Inverter in Truck?

[CD]

Originally Posted by HoboPals

Wow! Who knew? Thanks for sharing. I am going to show this to my son. Do you need to have the truck running when you use the inverter?

No. With 2 big batteries, that hasn't been a problem. I am sure there are others here that could tell us how long it would take to be a problem. If I were to use a Skill saw etc for a long period of time I probably would run engine from time to time just to keep the batteries up. A few years ago we were at a family reunion where another member had brought a TV and CD/DVD player to show pictures and videos on. It ran for a long time (I have no idea how long now) and I didn't run the engine. I have hauled that invertor around in the engine compartment for about 8yrs now.

[HoboPals]

Very interesting, Cliff, and certainly good to know-even in a pinch. I have a 4k inverter that was too big for my trailer, but I carry it around. Might come in handy one day.

[mhs4771]

A word of caution about running things in the Trailer from the TV bats. If you run to long or have too high a demand, you could end up with dead TV bats come morning. I typicially disconnect the trailer plug from the TV and just run on the dual 12V bats I have in the front cargo area or when we had a TT dual bats mounted on the tongue behind the propane tanks. Just my thoughts

[CD]

Originally Posted by mhs4771

A word of caution about running things in the Trailer from the TV bats. If you run to long or have too high a demand, you could end up with dead TV bats come morning. I typicially disconnect the trailer plug from the TV and just run on the dual 12V bats I have in the front cargo area or when we had a TT dual bats mounted on the tongue behind the propane tanks. Just my thoughts

That's good advice. We only use it for the microwave for a few minutes. Most other things in our RVs will run off the 300 watt on the RV battery.

[HoboPals]

Originally Posted by CD

That's good advice. We only use it for the microwave for a few minutes. Most other things in our RVs will run off the 300 watt on the RV battery.

I was only asking that out of curiosity, and would only use it in an emergency, i.e., to run the air compressor from the outside plug on the TT to fill a flat tire until I could make it to where I could call AAA. I most likely would use nothing more than my computer, music, maybe the TV.

[wa8yxm]

Oh, again this depends on the size of the inverter, but in MANY vehicles, including as I recall Chrysler products, GM products and my Workhorse, there is, somewhere (usually under the dash) a bolt or two that are battery positive, these are connected to the battery direct, no fuse, and with fairly heavy cable.

I can not, however, speak to your truck.

[HoboPals]

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

Oh, again this depends on the size of the inverter, but in MANY vehicles, including as I recall Chrysler products, GM products and my Workhorse, there is, somewhere (usually under the dash) a bolt or two that are battery positive, these are connected to the battery direct, no fuse, and with fairly heavy cable.

I can not, however, speak to your truck.

Thanks, I'll look for them. I thought what I'd do is next time I have it in for service, i'll ask one of the guys there, too.

[wingnut60]

"Here's another idea from someone who knows nothing about the electrical workings of either her trailer or truck: Would it be too much of a drain on my truck batteries to leave the trailer hooked up and run the inverter in the trailer?"

I believe all newer trucks are set up so that the truck batteries CAN NOT be drained by a trailer through the harness--electricity can ONLY flow from the truck to the trailer (diode? in line). Also, battery charge line not live unless truck is running.
Joe

[HoboPals]

Originally Posted by wingnut60

I believe all newer trucks are set up so that the truck batteries CAN NOT be drained by a trailer through the harness--electricity can ONLY flow from the truck to the trailer (diode? in line). Also, battery charge line not live unless truck is running.
Joe

Thank you, Joe. I've decided to ask my Dodge dealer about all the 'ins and outs' of using the trailer. Before I go off on another long trip, I'm still thinking of getting a small Honda generator.

[wingnut60]

I hope your Dodge dealer is much better than most--I haven't run across any service advisors (I am a Ford guy) who knew anything about towing, trailer hookups, etc., unless they are trying to deny a warranty claim due "to towing too much load" or some such deal.
This forum and others like it can be a better source of information, particularly other Dodge owners.
Joe

[RustyJC]

Originally Posted by wingnut60

I believe all newer trucks are set up so that the truck batteries CAN NOT be drained by a trailer through the harness--electricity can ONLY flow from the truck to the trailer (diode? in line). Also, battery charge line not live unless truck is running.

Nope, Dodge has always kept pin 4 (battery +12VDC) hot even when the truck is shut off. It was so in my 1996, my 2002 and I just checked pin 4 to pin 1 (ground) in my 2011 and got +12.72VDC. Therefore, the safe approach is to unplug the trailer from the truck if you're going to draw heavily on the trailer batteries for a sustained period of time (like, overnight with the furnace running and no AC power). Otherwise, you may well find the truck batteries dead when you try to start it up.

Rusty

[HoboPals]

Originally Posted by RustyJC

Nope, Dodge has always kept pin 4 (battery +12VDC) hot even when the truck is shut off. It was so in my 1996, my 2002 and I just checked pin 4 to pin 1 (ground) in my 2011 and got +12.72VDC. Therefore, the safe approach is to unplug the trailer from the truck if you're going to draw heavily on the trailer batteries for a sustained period of time (like, overnight with the furnace running and no AC power). Otherwise, you may well find the truck batteries dead when you try to start it up.

Rusty

Rusty, I'm getting a little confused. I always disconnect the truck from the trailer as soon as I park. I'm starting to lean toward getting a Honda 1000 and using my 100 watt inverter (if Dodge says it's okay) in the truck.

[RustyJC]

Then you're fine. I didn't mean to confuse you - I was responding to Wingnut60's post. Dodge doesn't use a battery isolation relay, so the truck batteries are connected to the trailer batteries as long as the trailer cord is plugged into the truck.

Plugging a 100 watt inverter into your truck's lighter socket is an entirely different matter and shouldn't create any problems unless you were using it for a sustained period of time with the engine not running.

Rusty

[HoboPals]

Originally Posted by RustyJC

Then you're fine. I didn't mean to confuse you - I was responding to Wingnut60's post. Dodge doesn't use a battery isolation relay, so the truck batteries are connected to the trailer batteries as long as the trailer cord is plugged into the truck.

Plugging a 100 watt inverter into your truck's lighter socket is an entirely different matter and shouldn't create any problems unless you were using it for a sustained period of time with the engine not running.

Rusty

Thank you very much for your time, Rusty.