How are you powering your stuff?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Devi343, Dec 14, 2020.

  1. Brandt

    Brandt Road Train Member

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    You need an inverter. Some companies put them in for drivers or have them put in at factory when truck is built. Some companies don't let drives have inverters. Because they can burn the truck down with bad install.

    My company truck has 1,800 watt factory installed Pure Sine wave inverter. The truck also has 4 regular house power plugs. That's an option from the factory having regular 120v plugs. Plus I have fridge from factory also. It's nice setup if the trucking company is willing to get it
     
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  2. Moose1958

    Moose1958 Road Train Member

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    Basic Ohms law can be used here. 400 watts at 120VAC is about 3.3 Amps. HOWEVER, that same 400 watts on the 12 volts side is 33 Amps. Because you fuse a circuit to protect the wire, that wire had better be large enough to handle 33 Amps!
     
  3. Blue Zombie Trucker

    Blue Zombie Trucker Light Load Member

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    "We" being this Forum. There are about a half dozen questions that get asked and answered a dozen times a week, and this is one of them.

    My point is, these forums are a WEALTH of info, some good, some bad. The Search function, top right, works incredibly well, but it requires user interaction.
     
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  4. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

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    You will have about 95% less free time than you expect. Drive, sleep, fuel. If you are fortunate you will sometimes have time to shower or use a real bathroom.

    As a rookie your truck will either already have a power inverter installed or prohibited from installing an inverter unless it plugs into the cigarette lighter.
     
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  5. Judge

    Judge Road Train Member

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    9446701A-1A34-46FE-B6BB-34B0AB9D4CDC.gif

    For heavy duty power, gotta use some high speed feed from west Memphis.
    56D333F9-AE6A-4597-8101-DAEE55DA3A06.gif
     
  6. supersnackbar

    supersnackbar Road Train Member

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    That high speed rodent's name was Rod....probably the only time you would hear 'my charging system thru a Rod'
     
  7. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    It worked. That was all i cared about.

    Like I said. Low watt consumers.
    The only other options were 150 watts at the time.. not enough for what I wanted.

    My total usage i think was around 200.
     
  8. Hazmat Cat

    Hazmat Cat Medium Load Member

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    95% is hopeful eyes
     
  9. The Crossword Trucker

    The Crossword Trucker Road Train Member

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    I would go with a company that has APUs, they just make like so much easier and that first year you need all the breaks you can get. Its tough.
    If you are in a great hiring area and have lots of choice, put this question on your list when you talk to recruiters.
    I was in a horrible hiring area but luckily the one company that wanted me, had APUs in all the trucks
     
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  10. Dna Mach

    Dna Mach Road Train Member

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    If they don’t have APU’s then they aren’t worth your time. Keep looking......