Hey I know this has nothing to do with diesels but I am thinking of getting an 5000 watt power converter. I currently use a 3500 watt gas generator and its takes up a lot of room in my 01 F-350. Does anyone have one? Are they as good as the gas generators? Thanks.

 

Yes I have one and NO they are not like a generator. It will depend on what you are going to run on it but I wouldn't replace a generator with an inverter. i think you'll be disappointed.
Joe

 

The main difference is that inverters don't handle sudden current demands like those from any electric motor starting. If it's for electronics or steady current loads, then they're okay.

 

First and foremost welcome to FTE. In one of my work trucks I have both a generator and a 4000 watt inverter. The inverter is good for some small power tools. The inrush or startup current wil trip the inverter on overload. I mainly use it for charging batteries for the cordless tools. You can buy a larger inverter that will handel most power tools but it will drain your batteries quickly, unless you keep the truck running. Some inverters have a built in low voltage shut off. The other thing that you have to watch with inverters is that a 5000W inverter may really only be rated for 3500W. The 5000W is the maximum surge.

 

This may help you.

To establish which size of inverter is suitable for a particular application, determine the actual wattage an appliance/electronic device will draw while it is operating. Many devices will have the wattage draw stamped on the product. The table below indicates the wattage draw for popular appliances and tools. IMPORTANT: To operate more than one tool/appliance at the same time, add the wattage of each item together to determine the appropriate inverter.
<TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%" borderColor=#d7d7d7 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=1><TBODY><TR><TD width=295> Typical Electronics / Appliance</TD><TD width=62>Power
Needed
(Watts)
</TD><TD width=64>Smart
Compact
Inverter
75W
</TD><TD width=58> Smart
Compact
Inverter
110W
</TD><TD width=58> Smart
Compact
Inverter
150W
</TD><TD width=57>Elite Inverter
Double Outlets
150W
</TD><TD width=61>Elite
Inverter
Double Outlets
350W
</TD></TR><TR><TD width=295> Cell Phone/Camcorder Charger</TD><TD align=middle width=62>10 - 20</TD><TD width=64>Yes
</TD><TD width=58> Yes
</TD><TD width=58>Yes
</TD><TD width=57>Yes
</TD><TD width=61>Yes
</TD></TR><TR><TD width=295> Video Game Console</TD><TD align=middle width=62>20</TD><TD width=64> Yes
</TD><TD width=58> Yes
</TD><TD width=58>Yes
</TD><TD width=57>Yes
</TD><TD width=61>Yes
</TD></TR><TR><TD width=295> Portable Work Light / Digital Camera</TD><TD align=middle width=62>25 - 45</TD><TD width=64> Yes
</TD><TD width=58> Yes
</TD><TD width=58>Yes
</TD><TD width=57>Yes
</TD><TD width=61>Yes
</TD></TR><TR><TD width=295> CD Player / Mini Stereo System / VCR</TD><TD align=middle width=62>50</TD><TD width=64> Yes
</TD><TD width=58> Yes
</TD><TD width=58>Yes
</TD><TD width=57>Yes
</TD><TD width=61>Yes
</TD></TR><TR><TD width=295> Laptop Computer / 9" TV / Portable Refrigerator</TD><TD align=middle width=62>75 - 100</TD><TD width=64> </TD><TD width=58> Yes
</TD><TD width=58>Yes
</TD><TD width=57>Yes
</TD><TD width=61>Yes
</TD></TR><TR><TD width=295> 13" TV / Black & Decker Buffer</TD><TD align=middle width=62>100-150</TD><TD width=64> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=58>Yes
</TD><TD width=57>Yes
</TD><TD width=61>Yes
</TD></TR><TR><TD width=295> 20" TV / Craftsman Rotary Power Tool / Fishing Sander</TD><TD align=middle width=62>200-250</TD><TD width=64> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=57> </TD><TD width=61>Yes
</TD></TR><TR><TD width=295> 20" TV/VCR Combo / Craftsman 3/8" Drill </TD><TD align=middle width=62>250 - 300</TD><TD width=64> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=57> </TD><TD width=61>Yes
</TD></TR><TR><TD width=295> Printer / Laptop Computer / Fax</TD><TD align=middle width=62>300 - 350</TD><TD width=64> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=57> </TD><TD width=61>Yes
</TD></TR><TR><TD width=295> Small Power Tools (Jig Saw, 13mm drill...)
Desk Top Computer, 12" Desk Fan
Large Screen 27" TV, Dorm-style Refrigerator</TD><TD align=middle width=62>400</TD><TD width=64> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=57> </TD><TD width=61> </TD></TR><TR><TD width=295> 500W Halogen Lamp / Small Bar Fridge 1/20 HP / Blender / Sewing Machine</TD><TD align=middle width=62>500*</TD><TD width=64> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=57> </TD><TD width=61> </TD></TR><TR><TD width=295> 4 Gallon Vacuum Cleaner / Coffee Machine</TD><TD align=middle width=62>600 - 700</TD><TD width=64> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=57> </TD><TD width=61> </TD></TR><TR><TD width=295> 1/2 HP Motor</TD><TD align=middle width=62>800*</TD><TD width=64> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=57> </TD><TD width=61> </TD></TR><TR><TD width=295> 600W Microwave Oven</TD><TD align=middle width=62>850</TD><TD width=64> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=57> </TD><TD width=61> </TD></TR><TR><TD width=295> 800W Microwave Oven</TD><TD align=middle width=62>1000*</TD><TD width=64> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=57> </TD><TD width=61> </TD></TR><TR><TD width=295> 8 Gallon Vacuum Cleaner</TD><TD align=middle width=62>1200*</TD><TD width=64> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=57> </TD><TD width=61> </TD></TR><TR><TD width=295> 1200W Microwave Oven</TD><TD align=middle width=62>1500*</TD><TD width=64> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=57> </TD><TD width=61> </TD></TR><TR><TD width=295> 13A Circular Saw</TD><TD align=middle width=62>1500*</TD><TD width=64> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=57> </TD><TD width=61> </TD></TR><TR><TD width=295> 1 HP Motor</TD><TD align=middle width=62>1500*</TD><TD width=64> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=57> </TD><TD width=61> </TD></TR><TR><TD width=295> 3A Circular Saw + 13mm Reversible Drill</TD><TD align=middle width=62>2000*</TD><TD width=64> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=58> </TD><TD width=57> </TD><TD width=61> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>* Surge Power