1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Outside AC Power

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by Tactical_Panda, Aug 28, 2018.

  1. Aug 28, 2018 at 7:06 AM
    #1
    Tactical_Panda

    Tactical_Panda [OP] Armchair Anarchist

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2017
    Member:
    #212502
    Messages:
    7,162
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Tim
    Fredericksburg, VA
    Vehicle:
    2015 Tacoma Double Cab, Off-Road Edition
    AJT Designs Shifter AJT Designs Battery Hold-Down ARB Awning 2500x2500 ARB Twin Compressor w/ Slee Offroad Mounting Bracket Avid Brush Bar Avid Step Bars Black Rock Wheels Series 997 Type 8 Circuit Breaker/Relay Panel Custom TRD Decals Bulletproof Fabricating Raptor Grill Bulletproof Fabricating Cooling Panel Bulletproof Fabricating Tow Hook Duluth Trading Company Dog Hammock Exhaust Breather Mod eBay Special 3-Gallon Air Tank Expedition Essentials TPAM EZ Down tailgate damper Flagpole Mounts, Dual Foglight Mod Front Camera Rear Camera; full time available General Grabber tires Goat Armor Hella Supertone Horns Iggy Switch Panel Icon Dynamics Stage 3 Suspension Katskin Leather Interior KickAss camp shower LED Bed Lights LED Interior Lights Midland MXT275 GMRS Two-Way Radio OEM Audio Plus Reference 500 audio upgrade Plano Cases. 42" roof mounted, X2 Pop-N-Lock Tailgate Handle Prinsu Cab Rack Prinsu-like Shell Rack Redline Tuning Hood Struts Rigid Industries 40" Light Bar Rigid Industries Ditch Lights Rigid Industries Spotlights Toyota Bed Step UltraGauge EM Plus v1.4 Vixen Air Horns, Four-Trumpet Whole bunch of decals worth about 5HP each Yakima Road Shower, 10-gal
    I like to do the Car and Truck Show scene. As such, I have some ornamental lighting (Underbody LEDs, Strobes, Halos eventually) but if I run the extra lights for too long, (especially the strobes) with the engine off the battery runs down after a couple of hours.

    I could go with a second battery arrangement but what I'd rather do is run a small gas-powered generator and somehow plug it into the vehicle's battery to keep it charged.

    Does anyone know of a compact battery charger that I could permanently install and then plug into a generator when necessary?

    TIA
     
  2. Aug 28, 2018 at 7:22 AM
    #2
    Rujack

    Rujack Stop Global Whining

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2016
    Member:
    #194732
    Messages:
    2,447
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2016 Tacoma TRD Off Road 6 speed manual
    Isn’t there a generator under the hood?

    ...sorry
     
  3. Aug 28, 2018 at 8:10 AM
    #3
    Tactical_Panda

    Tactical_Panda [OP] Armchair Anarchist

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2017
    Member:
    #212502
    Messages:
    7,162
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Tim
    Fredericksburg, VA
    Vehicle:
    2015 Tacoma Double Cab, Off-Road Edition
    AJT Designs Shifter AJT Designs Battery Hold-Down ARB Awning 2500x2500 ARB Twin Compressor w/ Slee Offroad Mounting Bracket Avid Brush Bar Avid Step Bars Black Rock Wheels Series 997 Type 8 Circuit Breaker/Relay Panel Custom TRD Decals Bulletproof Fabricating Raptor Grill Bulletproof Fabricating Cooling Panel Bulletproof Fabricating Tow Hook Duluth Trading Company Dog Hammock Exhaust Breather Mod eBay Special 3-Gallon Air Tank Expedition Essentials TPAM EZ Down tailgate damper Flagpole Mounts, Dual Foglight Mod Front Camera Rear Camera; full time available General Grabber tires Goat Armor Hella Supertone Horns Iggy Switch Panel Icon Dynamics Stage 3 Suspension Katskin Leather Interior KickAss camp shower LED Bed Lights LED Interior Lights Midland MXT275 GMRS Two-Way Radio OEM Audio Plus Reference 500 audio upgrade Plano Cases. 42" roof mounted, X2 Pop-N-Lock Tailgate Handle Prinsu Cab Rack Prinsu-like Shell Rack Redline Tuning Hood Struts Rigid Industries 40" Light Bar Rigid Industries Ditch Lights Rigid Industries Spotlights Toyota Bed Step UltraGauge EM Plus v1.4 Vixen Air Horns, Four-Trumpet Whole bunch of decals worth about 5HP each Yakima Road Shower, 10-gal
    Well, in order to run that "generator" one must keep the engine running. I don't want to do that. I just want the truck to sit there, look nice, and display its lights.
     
