Inverters.

I've used both Cobra and Motormaster (Canadian Tire). You can't go wrong with the Eliminator 3000watt at Canadian Tire. Wait to buy when on sale, approx. $249 CDN. You will have to make 4 of your own cables to reach batteries. All welding cable gauge, 2 for positive and 2 for negative. This is the only drawback to Canadian Tire, as the Cobra (most dealerships and truck stops) only requires 2 cables. Attach all cables to the same battery! Use rubber grommet to protect cable where it passes through aluminum bunk/cab, along with plastic wire loom. You will need jigsaw or metal blade holesaw to cut hole. If you can't find grommet big enough for hole, cut off insulation from excess welding cable and use with silicone instead.

 

I second that. Welding cable remains flexible in cold temperatures. Also a 200 amp fuse is recommended.

 

If you feel frisky, you can put the inverter on a battery disconnect switch.

Solder & heat shrink cable ends & coat with anti corrosion spray.

 

I have a 5000 max watt Cobra. I run two 0 gauge power cables to it and one ground. I also run all that through an ANSI fuse box with 350 watt trip fuse in it. Bigger is always better. Be careful and sure of what you're doing ahead of time if you're installing it yourself. You make a mistake, and trucks can become funeral pyres in 30 seconds. Keep your cables as short as possible. For high power units 4 foot is max from the batteries. 6 foot is ok for the 1500 watt models. I don't trust anything electrical from Canadian Tire. And if the company is too cheap to buy and put them in their trucks themselves, be #### sure you get a signed release absolving you legally for any damage to or loss of the truck in case something goes wrong with your inverter and your installation.

 

Do not solder battery cables. Either buy them already assembled or have them crimped professionally. Craig's post was exactly what I was going to post. But wait for the sale at Cantire.

 

Why not solder?

 

why such large inverters? i have a 1000 watt , i run microwave off it just fine , microwave is a 700 watt, it also runs a flat screen almost no draw and water heater for coffee and a vertical style house fan, not all at the same time of course

 

Microwave wattage refers to the amount of power it outputs (heating power) most 700 watt microwaves have an input (power it uses) of 1000~1100 watts depending on the brand, so an 1,000 watt inverter is really maxing it out.