pvfjr
1/2 ton status
Yeah, I've got tons of room for one of those in my standard cab.goldwing2000 said:
CK5
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I need an Electrical Engineer!!!
- Thread starter rockink5
- Start date
pvfjr
1/2 ton status
A $60 one73k5blazer said:
Got it at a swap meet, it's from an industrial power backup unit. They get used a lot for electric cars too. Glass mat/gel design too, so all the same benefits of an optima.
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goldwing2000
Guest
pvfjr said:Yeah, I've got tons of room for one of those in my standard cab.
I wasn't suggesting putting a gasoline-powed device in the passenger compartment.
Mount it in the bed in a waterproof box.
goldwing2000 said:
So much easier to pack a gas generator in a K5
? I haven't seen anyone have issues with there electrical system while using one, or even have to run multiple batteries, it's not there to run a house, it's there to charge batteries and maybe run a blender. I can see it's not the norm to have one, but where I live and go, I see plenty of rigs with them.I just think it's kinda funny, how it's wrong if everyone does'nt do exactly the same thing everyone else does.
Thanks for the help guy's.
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goldwing2000
Guest
Lighten up, Francis. I never said it was "wrong" to install the inverter, I was only giving other options. You'll notice I asked, "... wouldn't it be easier to just get a small 1000W generator?" And yes, as long as it's properly vented, I think it would be easier.
Besides that, if you're only going to charge batteries and run a blender, do you really need 1000W?
Just sayin'...
My gf just picked up a 140W inverter for $30 that plugs into a cig lighter and it's plenty powerful enough to run her laptop and portable DVD player. No idea how much power a blender needs but it can't be that much.
1000W is enough to run a small microwave oven!
It's all good, though. Whatever floats your boat.
Besides that, if you're only going to charge batteries and run a blender, do you really need 1000W?
Just sayin'...
My gf just picked up a 140W inverter for $30 that plugs into a cig lighter and it's plenty powerful enough to run her laptop and portable DVD player. No idea how much power a blender needs but it can't be that much.
1000W is enough to run a small microwave oven!
It's all good, though. Whatever floats your boat.
pvfjr
1/2 ton status
You may have underestimated the power of a good blender. The last one I bought for my mom was 650W! 
So yes, since one must be at least a tad overkill at all times, 1000W is absolutely necessary.
I wouldn't say a generator is easy either. I don't have room, even in the bed. A short bed stepside with a tool box barely leaves room for the spare. Generators are big, and heavy, and expensive. My inverter was $65. So I figure at $10/hr at work, that's 6.5 hours at work and about an hour of install time, so a total of 7.5 hrs of trouble for me. A generator would run around $400, materials to build or buy some waterproof box, the hassle to mount it properly for wheeling, gotta buy more gas now, etc. I'd say around 50-60 hrs worth of trouble.
So yes, since one must be at least a tad overkill at all times, 1000W is absolutely necessary. I wouldn't say a generator is easy either. I don't have room, even in the bed. A short bed stepside with a tool box barely leaves room for the spare. Generators are big, and heavy, and expensive. My inverter was $65. So I figure at $10/hr at work, that's 6.5 hours at work and about an hour of install time, so a total of 7.5 hrs of trouble for me. A generator would run around $400, materials to build or buy some waterproof box, the hassle to mount it properly for wheeling, gotta buy more gas now, etc. I'd say around 50-60 hrs worth of trouble.
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goldwing2000
Guest
And why would you need that massive of a blender in your truck? Just asking...
The 1000w inverters I was finding were $150 while the gennies were $200. Not that big of a difference. If you found one for $65, then you're a hell of a bargain shopper or something.
Also, not that big (15x16x13) nor very heavy (40lbs).
Materials to make a gennie water tight vs. mega fuses, massive wiring, etc. for an inverter. That's a toss-up.
Anyway... like I said before: whatever floats your boat. Whatever works best for you is the right thing to do.
The 1000w inverters I was finding were $150 while the gennies were $200. Not that big of a difference. If you found one for $65, then you're a hell of a bargain shopper or something.
Also, not that big (15x16x13) nor very heavy (40lbs).
Materials to make a gennie water tight vs. mega fuses, massive wiring, etc. for an inverter. That's a toss-up.
