What size Inverter do I need

Just couldn't resist: LOL

Size matters! Depends on if it is a male or female doing the buying!

 

1500-2500 depending on your budget

 

Ya, 2,000 would cover you if your going to run a Mr. Coffee. If you are running something big like a Mr. Coffee you should run the trucks engine at the same time.

 

It depends on what you plan to run off of it. I have never had a microwave oven...so can't tell you what they draw. But Skate-Board must have a HUGE coffee maker, because my little 4 cup Mr. Coffee coffee maker draws EXACTALLY 850 watts at it's peak during brewing (it has a LED read-out), and my 1,100 watt inverter does just fine with or without the truck running.
The trick is to keep the power cables from batteries to inverter as short as possible...the more direct current the inverter can draw from the batteries, the less the inverter has to work.

 

I have the grown up model, not the Nancy one

 

LOL! Ok. I bet you have one of those $450.00 "grown up model" GPS units that get's you to the same place, on the same roads as my Nancy $134.00 GPS too?

P.S.- Yes I know you are joking...as am I

 

If you're going to run a microwave and fridge then get a minimum inverter capacity of 1800 watts, but 2000 is better. Also, you'll probably want to unplug the fridge while you're running the microwave.

The peak wattage of the appliances you run is just as important as the max capacity of the inverter.

And as the other poster said, get a direct line to the battery- which may require some drilling on your part.

 

How large of a bucket do I need?

It’s a pointless question without including more information. You will need a larger inverter if you are running a fridge and/or microwave then you would if you do not have one or the other (or ether).

Just add up the wattage of all items that you NEED to use at the same time and add 10% - 15% to that number and you will have your answer. I say NEED as some items can be switched off while running another item for instance a coffee pot could be turned off while running a microwave and then switched back on when you are done with the microwave.

 

And has already been stated run as short of wiring from the battery to the inverter and as large or heavy gauge wire as you can (less amperage loss).