What have you used your inverter for?

Ive not used mine yet but have a great plan to do so when my ARE cap comes in. Im going to use those led rope lights like I ran in my gazebeo along the bed top. Im betting it lights up the whole damn bed back there very nicely? I ran ac service so if it works as well as I hope..... no more flashlight digging for parts after dark! Plus they draw very min amps. My trucks a LB so im thinking the beds are like 6' 2" plus like what 5' wide at the front? That's around 17'.... Home Depot has them in 18' sections, should work great! And if their plugged in all the time being able to turn them on/off from the dash is just going to be handly!

Ryan

 

http://www.australiandirect.com.au/assets/files/Instruction Manual IB31.pdf

I found this but to be honest I don't really know what any of the numbers mean. Other searches seem to indicate the draw to maintain temp is pretty low but don't know if that is based on ac or dc? This is obviously not my strong suit.

I am going to get a fridge anyway, sick of ice. I was planning on wiring off of the battery to the bed with 8 or 10 ga fused to a socket but my wife pointed out the obvious, why don't you just plug it in to the inverter?

 

I used a little black and decker 5 cup model

 

used to to torture my enemies with electroshock.....

Actually, damn near everything, tools, drop lights chargers, lapper, 400W PA system, durn thing is useful as hell.

 

I use mine for bragging. "What? Your $75,000 Denali Dually doesn't have a house outlet? Jeez, if my lowly wannabe truck has one..."

I have a car vac and a drier behind the seat that see regular use with the outlet... you never know when you'll feel the need to spontaneously detail your truck!

 

I added a second outlet inside the cab using the same inverter and switch. I also installed a 12v outlet just above that after this picture was taken though.




This has been useful for charging a laptop or camera battery while driving. I've also plugged in a glade home air freshener

 

We have work to do

 

This.

I tried the same. Very disappointed.

 

I should have clarified- on some of the reefers like the Edgestar you can run them off AC or DC power. I plug mine into the outlet and have the cigarette lighter plugged into my spare marine battery; when hooked up this way it runs off the AC power while the truck is running and switches to the battery when it's not. I haven't gotten around to hooking up my dual battery system and the marine battery just sits in the back without being charged. The Edgestar is pretty efficient and using this system I've gone several days before the battery needed charging. I would definitely not leave the inverter running with the truck off; converting 12V to 120V is not particularly efficient and you'd be better off using 12V devices. I do it simply because I haven't wired my second battery into my charging system.

Additionally, a 400w inverter really isn't much power and I'm surprised at some of the stuff folks have said they run off of it. What you need to look at with electrical appliances is the start-up amperage- what does the device draw right when you cut it on. That number is often a few amps higher than the operating amps and is what trips the breaker. Note that the wiring to/from the inverter and to the 12volt outlet are not very heavy gauge so plan accordingly.

Larger wattage inverters are also larger in size and there isn't a whole lot of room in the stock location for a larger inverter- at least not a quality model. I seem to recall someone modifying a 750watt model to fit but I can't recall where. Quality inverters will use a true sine wave (cleaner power) while cheaper models usually use a modified sine wave. If you are going to run sensitive electrical equipment I would step up to a true sine wave inverter.

 

I am a builder. Home construction. I have used my Makita 18V battery tools to start projects before I have power on site. The inverter charges the batteries and I keep cutting and screwing.

 

I forget to charge my phone a lot and i keep an extension cord in the back of my truck running through the back window to charge my phone via outlet if i dont know where my car charger is.

 

Nice, is there a write up on this? I was just contemplating on how I was going to hook up kids video monitors for the trip to obx. I have an inverter from my old truck that I was going to use til I saw this.

 

Use it every time we go camping to fill up the 110v built-in pump air mattress, in the tent (bring extension cord). An area lamp or drop light can plug into it to if it is too dark to find your Coleman when you get to your camp spot.

 

I had storm damage to my house this spring and lost power for 3 days, i ran an extension cord from the driveway into the house and ran a fan, light, phone charger, tv on it while i was up and fan and charger and deep freezer at bed time.

i started it every other hour for between 30min and and hour during the day and left it idle all night. used 19 gallons of gas in 3 days but saved myself from dying of heat and boredome!

 

i dont know about a fridge but i ran my 17 cubic foot deep freezer on it. so i would guess as long as its a small fridge then i wouldnt hesitate.

 

I plug a trickle charger into it and run the 12v output back to the battery so it is always topped off.

Wait, no... I mean, wait...

Uh oh...


Best use for 400w @ 120v (3.33A) is charging batteries. If you need to run lights, I would recommend LED type.


Chris

 

Its really really easy and cheap. Hardest part is removing the center console (which isn't hard) and cutting a perfect square to fit the plug. The plugs are like 2 for $5 on eBay. Come from china so they take like 3 weeks but they are perfect!

No writeup that I know of but I can help. Its only 3 wires that go from the plug to the inverter like 6" away. Need some connectors and hot glue for good measure.

If you want a 12v outlet back there I recommend doing it at the same time.

Here are some updated pictures...

 

I've found it doesn't have the amperage to run most things, and most things that you could run with it can run off the 12V outlets in the cab anyway.

I'd gladly trade this feature for a factory cargo light.

That being said, I've owned three 2nd gen's, and only used it once, and that was to power a Dremel tool.

 

you know. i just thought about it, i have a 1500 watt inverter laying around, where is the factory inverter at? and would anyone by chance have a picture? maybe theres an upgrade option here i have used mine alot, i picked up some things that it can run

my 500w halogen flood lamp will run for a little bit then trip the breaker and i have to go reset it, so i bought a 300w flourecent one and it works great! and its waterproof and not hot! i also have used it for charging my tool batteries, vacuuming out the truck (sometimes trips the breaker but i just reset it) running a crappy black and decker drill in wood, backup generator for when my power was out at the house to run my deep freezer, and a fan and the tv (couldnt run the fan on high w tv or freezer) but overall its been handy. not amazing just handy lol