Power On Board
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Power On Board
I have a question. I am looking to install this inverter:
http://cgi.ebay.com/1200-2400-Watt-Power-Inverter-Super-Heavy-Duty-NEW_W0QQitemZ9714759817QQcategoryZ85805QQrdZ1QQcmd ZViewItem
It is 1200watt inverter that I want to put on a dual battery ford powerstroke superduty. Will this work OK for a truck that is running (not use the inverter if the engine is off?) I am planning on a 14 hour road trip and it will be on the entire time?
Thoughts? Cooling is proably not going to be an issue. THANKS
http://cgi.ebay.com/1200-2400-Watt-Power-Inverter-Super-Heavy-Duty-NEW_W0QQitemZ9714759817QQcategoryZ85805QQrdZ1QQcmd ZViewItem
It is 1200watt inverter that I want to put on a dual battery ford powerstroke superduty. Will this work OK for a truck that is running (not use the inverter if the engine is off?) I am planning on a 14 hour road trip and it will be on the entire time?
Thoughts? Cooling is proably not going to be an issue. THANKS
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 379
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From: hillsborough NJ
inverter
I use a power inverter, everyday in my SD 6.0, to run my mobile office, just a small lap top and a printer. I sometimes forget to turn it off and it stays on all night, as a matter of fact I need to go out and turn it off right now.
I have pics, of the install in my gallery if your interested
I have pics, of the install in my gallery if your interested
5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2006
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
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From: Long Island USA
1200 watts is about 100 amps at 12 volts. The stock alternator is 130 amps (some early SD's pre-2001 may have come with smaller ones in XL models or something). And that 130 amps is at room temperature, not what it sees underhood.
And that 100 amps assumes 100% efficiency, which is, as we all know, not attainable yet
So what to do? Make sure you have a good battery (or two), and if you need new ones, get the biggest CCA that will fit in the tray.
With the stock 130 amp alternator, especially at idle, you WILL hit the battery for juice. Some diesels come with dual alternators or a single heavy-duty alternator. That heavy-duty doesn't mean higher amperage, it means it will last longer under constant drain.
Likewise, the 1200watt inverter puts out 10 amps at 120 volts. Or more like 9 amps in reality. And then, who knows if that's it's peak wattage, or the wattage you can realistically expect it to put out for 100% duty.
And that 100 amps assumes 100% efficiency, which is, as we all know, not attainable yet
So what to do? Make sure you have a good battery (or two), and if you need new ones, get the biggest CCA that will fit in the tray.
With the stock 130 amp alternator, especially at idle, you WILL hit the battery for juice. Some diesels come with dual alternators or a single heavy-duty alternator. That heavy-duty doesn't mean higher amperage, it means it will last longer under constant drain.
Likewise, the 1200watt inverter puts out 10 amps at 120 volts. Or more like 9 amps in reality. And then, who knows if that's it's peak wattage, or the wattage you can realistically expect it to put out for 100% duty.
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Brett Foote
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Long Island USA
If you don't pull all 1200 watts, it won't suck up 100amps, that's for sure
But realize that, full-blast, that thing can deplete your batteries even with the engine idling. If you're on the highway cruising, no problem, but I wouldn't run that thing for more than an hour or two at full-bore, even with the engine idling. You could run down the batts enough that you couldn't restart after shutting down.
I'm a little paranoid about it, so take what I say with a grain of salt. But better to be safe than sorry and not be able to start your truck
But realize that, full-blast, that thing can deplete your batteries even with the engine idling. If you're on the highway cruising, no problem, but I wouldn't run that thing for more than an hour or two at full-bore, even with the engine idling. You could run down the batts enough that you couldn't restart after shutting down.
I'm a little paranoid about it, so take what I say with a grain of salt. But better to be safe than sorry and not be able to start your truck
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