Power Inverters
 

Good day everyone
I was wondering if you have a power inverter and what you would be using it for. If you have pictures of where it is installed, that would be great to see as well.

Thanks

I have to factory installed inverter in my truck which the plug is located on the back of the center console. I use it when I go hunting and camping to inflate air mattresses, zodiac boat ect. It has come in really handy.

I use this power inverter that I picked up from Academy:


http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/rall...ldCatid=186401


Its inexpensive, works great, and small enough to fit under the back seat of my truck when not in use. I use it to inflate air mattresses when camping and recharge battery powered accessories that I take with me (laptop, tablet, phones, cameras, Bose Bluetooth speaker, etc.).

I've got a 1200 watt motomaster in my toolbox... It's hooked to a deep cycle battery that is hooked up to in isolator... More on that later if you don't know what an isolator is. I use it for lots of things... Mostly for my block heater... I ran a heavy gauge extension cord from the front of my truck along the frame to my toolbox... Installed a gfci outdoor plug on the tool box... Plug the extension cord into that and my block heater is powered for a few hours... The more batteries I put in the longer I can run the heater...

I also use it for my ham radios when I go camping and charging tool batteries when at work

I guess what I am confused about is what actually powers and charges the invertor.
Can someone just give the basics?

Sure. An inverter is connected to a battery. Your truck's battery in this case. It inverts DC power into AC power (instead of converting AC to DC).

There are a LOT of junk inverters out there. One way to cull the herd some is to get what is known as a "Pure Sine Wave" inverter. Only better inverters are pure sine wave units. A decent one will run you $250 or more. And you want a pure sine wave for any sensitive equipment, like a computer. Even on everyday things, like a drill motor, e.g., it contributes to a longer life of the motor.

The factory "inverter" in our trucks (I have one too) is only good for about 8 amps (100 watts. 100 watts ÷ 12 vdc = 8.3 amps). Not much good for much except charging phones or laptops. They will not power a power tool and anything with a motor (read owners manual).

I have a 1000 watt Xantex Pure Sine Wave inverter. I mounted it behind the rear passenger seat. I use 1/0 gauge welding cable to connect to the battery (another $100) with a 250 amp fuse (recommended). I use it for things like power tools, and, of course, while camping -to run the blender for margaritas! Duh! :thumbup:

I'll try to get a couple of photos for you tomorrow.

As sting and the others have said, it really depends upon what you want to use it for. You also need to consider how LONG you want to use it for because it will draw down your battery.

I want to get one so I can put a 30" flat screen between the 2 front seats for rear seats and hater vision lol

Haha! :thumbsup: Never heard that one before.

Thanks. That certainly helps. I will need to figure out what i need to hook up before i proceed. .