Inverter for Powering AC Devices
From DC Sources in Big Trucks

Using a DC to AC power inverter in your truck allows you to run many appliances just as you would at or in your home.

12-Volt Units

When Mike drove for Schneider National, the company prohibited battery-powered inverters but allowed the use of a small one that could be plugged into a cigarette lighter. The amount of power that can be drawn from a cigarette lighter can be much smaller than that drawn directly from the battery. Before you invest in any inverter, check your company's policy. One source we read stated that small inverters are those that pull 400 watts or less and no more than about 150-180 watts of power can be drawn from a cigarette lighter.(*)

The cigarette lighter plug-in inverters that we have found in truck stops are powered to deliver up to about 175 watts and the battery connected style from about 200 watts up to 3,000 watts.

These images show the front and back of the 12-volt unit that Mike used in his truck during the time he drove for Schneider. The stated amount of power this unit can provide is 140 watts continuous and 200 watts peak.

When the engine is on and this unit is plugged into the cigarette lighter, the indicator light glows green (showing that it is ready), as shown. With this small unit, Mike could at least use a small AC-powered crock pot. Besides using an AC-powered device, the only other option we know of for cooking in one's truck is to use a DC-powered 12-volt appliance (one with a 12-volt plug). As you may already know from reading our Pot 'n Pop page, our first experience in cooking in our truck had mixed results.

These are two plug-in style inverters, the one on the left drawing 75 watts and the one on the right, 150 watts.

Using a larger power-inverting device gave us the flexibility to use the kinds of kitchen appliances that we use at home.

Battery-Connected Units

Professional drivers may be more likely to use inverters connected directly to their truck's batteries.

Our first one was a 1750-watt Portawattz, which we purchased brand new from a truck stop (Pilot Travel Center) in July 2000.

There are slots on the base on the front and back of the unit for anchoring the unit to, for example, the floor under your bunk, should you desire to do so.

You can see on the right side of the unit the vent and the terminals where the wiring kit cables connect.

On the left side, you can see: the on/off switch; the indicator lights for the unit being: "over temp" (over temperature) and "over load" (pulling too much power); the battery indicator lights in both volts and amps; and three outlets (two being grounded, one being ungrounded, all being polarized).

Our Set-Up

Instead of plugging appliances directly into his inverter, Mike has plugged in a surge protector strip with an on/off switch. Using the surge protector, he can either operate multiple appliances at once (as long as combined, they don't pull more power than the unit can deliver) or turn off the device whenever he is not using it.

It should also be noted that the units we have had all emit a warning signal when it is drawing too much power. Mike said that in one of his trucks when an appliance drew the maximum continuous load of power, the lights inside his truck dimmed.

Cost

Installation

Mike's company offered to install his unit for him; when they did so, they also installed an in-line fuse between the cable and the battery connection. This was designed to protect the inverter. If your device meets your company's specifications, they may install it for you.

Not counting the installation of the fuse or breaker, installing this kind of device in your truck is as simple as poking holes through the appropriate places in the floor under your bunk (or running the cables through the appropriate opening), connecting one end of the wiring kit cables to the unit and the other end to the batteries. Make sure you read your owner's manual for the correct installation of your machine.

Updated info:

Our second RoadPro inverter worked very well until something got a little too close to one of the connections between a cable and the unit under the bunk.

RoadPro units are still available in some truck stops, but we have found that the predominant brand on sale is Power Drive.

We had some issues with the 1500 watt Power Drive unit we bought as a replacement, but it worked well until the fuse that connected the red cable to the battery blew. We published a page on inverter troubleshooting that detailed the saga.

One of the things that we especially like about the Power Drive model is that it has sheaths or "sleeves" to fit around the connections between the inverter posts and the cables so that things can't touch the connections and short it out (like what happened with one of our RoadPro units).

Limitations

Be aware that a power inverter does not generate its own power. It simply inverts the energy from DC (direct current) to AC (alternating current), the latter of which is commonly used throughout the United States.

You will want to limit your choice of appliances to use in your truck to those that draw the maximum "continuous load" (as opposed to "starting" or "peak" load) wattage. For example, with Mike's 1500-watt device, he can use a Jet Stream Oven that pulls 1500 watts. He cannot operate an appliance that draws more power. The box that your device is packed in may have a chart that shows the number of minutes that a specific appliance can be run based on a number of factors, including the size of the battery.

Appliances You Can Run

The operating time for an appliance to run via battery-connected inverter power without the engine being on will vary by the amount of power drawn. Consider the various types of appliances that you as a driver may need or want to charge or operate in your truck:

• TV;
• Blow dryer;
• CD/DVD player;
• Laptop computer;
• CPAP machine;
• Coffee maker;
• Hot pot;
• Electric skillet;
• Jet Stream Oven;
• Microwave oven;
• Crock pot slow cooker;
• Popcorn popper;
• Cell phone;
• Cell phone headset; and
• Non-12-volt fan.

Note: Our blue blow dryer operates at a maximum of 1750 watts of power on high. However, on the low setting, it takes less power. So when we were once caught in the rain walking from a truck stop back to the truck, we towelled off the best we could, plugged in the blow dryer, set it on "low" and turned it on. We were able to dry our hair just fine.

Money saving tip: We encourage you to go comparison shopping to get the best value for your money. Feel free to use our Inverter Comparison Table (link). Above the table, you will see a space where you can fill in the "maximum watts of power you need / allowed by your company." From there, you can get these suggested specs on as many units as you desire: Make/model; Location (business, city/state); Continuous load wattage; and Cost (unit plus wiring kit cables). Bear in mind that sales tax varies from state to state. You may find a list of sales tax rates by state here. When you get ready to buy your unit, consider: the name brand and quality of the unit; the condition of the unit (new, not re-manufactured or refurbished); and the seasonal sales (such as trying to find a unit at a truckstop on sale). Bear in mind the vendor's return policy and/or warranty information on any unit you may buy.

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