-7E45-4AC3-A8E4-6CD2ADDA0584.jpeg
     
  5. Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

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    Well the thing is looking at the cost of the APU which is like over $10,000 versus having something that is less expensive especially initially to do what you need.

    For me I need heat without running the truck and air conditioning without running the truck. The rest would probably work with a good inverter. Hell with the generator I could plug in the truck if I want to have warm coolant.

    I like the setups of @lilillill and @staceydude . I think that is a good alternative to an APU.
     
  6. Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

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    I saw that in another thread. That's awesome.

    Couple questions.

    1) That little inverter runs a window unit?

    2) how long will that unit run? Do you have an extra fuel supply for that? If so how is that setup? That seems to be my biggest concern. Still not sure about how much fuel is legal to carry or how to set up auxiliary fuel. That unit is easy on fuel but it's got a tiny fuel tank and doesn't run for real long I would imagine.

    3) did you buy the case for that or did you make that? If you bought it where do you purchase such a thing?

    4) how about the exhaust? What did you do regarding that?
     
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  7. Hulld

    Hulld Road Train Member

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    The generator runs the window AC for my whole 10 hr break on one tank of fuel.
    I run the electric heater in the winter on the low setting and it will also usually run all night on one tank.
    I’m not sure how long an electric heater on the high setting would last as they draw almost maximum watts at about 1800 watts?
    I do not run an extra fuel supply at this time but I carry a 2 gallon can that I refuel it with.
    The gen box I bought in tractor supply and I made the doors from aluminum diamond plate also purchased from tractor supply.
    I also made the brackets that the box sits on and they are clamped to the truck frame with no drilling or welding.
    The exhaust is vented out of the back of the box at this time but I have fittings and flexible conduit that I have bought to tap in to my stack pipe under the cab but I haven’t got around to completing that part of the project
    yet.
    I also run a battery operated carbon monoxide detector in the cab for any safety concerns but I have had zero problems with carbon monoxide gases.
    If you need more detailed pictures of how mine is set up feel free to ask and I will get them to you.
     
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  8. Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

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    Any additional information and photos would be great.

    How many BTUs is that window unit? Make and model? That's pretty amazing that will run 10 hours on that little generator.

    The only problem I have with a small unit like that is sometimes I make a pickup and I might be a couple of hours there and I make a delivery and I may be a couple of hours there and then when I lay over I may be 10 hours or 12 hours or maybe more.

    So being able to refuel is definitely a concern.

    It would be great if there was a way to actually Mount like a regular gasoline fuel tank on it that Carried 40 or 50 gallons that would run you like a long long time.

    I doubt that's legal though.
     
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  9. tommymonza

    tommymonza Road Train Member

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    12,000 BTU Senville Leto
     
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  10. ready2truck

    ready2truck Medium Load Member

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    You don't have to cash out on the apu. I got a real good 2yr loan on mine lol.
     
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  11. Hulld

    Hulld Road Train Member

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    I believe the AC unit is a 5500 BTU unit.
    The unit itself is just a run of the mill cheap air conditioner I bought at Walmart.
    When not in use the window mount and AC unit are stored under the bed in the bunk.
    There is a way to run a remote fuel tank if you needed to.
    You would mount a remote tank somewhere of your liking and you use a cheap pulse type fuel pump from a lawn tractor.
    I have seen YouTube videos on remote fuel tank set ups done this way.
     
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