Onboard Power
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Onboard Power
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
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From: Virginia
This is a big one, so it's going to need special wiring directly to the battery if you want to use it's full output. What are you going to run on it, and what is the wattage requirement for it?
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From: Virginia
If you use 1200 watts of power, that's going to be approx 100 amps at 12 volts. That would be at least a #2 size wire to run the inverter unit. Although 100 amps sounds a little scary for the truck's charging system, it would probably do it going down the road with no problem. If you add up all the wattage numbers on the labels of the computer, see what you get. You may not be using that much, and the load will drop accordingly.
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So then that means that the unit can put out 1200 watts if called upon to do so. But at any one time it will only create what wattage i am needing to use the particular item then right? If I only need 350 watts, then that is all it makes....am I understanding that correctly? Thanks
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From: Virginia
Yes, you are correct. Add a little bit in because the unit itself wastes some power in operation, but it will not be much. Also the nameplates on your equipment will be worst case also, and will vary depending on if the computer is accessing a drive, etc.
But always wire and plan for worst case. Your unit may be rated at 1200w, and you may only need 350w, but I would go ahead and put the large wire in for the invertor supply directly from the battery, with a large fuse. The unit will perform much better with a large wire feeding it 12 volts. A quick run to the autoparts store may get you two #6 starter wire cables with the ends already on them. If you ran two of these side by side to the input of the invertor, the two together should be large enough to handle the demand without too much voltage drop.
The 120v output wire can be smaller and a longer run, since there is less current through the wire. That is how the power company sends power over long distances. They up the voltage to the thousands, so that makes the current lower, so they can run smaller cables. You may have 34,500 volts out at the road before it goes through a transformer and then into your house.
But always wire and plan for worst case. Your unit may be rated at 1200w, and you may only need 350w, but I would go ahead and put the large wire in for the invertor supply directly from the battery, with a large fuse. The unit will perform much better with a large wire feeding it 12 volts. A quick run to the autoparts store may get you two #6 starter wire cables with the ends already on them. If you ran two of these side by side to the input of the invertor, the two together should be large enough to handle the demand without too much voltage drop.
The 120v output wire can be smaller and a longer run, since there is less current through the wire. That is how the power company sends power over long distances. They up the voltage to the thousands, so that makes the current lower, so they can run smaller cables. You may have 34,500 volts out at the road before it goes through a transformer and then into your house.
