2018 with invert and outlet in bed.
can I run an electric hedge trimmer off that outlet? If so is there any extension cord restriction?
will it drain battery in this hot weather?

thanks

 

does the hedge trimmer draw more than ~3.5 amps? If yes, then no you can't run it off the inverter. 3.5a isn't enough to worry about with any decent extension cord. They should be rated for at least 10a anyway for a 50+ ft cord. The truck will turn off the inverter if the battery gets too low.

 

There is more to this than you may think.
For example if the Trimmer draws 3.5 amps at 110 volts, that is 385 watts of power.
The Battery has to supply that much plus Inverter losses.
At 12 volts the Inverter will draw about 32 amps +/-
That is 12 volts times 32 = 384 amps plus some extra for the losses incurred by the Inverter and the engine has to be running.
I believe the limit of the Inverter is 300 watts with the engine running.
Then there is the time of use causing possible overheating.
So you see it's more involved that it looks.
Good luck.

 

Think I’ll leave well enough alone.

 

Just curious, what good is a little 400 watt inverter? Does anyone actually use it?

 

I use the one in the dash to power a laptop from time to time. I actually did some surgery on my center console and transitioned my plug to the inside of the massive cubby. I have a 10-port USB power hub now. I use it to provide a power cord for each of the 5 passengers in the truck to charge phones and such. I also use it to charge some equipment for my mountain bikes and some headphones for the gym. It keeps all of my cords neat and organized and all of my passengers happy. The hub in the pictures was a temporary one. I've replaced it since these pictures were taken.

 

Good Lord man!! I guess some do use it.

 

Everyone needs power on long trips. Hahaha. I had tried to run a shop vac with the inverter to clean up some glass, but it was too much. It is enough to power all of my portable electronics though. I could have just plugged USB cables into all the ports and provided charging, but I didn't want cables out everywhere or getting knocked around as people got in or out of the truck.

 

I've only ever used it to charge a laptop. It doesn't provide enough power to run corded tools.

 

Without the engine running, even small things will drain battery. I used to run a small cooling fan at rifle range - battery was dead about a hour later (tacoma).

I keep a large 3kw inverter from RV in my shed - I can wire it to my battery if I need real power.