increasing voltage of in bed outlet

has anyone had any luck increasing the voltage of the in bed outlet. i think it would only take getting a bigger power inverter in place of the stock one.? right now it is stock at 115v would need to increase it past 120, to run a air compressor.

 

It's not the voltage you want to increase for a compressor it's wattage. I'm not sure what your compressor is like but to run mine would take a mininum of a 1500 watt inverter. If you're planning on running something like that for more than a few minutes the truck would have to stay running to power it so your best bet might be to pick up a small generator.

 

I agree. For under $500, you'd likely pick up a generator with 2 or 4, 12 amp outlets. Its very hard to get continuous 12 amps from your truck without investing lots of money and you will have to upgrade your existing bed receptacle and associated wires to 14 gauge. You'll have to run your engine before your compressor kicks in. Too much work and its not cost effective. Check out Honda's "whisper quiet" generators and pick the one that meets your compressor's power requirements. Consider a 220 volt unit, if you can afford it.

Check out this link for ideas: http://www.macgen.com/catalog/Honda.html

 

WooHoo first post. Anyway I think I just want to put my .02 cents in.

Watts is a unit of power, the sum of an equation that involves in this case Voltage, and Current (amps).

Watts (p) = Voltage (V) * Current (I)

Anywhoo yes if you have a higher wattage at a given voltage (115Volts in this case) then indeed you would be able to draw a higher current.

An air compressor (I am assuming something bigger than a typical little bike tire/ emergancy tire inflator) normally has a pretty high initial starting current that lowers - but that initial spike can be very very high.

+1 on that small honda generators - excellant quality. The outlet in the back of out trucks (I really can't say that yet - I dont get mine until wednesday) is more useful for maybe powering a small light, a smallish tv, light duty tools, recharging batteries, things that don't require lots of power. running on the 400 watt setting you could techincally draw about 3.47 amps, but that would be pushing it.

 

Welcome Coreyjon. Good first post...

 

Thanks guys, just "moving in" to the forums so I will have to work on my signature and the like.

I am a Crew Chief on LC-130H's. I'm based out of Scotia, Ny for the 109th AW. We are the guys who have skis on the the planes. We fly to Greenland, and Antarctica primarily. In greenland is where I drove my first Hilux - Talk about love at first site.

Not a radar guy, but I do try to hang out when other back shops are working on parts that normally I wouldnt fiddle with to try and learn more about the inner workings.

I am extreamly excited to be getting my truck. One of my other hobbies is photography so you can bet there will be photos!

 

Welcome Corey!

The other thing is it's not a simple task to swap the stock inverter for a larger one. The stock one is tied into the VSS and a CC cancel switch on the clutch (both are used to drop the power from 400w to 100w while moving). You'd have to unhook that, run new (larger) power and ground wires, and some other kind of switch if you don't want it on all the time.

I know a few people have put larger inverters in their trucks, but seriously. If you get something that puts out so much power that you want the truck running to keep the battery up the a generator is better. Figure around $100-$150 (just guessing) for a 1000w-2000w inverter, plus extra gas for the truck running, and limited to the bed or extension cords. Or you could get a generator you could use around the house, cabin, camp site, etc for $150-$500.

Like this one for $150 at Northern Tool:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200313480_200313480

 

welcome to TW CoreyJon!

 

I do not mean to hijack this thread, but may I ask -

"Whats with the alliances?"



And how can I join

 

in going back to the power supply question, if I were to use a generator (like the honda generator mentioned), I guess the only place for the generator is in the truck bed. I am concerned about the exhaust/CO that the generator will produce since my dog will be in the bed as well. Any other ideas?

 

Do you have a cap or open bed? What are you going to use it for? Can't really be used when moving down the road obviously but if you get the smaller EU2000 and EU1000 unless your dog is standing with his mouth to the exhaust it should be no problem. I've put mine under my trailer with the exhaust pointing out past the rear bumper and never had a problem. If you're really concerned about the dog put a Carbon Monoxide detector somewhere back there. Definitely wouldn't use a genny in a bed with a cap though.

 

It would be for when I am in motion and while parking.

I would be using the EU2000i

I wonder if there is a way to port out the exhaust?

 

good point, because I am looking to try to install a campershell a/c like this one:
http://www.adventurerv.net/coleman-polar-cub-roof-air-conditioner-p-76.html

Any other ideas as to where to hide the generator? Or to produce more power for the a/c unit?
thx

 

"those honda generators are very pricey. I'd be looking into getting one of the cheap chinese knockoffs. From what I hear, they are pretty much the same thing, but don't have Honda written on them."

Believe me, there is a huge difference in just about everything between a Honda generator and a 'chinese knockoff'. Quality, startability, noise, power output, you name it. Huge difference - but you pay for it.