Inverter experts needed

Midwest Trucker · Jul 24, 2019

I just ordered this kit and inverter. Kit is expensive but comes with 12 feet of line, plus it’s high quality with fuses, etc.

2000
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07BGCJLQQ?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image

2500 wiring kit
Power Inverter Installation Kit for 2500 Watt Power Inverters

ThatTallGuy · Jul 24, 2019

As I'm starting to understand more I am leaning to a 2500 watt true sine now and using it in leiu of the one the company installed. Thank you for your input it's greatly appreciated.

x1Heavy said: ↑

5000 on a inverter is big.

4 of your batteries will feed this ok. For a while.

One battery definitely is NOT enough.

We had about 3000 watts on ours, Freightliner installed that inverter tied to two special cables to the batteries opposite ends. The cabling they used were stranded and about 1/2 inch thick. I don't know what gauge they were that big. I usually work anywhere from 24 gauge down to about 8 at the most and understand those, but they are tiny babies when you toss this much wattage. Burn them up. So you break out the big cables to feed Inverter.

You also will need to understand that your inverter wants a place it can cool off. Otherwise it will cook itself and burn out slowly by degrees. Literally.

With inverter in truck we ran a 1000 watt Mr Coffee for a hour or so at most. That's a pretty good workout with engine at high idle 1500.

When you get to 5K and up, you are dealing with power questions I barely understand. We would have to think about big stuff like say 200 amp mains to the side of the house served by two wires to a pole which is capable of up to 7000 volts and god only knows what amps and so on.

Big stuff. When you close the fuse and connect that pole... sometimes it refuses it.

Click to expand...

x1Heavy · Jul 24, 2019

ThatTallGuy said: ↑

Dont be sorry, you're doing a great job of explaining this. I understand what you mean and it sounds good. The truck is mine now so replacing is no big deal. I just want to make sure the cable size and length are right as well as the fuse. This is my first time doing this and don't want to set my cab on fire
Click to expand...

That's why Freightliner was told it's ok to install our inverter. We were with FFE and the tractor was a leased century, needed permission formally in writing from several department officers before being told it's ok to have Freightliner install the inverter. That way if there is a problem chances are it's not to bad install. And freightliner will know what wires to use for how big and where to run them so the rest of the tractor is happy.

I make it sound like a big deal, and it was in those days. When we turned in the tractor to go work for another company, that inverter and installed wires etc went with the truck. Because in those days CPAP was relatively new and it was a way of FFE being able to accomodate any driver with CPAP or something else that is necessary to driving without too much expense. I think it was 200 plus for the inverter and about 250 to install including labor.

ThatTallGuy · Jul 24, 2019

Not a bad inverter; however, I am making sure I get a true sine / perfect sine inverter. Less likely to have jumpy electronics with it.
I'm openly admiting I am the millenial that yall talk about at the truck stop every day, but I'm good millenial
I gotta be able to use my computer and xbox to keep myself sane on my stops and for that reason I'm ditching the modified sine.

Midwest Trucker said: ↑

I just ordered this kit and inverter. Kit is expensive but comes with 12 feet of line, plus it’s high quality with fuses, etc.

2000
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07BGCJLQQ?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image

2500 wiring kit
Power Inverter Installation Kit for 2500 Watt Power Inverters
Click to expand...

Midwest Trucker · Jul 24, 2019

ThatTallGuy said: ↑

Not a bad inverter; however, I am making sure I get a true sine / perfect sine inverter. Less likely to have jumpy electronics with it.
I'm openly admiting I am the millenial that yall talk about at the truck stop every day, but I'm good millenial
I gotta be able to use my computer and xbox to keep myself sane on my stops and for that reason I'm ditching the modified sine.
Click to expand...

Hey no worries I’m a millennial as well. Born in 1984. I’d probably get the true sine as well if I was gaming or had a laptop. However, this is for a driver who just needs the basics and is used to not even having an inverter so it’s a big step up.

Guardian777 · Jul 24, 2019

ThatTallGuy said: ↑

Hey there,
Looking to get a true sine inveter on the high side, maybe around 5000 watts. I know I need to have a fuse between the battery and inverter, right guage of cable. What I need help understanding is, if I hook this bad boy up to one battery, is that all it needs?
I run a TriPak Evolution to keep the batteries charged.
Click to expand...

Guardian777 · Jul 24, 2019

ThatTallGuy said: ↑

As I'm starting to understand more I am leaning to a 2500 watt true sine now and using it in leiu of the one the company installed. Thank you for your input it's greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

This Duracell 3000 watt has been the best I've ever bought. 250 amp block fuse AT THE positive battery pole, then #00 cable for +/-. I bought my inverter at at pep boys. Flawless. Ask stereo install place for the cable and block fuse.

https://www.amazon.com/Duracell-Power-DRINV3000-Black-Inverter/dp/B07C37849L

https://www.amazon.com/InstallGear-...mp+block+fuse&qid=1563991836&s=gateway&sr=8-2

Guardian777 · Jul 24, 2019

This Duracell 3000 watt has been the best I've ever bought. 250 amp block fuse AT THE positive battery pole, then #00 cable for +/-. I bought my inverter at at pep boys. Flawless. Ask stereo install place for the cable and block fuse.

https://www.amazon.com/Duracell-Power-DRINV3000-Black-Inverter/dp/B07C37849L

https://www.amazon.com/InstallGear-...mp+block+fuse&qid=1563991836&s=gateway&sr=8-2

Anywhichwaybutloose · Jul 25, 2019

This all depends on what your planning on running. My 1500 will handle my microwave or toaster oven or coffee maker...one at a time. I have a dedicated one for my tv& dvd player. And then a 300w for smaller items.

Dedicate a good one for the electronics..
If you dont need more than about 180 watts you can plug into a 12v socket.

Farmerbob1 · Jul 25, 2019

uncleal13 said: ↑

At full load it would draw almost twice the current of your starter. Most trucks have four batteries for starting.
Not saying you need eight batteries, but certainly more than one.
If you are just tying into your full battery bank off of one batteries terminals, that would be fine. But one battery isolated isn't enough.
Click to expand...

It will also generate excessive duty cycles on one battery to hook it up that way.

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