110 outlet in truck bed
10-01-2010, 01:52 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
110 outlet in truck bed
Hi,
I have a 2010 and would like to install a 110 power outlet in the bed for running power tools (and margarita blender). Are there any ready to go kits out there for something like this, or will I need to just part them together? My main concern is getting a clean look in the bed.
Thanks,
Doug
I have a 2010 and would like to install a 110 power outlet in the bed for running power tools (and margarita blender). Are there any ready to go kits out there for something like this, or will I need to just part them together? My main concern is getting a clean look in the bed.
Thanks,
Doug
10-01-2010, 02:10 PM
#2
Bye F150, hello F250
You can start by adding a 12V port back there, then plugging in an inverter when needed. There are 12V ports that have a cover that leave it looking nice and clean when not in use.
My concern would be the weight of the cable, and voltage drop along it with the high current required to power a 15A power tool. You would have to run the line right from the battery, get a 2000W inverter for example and pray your lines don't melt or you don't burn out your saw motor because there ain't enough juice to get it to spin. Marg blender should be no prob. 10" skill saw, not going to happen. Mr. generator would be needed for big loads.
My concern would be the weight of the cable, and voltage drop along it with the high current required to power a 15A power tool. You would have to run the line right from the battery, get a 2000W inverter for example and pray your lines don't melt or you don't burn out your saw motor because there ain't enough juice to get it to spin. Marg blender should be no prob. 10" skill saw, not going to happen. Mr. generator would be needed for big loads.
10-02-2010, 06:44 AM
#3
If you were planning on running anything serious, an alternator upgrade and a spare battery or two would be needed. From there 1/0 power cable from the front battery to the battery bank and 1/0 to the inverter. Honestly, by the time you did this right, a generator would have been much cheaper only less convenient.
10-02-2010, 09:44 AM
#4
I ran a 2,000 watt inverter with a 110v outlet in the bed for several years in my old F150. The inverter was mounted under the front passenger seat with 4 awg cable to the battery. I could easily run a variety of power tools without any problems but you have to limit the runtime of high current loads to a couple of minutes or else the supply voltage from the vehicle's electrical system will start to drop.
Its easy to simply attach a digital multimeter to you vehicle's battery and just monitor the voltage at the battery while using the inverter with high loads. If the voltage at the battery (with the vehicle running) starts to noticeably drop, you need to back off the load from the inverter. I'd never let mine get below about 12.5v. The vehicle's battery will do a good job of buffering short duration high current loads but starting batteries can only do so much.
My inverter had a wired remote display I would just sit on the tailgate and monitor input voltage to keep everything safe.
Its an awesome convenience but there are limitations.
Its easy to simply attach a digital multimeter to you vehicle's battery and just monitor the voltage at the battery while using the inverter with high loads. If the voltage at the battery (with the vehicle running) starts to noticeably drop, you need to back off the load from the inverter. I'd never let mine get below about 12.5v. The vehicle's battery will do a good job of buffering short duration high current loads but starting batteries can only do so much.
My inverter had a wired remote display I would just sit on the tailgate and monitor input voltage to keep everything safe.
Its an awesome convenience but there are limitations.
