Anyone experienced with large truck inverters?

[autogateman]

I'm looking in to installing an inverter large enough to power grinders and other high starting amperage tools. I also have a small welder I want to run off of it also.

Here's the specs on the welder-
http://victortechnologies.com/thermalar ... pt2012.pdf


I know it will be expensive but would be great if I could get a good 20 amp 110v supply right out of my truck. I was thinking a large deep cycle battery that is charged off of my alternator, but with an isolator to keep it from draining the truck battery. So what do y'all think??

Thanks in advance,
Rod

[nts007]

Run 2 extra batteries instead of one. Isolated is good. But it will take time for th alt to keep up. That's a lot of power draw. I would expect like a 20% Duty cycle. Idk how long the batts would last for a welder. Maybe tacking a couple things together or a temp fix on the trail. Not any heavy usage. It's not getting the power it's how long you want it to run. The 18v cordless grinders work pretty good and your reg system with a small inverter can charge the batteries for it. It would be only the welder that I would think needs the heavy power. But other guys will know more than me on the math on the system.

[autogateman]

Right now I have a 500 watt that powers all my cordless tool chargers. But I tried running a port a band saw and it blew the fuse.

[Mule]

What's wrong with a generator?

Open-frame construction generators are kinda loud and inefficient, work really well for power tools and provide plenty of 120v AC power, and can be found for very cheap. In situations where noise isn't an issue (i'm guessing if you're using it for power tools, you're not using it in a campsite or running it all night long) these are probably your best option.

The little Hond-amaha suitcase jobbies are quieter, more efficient, although more expensive... but provide good AC power especially for more sensitive loads (Battery maintainers, computers, battery/camera/radio chargers).

For every amp on the 120v AC side, you'll need over 10 amps on the 12v DC side. Derate that number for inverter inefficiency and voltage drop on the battery, factor in duty cycle of the device on the inverter and charging capacity of your battery bank...

Inverters are great for light loads, but when you're talking anything over a couple amps.... they're just not worth it. I have a 200W inverter in the truck, and a 2kW Generac suitcase generator for when I need healthy 120V. Bought a pair of these for $300 (Craigslist), then about $150 to a couple friends travelling across the country to get them to me. Cleaned them up, installed hour meters, pretty sure one's got a bad stator winding, the other runs like a champ.
>pic extremely related
Not sure I'd necessarily recommend the knock-off brands... if you're looking for something quiet and add-fuel-and-go simple, go for the Honda or Yamaha units. If you know your way around a small engine and can deal with electrical issues (I'm an Electrical Engineer, snowmobiler, dirt biker... so yeah, generator wrenchin' comes easy for me) the Champion/Generac/Honeywell units are a good way to save some coin if you're willing to pull the thing apart.

[nts007]

Yea u need more than 500w for that. We use a 3000w pure sine wave inverter in the rv. Solar charging. 3 batts. Runs small microwave and coffee pot. But it has drained it down before. Backup generator helps. It depends how long you want to run the tools for. Alt is only 160 ish amps at max output. Not idle. (3rd gen reference) so at 12 volts that only gives you 1920 watts from the alt. at 110 v is roughly 17amps total output. Yes the batt is a buffer/capacitor but your alt wont keep up for long. I know there is current loss and what not so its closer to 14 amps max output in the end after an inverter. So run extra batteries. I know someone on here should be able to tell u the amp hours you would have on the batteries and roughly how long you can run what.

[nts007]

Slow reply i agree with generator. Way to go

[Mule]

Also part of the reason my truck's gas ... common fuel between my generator and truck (and sled, and bike). Throw a gen and jerry can in the back, run whatever.

Power Wagon brought in the power (fitting, right?) for the 4th-of-July celebration last year... had our beer garden running off it, reefer trailer for the kegs, plus a couple other vendors in the area we were set up in.

[autogateman]

Ok well it seems like an inverter is out of the question then. The specs on that welder say a 6k is minimum generator size for it. I have a 6500 and a 10k miller bobcat. Most of the time I use a 10 ga cord plugged in at the customers house but a good 20 amp supply would be nice to have without hauling a genny around everywhere.

[TwinStick]

There is also these, which are both. http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/ ... aQod7DwA-w

IMHO, it would be cheaper in the long run to use a big generator to power the welder or the gen/welder combo. Yes, it can certainly be done off the truck but high amp alt's are expensive, as is a good double big ass battery/inverter set up.

https://www.dcpowerinc.com/high-output- ... 7L+Hemi+V8

http://www.batterystuff.com/batteries/r ... /8A8D.html
http://www.sears.com/diehard-platinum-m ... 850131000P

http://invertersupply.com/index.php?mai ... aQodl08AoA

Only you can decide what is right for you.

[06PW]

How about an all in one inverter and welder. I had one of these on my Land Rover years ago. http://www.premierpowerwelder.com

[TwinStick]

I wonder if it HAS to be their alt ? I already have a 270 amp alt, that puts out 199 amps at idle. I also wonder how much faster it would wear out using the welder ?

[BigRed2007]

yes, it has to be thier alternator and no they don't make one for our trucks...I called them a few years back. They utilize the alternators internal voltage regulator to make the alternator act like a welder. our trucks use the computer to regulate to voltage.

I went with a large 3000 watt pure sine inverter. It is too large for my solar and single house battery to keep up with. I just don't use it enough to justify carrying it anymore. I am consiering selling it and going with a smaller 1500-2000 watt inverter.