i want to set my truck up so i can use 110 power while it is running,like a generator. i want to put an outlet in the cab for powering things while im cruising. and i also want to put some outlets in the back of the bed, and maybe one inside the grill. what would be the best way to go for this? i thought about a regular 3000 watt inverter, but now i am thinking some kind of generator set up or something that runs off the motor? doesn anyone have anyhting like this?

 

it depends on what you are powering, if it is for small tools etc. then a 3,000 watt inverter is ok and pretty efficient but remember if you are drawing the full 3kw you are also pulling about 270 amps from the battery. the next thing is not all electronic devices like the quasi square wave off of the inverter. a good example is a multiple battery charger for cordless tools or most high end lap top computers. you can sometimes tell if it will not work if it states it will work on 100 through 220 volts, this tells you it has a switching regulated power supply and the inverter does not have the ramp to allow it to work . it takes a true sine wave inverter to run these. a 3kw true sine wave inverter is going to be a little pricey. for what you want the generator under the hood or off the transmission is not going to work as they have to run at constant rpm to get the 60 hertz and the ones that do not have to have the fixed rpm is just a alternator - true sine wave inverter that usually operates at 48 volts intermediate voltage, and remember you are adding up to 3kw of extra drag on that serpentine belt

 

thats somegood info. so do you think that if i got a 3000 watt sine inverter, and maybe a bigger alternator, i would be in business to run a skillsaw, and maybe an air compressor, or a miter box ? thanks for this help.

 

I think you'd be better off just getting a little Honda compact, portable generator. They make them things so small and quiet now. Just add a tool box and set it in there. it'll take up just a smal part of it and then your bound to anywhere you can carry it to have power. Including places the truck won't go.

 

I have a 750W inverter. It won't run a heat gun on the high setting. Wired with 4 ga wire directly to batteries.

 

If you run a skil saw or power tool you will deifintely need an extension cord. An inverter won't make it. Get a generator and you will be in business.

 

I would say the inverter will be good to charge cordless batteries, and I know it will run a laptop. I would forget about running power tools or a compressor from one. I would get a generator.

 

turbotowrig,

The answer really depends on what you need to run and for how long.
I have a cabover camper that usually lives on top of my truck and in it I have a 2000 watt sine-wave inverter and a 2000 watt Honda generator. I decide which one to used based on the equipment I need to operate....

I do use the inverter to run lots of high current-draw stuff like power tools and even the microwave oven, but ONLY for short periods of time. In your case, a high quality inverter will run your miter or skillsaw effortlessly. But for anything that needs lots of power for a long time (like a air compressor or air-conditioner) I'd suggest that you go with a gasoline powered generator.

Unfortunately I am not familiar with any PTO or belt-driven generators specifically designed for our trucks.

Cheers
-Mark

 

You would definitely be better off getting a small generator in the 1000 or 2000 watt range depending on your load. This would eliminate the need to run the Cummins for a small load. The generator would provide the portability to use anywhere and use vary little fuel. Check out the Honda 2000 - it's a very popular unit used by campers.

I use an inverter in my truck but only use it for charging camera batteries, cell phones, laptop, etc which draws only about 150 watts.

 

i do the same as mark, i was getting wordy and i shortend it, the best generators are the ones that are dc and have sine wave inverters built into them you can even parallel two of them and they have 12dc out to charge batteries and run the camper , they are highley efficient as the motor changes speed with load and a 2kw is very small in size

 

We typically wire our work trucks with inverters which will run a skill saw with no problem. The problem is finding the place to mount it and getting enough juice to it. They are 1750 watts, approximately 10" x 16" x 3".

 

I run 2 deepcycle batteries, the are kept charged by a little 3 watt solar panel I got for under $30. This way my elec system is not stressed by my alternator constantly charging dead batts.

 

I've run laptops and saws off a little cheap invertors that just attach to the battery terminals. Not the best, but worked for short periods. Again, I have 2 of the little Honda 2000W generators, and they work great except for the nail gun pancake compressor.. When it hits, it will kick the generator off-line. Hence I bought the 2 generators and link them. Biggest issue with the generators, other than cost, is keeping an eye on them. Only weighing 47 lbs, they are stolen quite often.

 

http://www.fabcopower.com/generat/bgen.htm

I also remember an episode of trucks, where they installed a similar setup, but I think it was about a 5kw belt driven generator. The put it on a for work truck and added some outlets back in the bed area.

I also remember hearing about some hydraulic drive generators that could be remote mounted away from the engine.

jeff s.

 

Yea I remember that episode of trucks. It was on a Duramax Dually. It looked pretty costly, if I remember correctly they had to pull the transmission and put an aftermarket modded Allison. I guess GM had removed the PTO in the later model years since no one was using them. And I think the Generator was run off the PTO. Built the truck up to be actioned off, had alot of goodies on that truck... Winch, Generator, lift, big rig wheels, powered AMP steps, Computer module which also could change the vanes in the turbo and act as a exhaust brake.