What companies have creature comforts? What companies are bare bones?

Since I spent a few years in lab and class playing with electricity I'm going to open my mouth when I should probably keep it shut.

Running a 300w inverter on a lighter plug with anything that actually needs 300w is a recipe for either (hopefully) a blown fuse, a ruined electronic device or a fire.

Most power ports as they are called in this politically correct day and age are rated at 10 amps maximum. The wiring going to them is typically at it's max capacity at the aforementioned 10 amps.

Without going into the whole calculation part a 300w inverter capable of delivering continuous 300w at 110v AC is going to need approx. 27.83 amps of 12v power to make that 300w (2.75 amps) figuring 85% efficiency through the inverter.

Now something like a TV that has a higher draw at startup will often work without tripping the internal safety on the inverter or blowing the fuse because it happens so fast. If however the peak draw of the item starting up is too high for the inverter it may not power up before tripping the inverter.

In my opinion inverters that plug into power ports should be illegal. There's a reason why some companies ban them, they don't like having their trucks burnt to the ground because a driver was trying to draw enough power through thin gauge wiring to run his microwave and Xbox.

My company installs 2500w continuous/5000w peak and 3000w C/6000P inverters for a reason, there's no need for a driver to try and overload a little 10a power port.

 

Meh, I've a 150w inverter. Works for everything I need and I've no reason to upgrade it. (Primarily to charge an electric shaver.)

My stance is that if you can't get it with a 12v plug, you don't need it. And considering that you can buy laptops with a 12v charger... I believe you can even get a 12v adapter from Microsoft for some of the later models of the Xbox. So this crud of needing high powered inverters is kinda silly anyways.

But you never, ever, max out the power rating on one of those. I wouldn't even do it if the draw was temporary. I know just enough about electricity to be dangerous and just enough to not be dangerous.

Not to mention... This may not be my truck, but I still earn money using it. If it was burned to the ground by my hand, however accidental it may be, SNI would be out a truck. I'd be out of a job with a black mark on my name.

 

I guess my stance only applies if you're limited to a small inverter or no inverter.

I would LOVE to have a microwave in this truck... That would open up my food options enormously. So much so that I would not ever park at a truck stop again.

I can easily get by with the 12v coolers though.

I still find it silly to have an inverter so you can play Xbox. Sure, it's one thing if that's how you keep in touch with your kids.

I would love it if SNI allowed larger inverters. ...but I understand why they say no. Some of the drivers I have met with any company aren't the brightest of bulbs. I delivered a brand new truck out to a driver in Tx... I learned all the dials knobs and switches in the two days I had his truck. He was asking very basic stuff that he should've learned from the old truck he had...

 

Oh, that reminds me... I have a question for you all.

Another SNI driver asked if SNI would ever add microwaves into their trucks. (Obviously the driver would buy the microwave & whatever supplies)

The guy who answered the question gave what I feel is a pretty bulls*** answer. "We don't want to put more strain on the trucks."

If you used the microwave & inverter for oh say several hours, sure. I'd buy the wear and tear excuse. But it might get used up to 20 minutes a day depending upon the driver.

So, answer me this... Bulls*** answer? Or actually has merit?

(I'm not including the chance of some idiot ruining the microwave or putting something into it that shouldn't be in there.)

 

Has anyone used a 12v refrigerator (not cooler). They can be used as a freezer also. Seems like a good solution, even at $700 and up.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...I3VEVQBZBU9W87&psc=1&ref_=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl

 

I'd be very interested to know the same...

 

I think it may be the first big purchase I make. I think using it as a freezer, in conjunction with a standard cooler (rotating ice packs out of the freezer) may well be a great food storage solution.

Couple that with an iso-butane back packing stove, a RoadPro lunchbox, and maybe even a 12v rice cooker, eating well and healthfully could be very easy.

 

I'd be fine using it just as a fridge.

Fresh stuff is perhaps more expensive but it's the way to go.

And a rice cooker? Nice...I can think of lots of stuff that can be made from scratch in 30 minutes of less!