  4. Aug 28, 2018 at 8:14 AM
    #4
    Rujack

    Rujack Stop Global Whining

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2016
    Member:
    #194732
    Messages:
    2,447
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2016 Tacoma TRD Off Road 6 speed manual
    I know. Sorry again...

    I personally would go for dual battery or possibly even just a big deep cycle depending on exactly what your demands are. But that’s because I can’t stand the sound of a generator...
     
  5. Aug 28, 2018 at 8:17 AM
    #5
    Tactical_Panda

    Tactical_Panda [OP] Armchair Anarchist

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2017
    Member:
    #212502
    Messages:
    7,162
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Tim
    Fredericksburg, VA
    Vehicle:
    2015 Tacoma Double Cab, Off-Road Edition
    AJT Designs Shifter AJT Designs Battery Hold-Down ARB Awning 2500x2500 ARB Twin Compressor w/ Slee Offroad Mounting Bracket Avid Brush Bar Avid Step Bars Black Rock Wheels Series 997 Type 8 Circuit Breaker/Relay Panel Custom TRD Decals Bulletproof Fabricating Raptor Grill Bulletproof Fabricating Cooling Panel Bulletproof Fabricating Tow Hook Duluth Trading Company Dog Hammock Exhaust Breather Mod eBay Special 3-Gallon Air Tank Expedition Essentials TPAM EZ Down tailgate damper Flagpole Mounts, Dual Foglight Mod Front Camera Rear Camera; full time available General Grabber tires Goat Armor Hella Supertone Horns Iggy Switch Panel Icon Dynamics Stage 3 Suspension Katskin Leather Interior KickAss camp shower LED Bed Lights LED Interior Lights Midland MXT275 GMRS Two-Way Radio OEM Audio Plus Reference 500 audio upgrade Plano Cases. 42" roof mounted, X2 Pop-N-Lock Tailgate Handle Prinsu Cab Rack Prinsu-like Shell Rack Redline Tuning Hood Struts Rigid Industries 40" Light Bar Rigid Industries Ditch Lights Rigid Industries Spotlights Toyota Bed Step UltraGauge EM Plus v1.4 Vixen Air Horns, Four-Trumpet Whole bunch of decals worth about 5HP each Yakima Road Shower, 10-gal
    Thing is, I'm not aware of of a all-in-one dual battery kit for the 2-gen. If there is one out there, that would be great.
     
  6. Aug 28, 2018 at 10:08 AM
    #6
    bagleboy

    bagleboy Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 5, 2017
    Member:
    #226018
    Messages:
    7,233
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Scott
    Norcal, Santa Rosa
    Vehicle:
    2014 5-lug AC 2.7L VVTI
    Snug top Rebel, Thule tracks, ditch tracks, Bagged rear suspension, F/R anytime camera, intermittent wiper switch...
    It would be quieter to install a plug and isolation switch to run the system off a remote deep cycle battery or with a generator with 12V output if run time trumps noise. If not, there are plenty of compact 12V chargers available at every auto parts retailer around the country as well as Amazon, just pick one with enough output current since many are just trickle chargers.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top