generators?
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Joined: Mar 2012
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From: MI
generators?
Has anyone heard/done/has a generator powered by the engine in the truck? Or better to just get a portable generator for the bed?
Looking to run grinder, and a 220 v welder (no more than 40 amp draw).
Looking to run grinder, and a 220 v welder (no more than 40 amp draw).
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2012
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From: Bend, Oregon
Not sure about running it off your starting battery if that's what you mean, but a lot of people for "truck camping" will get a deep cycle marine battery and wire it to the starting battery, with a battery isolator in between so that it doesn't drain your starting battery/batteries.
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From: MI
thinking a welder would drain a battery pretty quick times. Wouldnt i need something that is constantly generating power at 220 volts (for the welder-it would draw 40 amps max, its mainly for hobby welding/minor fixes)
Clueless spectator!
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Denver, CO
If you're talking about a belt driven type generator like the air compressor units that are available, I have never heard of one. There would not be enough room in the engine compartment for the size field and armature it would take to generate 8800 watts of power. If your intent is 50% duty cycle or more, and you plan to do a lot of welding with, you would be far better off with a gas (or diesel
) welder that also generates 110 power for your grinder.
) welder that also generates 110 power for your grinder.
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From: MI
ya looked into some gen/welders they seem the way to go. Keep that one mounted on the truck and my 220 at home.
would be cool to bottom mount it under the bed somehow!
would be cool to bottom mount it under the bed somehow!
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i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
find a used lincoln or miller gas powered stick welder. they also have 110 volt plugs on them, and most have 220 plugs too.
i paid $300 for my miller bluestar 3 years ago. it was basically a new machine. over it's 20 year life, it was used as a backup generator 4 times, and welding 2 times. all it did was sit in the bed of a pickup.
i actually paid $300 for the truck and welder, and scrapped the truck after taking the welder out of it.
i paid $300 for my miller bluestar 3 years ago. it was basically a new machine. over it's 20 year life, it was used as a backup generator 4 times, and welding 2 times. all it did was sit in the bed of a pickup.
i actually paid $300 for the truck and welder, and scrapped the truck after taking the welder out of it.
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Theres no way you will run a 220 welder off your truck lol. You couldnt even run a grinder through a power inverter, and if so, barely. You need a stand alone generator with a 220 plug or a gas/diesel powered welder to put in the bed. For what its worth, dont waste your money on a lincoln welder, go with Miller. Every experience ive had with lincoln machines has hailed in comparison with miller machines
Postmaster
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now running the welder, thats either a PTO driven generator or a generator with its own engine
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wanna bet? i run an air compressor off mine all the time, draws about 1200w, and thats powered by a single aux battery, size 4d. i have over half an hour of runtime before the inverter even starts to complain about low voltage
now running the welder, thats either a PTO driven generator or a generator with its own engine
now running the welder, thats either a PTO driven generator or a generator with its own engine
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
on the 01 F-450 diesel service truck at the new job, there is a 4000 watt power inverter mounted in the driver side front compartment. fire the truck up, flip the high idle switch, turn the inverter on, and plug in what you need to use.
i would still use a gas stick welder though for any welding.
i would still use a gas stick welder though for any welding.
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Joined: Feb 2011
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ok yeah, the little baby inverters you were thinking about would be hopeless, but they're perfect for charging a laptop or a couple power tool batteries.
as for my system, here https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...le-advice.html thats my thread from when i set it up. as you'll notice there, i'm in a van, and found a space outboard of the left frame rail where i could fit the battery - actually i could fit two of them, but would have to build another support and buy another battery if i wanted to
as for my system, here https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...le-advice.html thats my thread from when i set it up. as you'll notice there, i'm in a van, and found a space outboard of the left frame rail where i could fit the battery - actually i could fit two of them, but would have to build another support and buy another battery if i wanted to
Posting Guru
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ok yeah, the little baby inverters you were thinking about would be hopeless, but they're perfect for charging a laptop or a couple power tool batteries.
as for my system, here https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...le-advice.html thats my thread from when i set it up. as you'll notice there, i'm in a van, and found a space outboard of the left frame rail where i could fit the battery - actually i could fit two of them, but would have to build another support and buy another battery if i wanted to
as for my system, here https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...le-advice.html thats my thread from when i set it up. as you'll notice there, i'm in a van, and found a space outboard of the left frame rail where i could fit the battery - actually i could fit two of them, but would have to build another support and buy another battery if i wanted to