Aftermarket inverter?

Can you dump the OEM inverter in the TRD models and replace it with a stronger aftermarket one and use the existing wiring that is already placed for the socket? If so please let me know because the stock inverter at what is it? .... 400w .... you cant really do much with that. I'd like to make that power socket a bit more useful.

Any help is appreciated thank you

 

would running better wiring be difficult?

 

Depend on how much more watts you want?

I do not Know what size awg wire in the truck Now?

18 awg will do about 750 W watts AC

16 awg = 1000 watts
14 awg = 1200 watts

Most time AWG writing on the side of wire, But some Auto wire Do not have it writing.

 

I want to take out my stock one and get one thats 1800 watt. I have no clue where to start though....

 

6,8 or 10 gauge wiring to handle that wattage?

 

I am putting an inverter in my Tacoma. Since it didn't have one I am running all the wires. I am putting it in the factory location under the console. I found this site very helpful.

http://www.whistlergroup.com/faq-inverters-answers.asp


Scroll down to the chart that shows what gauge wire to run from the battery to the inverter. That is where the big wire is needed not out of the inverter to the receptacles.
I am using welding lead wire, the cheapest place I have found is here:

http://www.cableyard.com/EP-Welding-Cable-6-AWG_p_26.html

For my 800 watt Cobra I am running the 6 AWG you see there.
Hope this helps.

 

That Whistler group site has a good power/wire size chart. The DC side input power wire is the biggest problem. 400W/12V=33 Amps already with the stock unit. So going up to an 800W inverter you can count on 66 Amps. A 1200W inverter will pull 100 Amps DC.

With boats I've worked on with status monitoring panels and inverters running a smaller microwave will pull an easy 100-120 Amps DC while running.

On the AC side it's not so big a deal. 400W/120V=3.3A, 6.6A for 800W and only 10A at 1200W.

What are you looking to run and when? If you want microwave dinners while your camping or build a new deck off the bed plug in you are going to need bigger, multiple batteries, a second alternator, and some huge wiring. If you just want to be able to run something a little bigger an 800W would be alright and might only need upgraded DC side wiring. At 800W though you still don't want to run it for any length of time at an idle because that alternator probably can't make up 66A + other truck usage at idle and you'll run the battery down.

If it's for camping or extended use I'd suggest one of those small briefcase style gensets, I've seen some of the Hondas in action and they're compact, super quiet and 1000W-2000W and it'll use less gas and make less noise than idling the truck, plus no danger of running the truck battery down in the woods and not being able to restart.

 

Thanks for all the great info!!

I was gonna hook my heater for my pressure washer up to it to do my dirveway. I thought jumping to 1800 watts would need more then just wire upgrades.