I am putting a 1200 watt power inverter in the bed. Direct wired to one of the batteries. It will have an appropriate sized circuit breaker in line. Will run a fridge off the inverter. I have a 14watt solar charger to put on the roof rack. The purpose of the solar charger is to buy more time with the truck off so I don't have to run the truck as much when stopped. Do I need to hook the charger to both batteries or can I do just one?

Thoughts?

 

I do not believe there is a battery isolator between the two OEM batteries so connecting the solar panel to one should charge both. If you solar panel has a built in charge controller you should be ok. You might consider a higher out put solar panel due to having to charge two batteries and the draw of inverter. May be look at a 12vdc fridge unit to start with. It would be a lot more efficient.

 

I agree, there is not battery isolator, so either battery is fine. I also use a solar panel on my camper to help keep the battery running a little longer (I use a 280 watt panel). The problem is that you are pairing an elephant inverter with a mosquito panel. In the best conditions, with no shade and the sun at a 90 degree angle, the best your panel will put out is about 1 amp. Better than nothing, but I doubt that you will see much a difference in battery life. Those small panels are good to keep your battery topped off when you are parked a long time. Your inverter is massive, 10 amps, but the problem is supplying it with 12 volts. You will need at least 4 gauge wires to the battery, if not larger. Smaller wires will cause a voltage drop between the batteries and the inverter and the inverter won't work. Practically, you will probably need the truck engine running to use the inverter and get the full wattage output. (assuming that the wire gauge is big enough) That was a good suggestion to get a 12 RV refrigerator. If you don't intend ever to use propane to supply the RV refrigerator, just get the 12 vdc model. The 12 vdc model is much more efficient (electrically) than the combo 12 vdc/propane model. Good luck!

 

Good advice. Thank you. I do have 4awg for the inverter. The panel was left over from another application. Thanks.

 

That panel might cover the current draw of the inverter when it isn't actively being used. Otherwise, it's almost useless. Look on Craigslist for cheap leftover panels. You'll need a real solar charge controller to go with it.

 

couple of comments which you may already know....

14 watts is very small ....100 watts would be better to provide re-charge current closer to cunsupmtion.

the 1200 watt inverter factors in on its efficenciy rate....some high end ones are 95% some cheap ones are less than 80. contributes to the power draim.

an inverter powering a 500watt refrige could consume 50 amps per hour fron the battery while only providing 5 amps to the refrig.

a 12v refrig and a 100w inverter would be less taxing on the batteres.

the batteries will drain fast with a DC to AC setup.