4 new batteries and an inverter problems?

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Dkenos, Oct 31, 2024.

  1. 86scotty

    86scotty Road Train Member

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    Appalachia
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    OP, you don't have an inverter problem or a battery problem. You have a problem understanding the very basics of how your power system in your truck works. Learn that and then figure out whether you have an inverter or battery problem.

    You need to know what's going in or out of your batteries. Do you have a cig lighter plug/power point in your dash or bunk area? If so, get one of these:

    https://www.amazon.com/Cigarette-Li...garette+lighter+digital+voltage,aps,91&sr=8-3

    This is the simplest way for people who are not mechanically inclined. Should read high 13's/low 14's when your truck is running. Sitting still with good batteries should sit around 12.8

    Below 12.5 and your batteries are getting low.

    An inverter is not a battery.

    Do NOT run heavy loads off an inverter without the truck running. Heavy loads are any type of toaster, microwave, kitchen cooking appliance.

    Things you can run off your inverter with the truck off, assuming you have good batteries, are a mini fridge for a day or so, small device chargers, laptop, etc.
     
    Deezl Smoke and Concorde Thank this.
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  3. Concorde

    Concorde Road Train Member

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    My gut says that you probably have an issue with your alternator…that’s what I’d be looking at first.
     
    little cat 500 Thanks this.
  4. Dkenos

    Dkenos Bobtail Member

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    The only thing I run on my inverter is my laptop. It's an Acer Nitro 17, a gaming laptop. It draws a bit more power than regular laptops, but not enough to cause what is happening. I spent two hours using it right after I shut down my truck to do my 10 without a single issue before turning of it and the inverter. Woke up to use the bathroom, 3 1/2 hours later, and just to check, turned it on again. Seconds after i turn on my laptop, it starts to beep.

    Again, this is opposite of what happened when I first got the inverter in June. The voltmeter is about 12.5-12.7 when I turned it on and quickly rose to 14.1. I don't have an understanding of how the inverter works, but when I plugged my laptop into one of the power outlet inverters (300 w the highest I could find with an outlet on plug), the power draw fried both the inverter and the outlet fuse. On the last page, there is a pic of the laptops adapter. If you know of a stronger inverter I can plug into the outlets without frying everything, I would love a link.
     
  5. Dkenos

    Dkenos Bobtail Member

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    This inverter was one I bought from and had installed by my company. They don't allow you to have ant other inverter installed than the ones they sell. It initially came with a small monitor you could plug in to see the power usage and such, but the company doesn't give it to the drivers. All I know is that it's a 2000 W Tundra model. I don't know if this is even a decent brand of inverters. And this issue happens when my truck is off
     
    Last edited: Nov 2, 2024
  6. Dkenos

    Dkenos Bobtail Member

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    When I stopped at a receiver on the morning of the 28th and shut off the engine to check in, I couldn't turn it back on for 30 minutes. The dashboard monitor flashed an alarm for a right stalk switch error. Had no idea what that meant at the time. Before that, whenever I turned on my engine after it was shut off for the night, the items plugged into my outlets, including my modem, would turn off and then back on. The only happens when there is a problem with the batteries. So far, neither of these have happened since the new batteries were put in. The only problems are with the inverter beeping after the truck is shut off for a few hours.

    I drive a '23 model of the freightliner cascadia. To prevent excessive idle, the company rigged it so that the engine will shut down if the outside temperature is between 13°-72°. With winter around the corner, and Wyoming already getting) snow, My worst fear is being stranded for several days and all of my equipment stops working because of power problems. It happened the winter prior, before I got an inverter and it was quite unsettling.
     
  7. krupa530

    krupa530 Light Load Member

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    Orem, UT
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    You need to get you a power station then. Pick up a good one for less than a grand. Paid $600 for mine. Anker solix c1000.
    I’ve never ran mine down below 50%. I run microwave and kettle on mine. Plug the 12v fridge in over night as well as iPad and phone
    Just charge it up whilst driving
    Warranty for 5 years
     
  8. Deezl Smoke

    Deezl Smoke Medium Load Member

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    Ok, now I think we're getting somewhere. Next stop, open the truck battery box and get a few pictures of how the batteries are wired in. Then ask your company maintenance guy if they look like they did after the company installed the inverter.
     
  9. Dkenos

    Dkenos Bobtail Member

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    I just stopped at a TA in IN and they did a check. there is only a total of 12.8 V running through all four batteries. They will most likely start testing each one to see if any of them are faulty.

    I also purchased a Maxpart 1000W smart inverter with a plug-in adapter. I put it in my outlet and tried to run my computer on it. As soon as I ran the game, the inverter started to beep and reset itself. the power on the meter kept jumping from numbers between 10.7-11.8V, right now, not playing any games, the meter is at 12.2 V.

    According to the specs, my laptop has a capacity of 90 wh and a charge power of 230. It is an Acer Nitro 17. It's designed for gaming, so I am not sure if this is natural or not.
     
    Last edited: Nov 2, 2024
  10. Deezl Smoke

    Deezl Smoke Medium Load Member

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    I would really like to see a picture of how they wired in the new batteries. If your company wired the 2000 inverter, and the installer at TA just pulled the batteries, installed the new, and didn't take a picture or make good note of the connection pattern before removing the old, they may have just made an assumption and hooked a few wires wrong. Not saying they did for sure, as I am not able to do so. But.....
    Hopefully they will get the issue taken care of and you can be on your way with no further problems.
     
  11. Dkenos

    Dkenos Bobtail Member

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    Quite frankly, I am wondering if the power problems may be caused by my laptop in general. as I said, the capacity is 90wh and the charge power is 230W. I just used a small 1000W smart inverter from Maxpart, and while it ran fine for casual use, the second I started to run a game, the inverter started to beep and kept resetting itself to prevent overload. Is a 2000W inverter not enough power for a single laptop? Here is the link to the specific brand I purchased with all of its specs. If anyone can make sense of them and compare them to the power output of a 2000W Tundra brand inverter, then maybe we can know more.
     
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