[Tennesseahawk]

What size inverter do you use? Is it enough for the job?

-Vampire Super Slooth Trucker!!!

[highway star]

2000 watts
4000 surge
Does what I need very well.

[CozDream]

>2000 watts
>4000 surge
>Does what I need very well.


Yup, 1500 to 2000 pretty much minimum. Considering you'll
be running a dorm sized fridge & micro & accessories.

And make certain the power is cabled directly to a deep cycle
battery. DO NOT cable the inverter to vehicles batteries.

[Broompilot]

1500 a Microwave takes up almost 800 a Vacuum takes about 750 toaster 400 coffee pot 600-750.

I have the Cobra, it has neat little lights for neat little people such as myself who could never figure out by reading the box the stuff came in so the lights are for us lazy or dumb people who like Christmas Lights in July.

[Tennesseahawk]

Just got a 3000/6000. Ebay definitely beats the truckstope! $167.50 + 11 for shipping. I wanted something bigger so I could run an ac fridge on it, as well as a microwave, tv, computer, etc.

Does anyone run an ac fridge in their truck? I heard they take less to run than one of those coleman refrigerator/coolers, since the coolers constantly run because of no insulation.

-Vampire Super Slooth Trucker!!!

[x06col]

We have a couple fridges in a couple trucks, seem to work ok without a large drag, as long as they keep the dr peppers outa them.

[Tennesseahawk]

LMAO! Hope ya don't keep coolies in em. :7

How big are the fridges and how did you secure em? Did you bolt them through the bottom or sides?

-Vampire Super Slooth Trucker!!!

[cheri1122]

I have a fridge on AC, and it works very well. It's just like any other fridge, only smaller, even including a freezer that keeps ice frozen.
I do turn off the invertor when leaving the truck off for longer than 12 hrs, if not hooked to shore power, which means emptying the fridge. On several occasions, I've forgotton to turn on the battery charger when running the generator overnight, and the truck has always cranked, so the fridge doesn't deplete it - at least overnight.
I think it's a tremendous asset - fridge and microwave mean a much better diet than 'fast food'.
Inverters R Us is a great site for learning everything you need to know about invertors, and how to choose the right size and kind for your needs.

[flatbedin]

I have a 5000 watt, 7500 surge that works most of the time OK.. However with my laptop in the shop, and having to tote my desktop with me, I've found that it's drawing alot more than the laptop...

I have two deep cycle gel cells that are in the side box and attached directly to the alternator. I have a kill switch that cuts them off when I stop for long periods so that I don't draw back...

I run a fridge, laptop, printer, coffee maker, ect. and normally have more than enough power.. Just don't try and tote you desktop forever...

[jansiemoo]

along the same topic...
does anyone else have a problem with rechargable battery devices not charging properly off of the inverter?

Being a bit high maintenance, I found my electric toothbrush will not charge in the truck, also having problems with my bluetooth. Both I have to charge at the truckstop while I eat dinner. Not so weird to charge your phone or bluetooth, but the toothbrush gets me some looks. My co-driver has no problem charging his phone, but I suspect it's overheating his like it seems to do when I plug in my laptop.

I have one of those huge inverters, don't know what size- but it runs a fridge, tv, satellite dish, and a fan with no problem. (I haven't tried to use the microwave with everything else on)

-jansiemoo

[greg334]

it sounds like you have a modified sine inverter. some of them don't work well with some chargers, like my rechargeable battery thing.

[deadice]

How do you have your truck set up to recharge the deep cycle batteries? If you have an inverter setup on a separate circuit from the vehicles starting batteries, how do you recharge the deep cycle battery circuit? I would assume a switch that would connect to the alternator, when the truck is on flip the switch and charge the batteries that way??

I am looking at this as an option as I don't have $10k to spend on a APU.

[CharlesD]

I only have a 1000 watt and it seems to do ok for now. I have a Coleman cooler that runs off the 12 volt outlet and my phone and bluetooth have car chargers. The inverter runs my laptop, printer, portable DVD player, and Playstation, and occasionally charges my electric razor. I have a small Foreman grill and if I want to use it I just turn off the other items. I'm probably going to get a larger one here soon, but with the size of my sleeper there just isn't a lot of room for too many things that would run off it.

[OntarioVanMan]

Man...reading the list of everyones toys...no wonder they call us R/V truckers!!! *LOL* spoiled lot we are I tell ya!!!

[chefdennis]

1) 3000w /6000w surge that powers a small DC frig, microwave, DVD player, direct TV dish, (1) 300w 600w surge to power laptop and small items that are just used from time to time.

(2) 680 cca wet cell batteries hooked in parallel off the van battery to maintain a charge on all 3. Also have 2 small solar "mats" that hook to the 2 big batteries and act as a "trickle" charger. They work with either the sun AND/OR the parking lot lights, so you will most always find me uder them at night!!

On the same topic, but a bit off. I have the 2 extra batteries hooked in parallel and haven't had an issue, but a friend was told that this same setup knocked out the ignition control module of his van........As a ex certified mechanic, (too many yrs ago) I for the life of me cannot think of how this could happen, there is no voltage increase and the extra batteries are "down line"............any suggestions as to if or way this can happen?