Inverter installed finally

[powerboatr]

I dont think its worthy of a WIKI, but i have pics now of her all tucked in teh under the dash.
just waiting for my escapee hybrid outlet to show up and we will be done
I utilized the unused ecm mount next the e brake, not sure whenthe ecm/pcm moved from this location my 2002 had it here but my 06 does not
the wires run through a factory grommet and hole al lwrapped in convoluted tubing, cant hardly see the harness under the hood

teh escape plug wil be put in the dash over by the 12 volt power outlet i will run a cord from the top outlet over to the indash plug
the inverter is not HUGE but gives me 400 watts over what my largest requirement is to run teh laptop

 

[BIG JOE]

Robert,

What guage wire did you use from the Batts, to the inverter ?

 

[powerboatr]

I want to say number 6, the hard part was getting the correct end connectors for soldering, it came with an alligator type clamp on thingy
pretty thick but flexible. home d had it in green and red with the fuel resistant coating
I am a little overkill for the short distance but the inverter has the potential to pull near 70 amps, if i fully load it
the computer only draws 340 watts to charge the batteries and this one has Output: 560 watts continuous, 700 watts for 5 minutes, 1000 watts surge not a ton of power but so far it ran my two bright halogen shop floods and a drill

this is the one i want for the rv, but 12v , battery charging and some other constraints have pulled it back. we could run teh a/c while on the road and save propane.
Output: 2500 watts continuous, 3000 watts for 5 minutes, 5000 watts surge

 

[BIG JOE]

Thanx. I'm guna put one in my Bed Box. I've got a set of old but Real heavy duty Jumper Cables.... guna use them for feed wires.

I'd like to have one of those 2500 watt jobs myself. I'v got 2, 750 cca Blue Top Optima's it my FW..... Guna halfta make myself smart(er) on what Batts it takes to power one of those inverters.

JOE

 

[rgdillon]

I dont think its worthy of a WIKI, but i have pics now of her all tucked in teh under the dash.

Hmmm . . . never thought of putting one there - good idea! I have two mounted myself - one in the bed and one under my console that I built.

Looks good

Ron

 

[powerboatr]

big joe
that 2500 watter is going to take at least by my west marine charts a four bank of deep cycle batteries. if you want to run any length of time. 6-8hrs
its the recharging that scares me.
your looking at a nominal amp load of 230 dc amps if she is pulling the 2500 watts, OUCH so even if you half the load we stil need a dedicated alt to run 130 amps just to try to keep up
maybe i need to look at going to a second alt dedicated to charge the coach batteries while we are under way, or let em run while traveling then have a dedicated ac to dc charger to bring the inverter batteries back up to full charge, that way would be teh least $$

its nice to think about, its not dead yet
could use a huge solar array


Ron
i battled for weeks with mockups for a console and just couldnt get it like i wanted, this spot was sure dumb luck i was cleaning the truck out and saw it, then the light bulbs blicked

 

[rgdillon]

Thanx. I'm guna put one in my Bed Box. I've got a set of old but Real heavy duty Jumper Cables.... guna use them for feed wires.

I'd like to have one of those 2500 watt jobs myself. I'v got 2, 750 cca Blue Top Optima's it my FW..... Guna halfta make myself smart(er) on what Batts it takes to power one of those inverters.

JOE

Joe,

I think your going to need either #2 or 0 with the 2500 watt number. I have a 1850/3000 watt mounted in my bed. I run four batteries - two stock and then I added to more batteries to the rail. When I ordered the truck I ordered the dual alts just for this purpose. Working great so far.

Ron

 

[powerboatr]

Joe,

I think your going to need either #2 or 0 with the 2500 watt number. I have a 1850/3000 watt mounted in my bed. I run four batteries - two stock and then I added to more batteries to the rail. When I ordered the truck I ordered the dual alts just for this purpose. Working great so far.

Ron

please more info
I was looking real close last night at the 2500 watt job for the rv, i have space and a place to add 3 batteries. and the inverter, plus its right next to eh auto switch over panel so all teh wires would be less than four feet runs
Does your trucks charging system keep up ok?
I am leaning now more toward s dedicated 120 volt to 12v converter to recharge the deep cells after a road run. when we hook back up to shore power.
so the inverter would run things like the a/c when we travel in the summer, nothing like a cool coach to crash in for a while.

 

[rgdillon]

please more info
I was looking real close last night at the 2500 watt job for the rv, i have space and a place to add 3 batteries. and the inverter, plus its right next to eh auto switch over panel so all teh wires would be less . . . .

First thing to do is to select an inverter ( I have a Portawattz ) and try to download/read the directions and specs before you buy it so you know what it is going to require. That said -

I had a bracket made up and then welded to my frame, outside, passenger side as far back as I could which puts it just about at where the body and the bed meet. The inverter is then mounted to the side of the bed forward of the wheel well. #2 cable is feed up from the batteries through a hole that is already in the side of the bed near the top, under the rail.
The batteries are grounded to the frame using flat mesh straps. Another #2 wire runs from this battery bank up to the passenger side battery and ties into the post where the alts connect.
Back in the bed of the truck - I have a 14/2 extension wire plugged into the inverter and run around and under the bed to the drivers right rear corner. There a toolbox is mounted - and a standard outlet is cut into the side of the box. I also have a remote switch mounted there to turn the inverter on and off.
The truck itself was ordered as I said with the dual alts. I installed a digital volt gauge to monitor everything. To date the alts have had no problem keeping up with the batteries.
My use of the inverter is different from yours - I use mine for power tools and the most important of all - the coffee maker (I actually carry one with me to appease Juan Valdez and the coffee gods). When we have out NOVAPS meetings we have a 40 cup coffee maker - I will fill it and start it when I leave home and by the time I get to where ever we are meeting - it's ready to go - no NOVAPS member has to wait for coffee

Here is a picture of the business end of the whole works (I have a camper shell). The TS decal has been replaced by a Quadzilla one though

Ron

 

[BIG JOE]

please more info
I was looking real close last night at the 2500 watt job for the rv, i have space and a place to add 3 batteries. and the inverter, plus its right next to eh auto switch over panel so all teh wires would be less than four feet runs
Does your trucks charging system keep up ok?
I am leaning now more toward s dedicated 120 volt to 12v converter to recharge the deep cells after a road run. when we hook back up to shore power.
so the inverter would run things like the a/c when we travel in the summer, nothing like a cool coach to crash in for a while.

Thanx Ron. The cables I'm talk'n about were made up from Welding leads. they are 0/0.... so I think they will be good. Yer thoughts...?

Robert... Talked to a guy last night who's a Certified Tech for Monaco and several other "Big Buck" Motor Home makers. He tells me, that unless you have room for a "Battery Bank", of 6 or 8 >BIG< Deep Cycle Batts to operate a 2500 watt inverter..... trying to run one off of 2, 3 or even 4, group 27 or 28 batts won't git it...... for any time at all (load). Also one Hellova AMP Alternator would be needed for recharge.

Anyone else out there wana jump in ????

JOE

I'v got a Yamaha, 2800 generator for cool'n things down with the A/C.