Anyway... like I said before: whatever floats your boat. Whatever works best for you is the right thing to do.
eh....
Inverters are OK for running a TV set,computer,and other lower wattage devices...but when you get much over 500 watts,I feel an inverter isn't the hot setup..you need several batteries,and the wiring gets complicated..also,if you want to run anything like an electric heater,toaster,or any other device with resistance wires that work on a dead short,the inverter will be straining,they are not really designed for that kind of use..and batteries drain fast with those kinds of loads..
One advantage to an inverter is you can get 110V without any engines running--for awhile anyway!..
I've seen guys use an electric motor ,rigged with some capacitors,as a 110V generator by making a bracket to fit it onto the engine,and run it off the fan belts..but they also do not power any other motors or heaters well either..If you Google "Induction Generator" ,you'll find a web site that shows how to convert a motor to a 110V ac generator quite simply....
You can also get 110v from an ordinary alternator,but it is three phase current,and is not 60 cycles,but more like hundreds of cycles per minute!--it will still power some tools and lights though..more info can be had if you google "Alternator Secrets",on how to modify a GM alternator to make 110V AC..
A bona-fide 110V belt driven generator that WILL power such things can be had from Northern Tool for about 300 bucks..OR you could rob one off a generator with a blown motor and adapt it to your engine..they are usually rated at 2000watts or more,enough to run most things in your average home all at once!...but you'd have to run your engine to get the AC juice...
They also have a line of 12V appliances available at most camping and RV stores,so you dont need AC current at all!--but most of the ones I've seen are pretty cheesy...
Inverters are OK for running a TV set,computer,and other lower wattage devices...but when you get much over 500 watts,I feel an inverter isn't the hot setup..you need several batteries,and the wiring gets complicated..also,if you want to run anything like an electric heater,toaster,or any other device with resistance wires that work on a dead short,the inverter will be straining,they are not really designed for that kind of use..and batteries drain fast with those kinds of loads..
One advantage to an inverter is you can get 110V without any engines running--for awhile anyway!..
I've seen guys use an electric motor ,rigged with some capacitors,as a 110V generator by making a bracket to fit it onto the engine,and run it off the fan belts..but they also do not power any other motors or heaters well either..If you Google "Induction Generator" ,you'll find a web site that shows how to convert a motor to a 110V ac generator quite simply....
You can also get 110v from an ordinary alternator,but it is three phase current,and is not 60 cycles,but more like hundreds of cycles per minute!--it will still power some tools and lights though..more info can be had if you google "Alternator Secrets",on how to modify a GM alternator to make 110V AC..
A bona-fide 110V belt driven generator that WILL power such things can be had from Northern Tool for about 300 bucks..OR you could rob one off a generator with a blown motor and adapt it to your engine..they are usually rated at 2000watts or more,enough to run most things in your average home all at once!...but you'd have to run your engine to get the AC juice...
They also have a line of 12V appliances available at most camping and RV stores,so you dont need AC current at all!--but most of the ones I've seen are pretty cheesy...
pvfjr
1/2 ton status
Well I may have out shopped you in the inverter department, but you certainly outdid me with the generators! I found nothing near what you describe in my search, sounds have way plausible with what you found. I do like to use the inverter to charge my camera while wheeling though, which takes about 3 hours. I wouldn't want to run a generator that long for such a minute device. Plus I've got 110 in the cab with me as I drive, which is pretty handy for what I do. I've got a lot of gadgetry in there...
I don't have to worry about the battery going dead either; it's massive, and the inverter has a low voltage shutdown, which leaves me plenty of juice to start the truck.
I don't have to worry about the battery going dead either; it's massive, and the inverter has a low voltage shutdown, which leaves me plenty of juice to start the truck.
pvfjr
1/2 ton status
Where'd you find such a generator anyway? My dad may have interest in something like that.
Edit: Nevermind, I see you had a link the entire time.
Edit: Nevermind, I see you had a link the entire time.
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goldwing2000
Guest
pvfjr said:
Agreed. But something that small I would run off one of the cig lighter plug-in models. I've seen those as high as 300W output which is plenty enough for anything short of a massive blender
or power tools.But hey... for $65, it's hard to beat what you already have.
