Ok, I received a nice little 3 gallon air compressor for Christmas and I have an idea to mount it in my tool box. I already carry almost all my tools in my truck as I travel a lot and that usually involves either taking my mud truck out or going camping.

With all this in mind I think I have the chance to make a capable service truck. I would like an inverter big enough to run my compressor and also make plug spots in the side of the box to plug in stuff like a drop lights and stuff. Anyone done something like this or any of you electrical gurus know how big of an inverter I should get?

 

My vision is to have quick connects for air and power plugs accessible from outside the box.

 

just set up two soup trucks last week 2010 fords
I think for a general contractor 3000 watts for an inverter 27 amps .you will need to run it at 80 percent capacity 25 amps max to allow for loads of lights drills and saws and heat that the inverter will generate in the summer and two deep cycle batteries minimum 700 cold cranking amps to feed it so theirs no surge and a super alternator 200 amps
then a cable to increase the idle when using it. number 2 gauge cables from inverter to batteries and from alternator to batteries a disconnect switch for safety don't try running any thing bigger than a 500 watt off your stock set up will fry things as wiring not designed for it ..been there done it and sadly got a t shirt to prove it from wall drugs
safer and easier to use a small quiet 3000 watt gen set in the back that's bolted down and exhausted out the side you can move it closer to you site too if needed hop this helps PM if ya want

 

This truck has a 4000 watt inverter under the seat. Comes in real handy running a compressor and charging camera batteries at pulls.

 

You sure it's that simple?

 

How much will a 500 watt inverter power?

 

He also had the alternator tuned up by a local auto electric shop and has a HUGE battery behind the seat. The Battery is I think 2000 or so cranking amps and its about 2 1/2' long by about a foot wide.

I'll try to snap some pics tomorow of the setup.

 

I have a 800 watt inverter mounted in the glove box and powered by a 950 cca optima mounted sideways behind the drivers side, under the panel by the fuel fill. It powers my winch and inverter, for now...Mark

 

I second the genset idea, a invertor the size you want is to much work and pricey. If you don't want to spend the cash on a Yamaha or Honda invertor check out a Hyundai generator, they aren't quiet like the other two but seem reliable so far

 

Ditto the genset idea, ... I've used the Champions of various sizes and found they're quieter in recent years, plus you can reduce noise by building sound boxes and bigger mufflers. Or go Honda and lock it out of sight ... they tend to disappear unless chained, locked, hidden and guarded, ...

 

What are the amps on the compressor? Should say what they are on the nameplate.

P=IxE...... which means Watts=AmpsXvolts

So if its a 10amp compressor running on 120v, that's 1200watts, but as said before, you need a bigger amount of wattage. IE 1500watts

Generator mounted in bed would be way better and probably won't burn your truck to the ground when it goes bad...

 

A 500 watt inverter is not very big. Could it run your compressor?

Too keep my answer simple 500W inverter = 5-100watt light bulbs.

 

Pretty much no more than 4 amps...

 

Remember that compressors have a start up capacitor that momentarily draw much more amps than it takes to run. This should be on the label. I don't remember if it is a capacitor or something else, it's been a long time since HS electronics......Mark

 

You have it backwards, a start capacitor will lower the amps on start up. Without it, some compressors will not start at all and if they do, they will draw amps about what the LRA rating is (LRA = locked rotor amps). With a good start capacitor and a properly working load sensing relay your start up draw should be almost the same as the RLA amps, (rated load amps).

That being said, not all compressors have a start cap, and of course amp draw will be higher on start up. You could add a cap easily if you needed to lower start up amp draw though.