Community Forums

2bassbuds · 07-02-2015, 03:31 PM

Does anyone know what the alternator on a 97 Bounder would be rated at? I was told to check before installing a 1000watt inverter. Local auto parts guy is afraid I will be putting too much load on the alternator.

2bassbuds · 07-02-2015, 03:32 PM

It is a Chevy 454 7.4 engine in the Bounder.

nothermark · 07-02-2015, 03:56 PM

The local auto parts guy can look up the chassis and see what was supplied with it.

That said, he is probably wrong about the problem. Unless you are doing something strange the alternator is fed off the house battery bank so you really need to worry about how big that is. Extra power from the alternator just helps to extend that capacity. Figure a 1000 W inverter running at full capacity is drawing around 90 A. That is a pessimistic number so you should not get surprises.

2bassbuds · 07-02-2015, 03:59 PM

I was going to run off main battery. Should I run to my house batteries? It is a 2 x 6 volt system.

twinboat · 07-02-2015, 05:57 PM

Run it off the house, the 6volt batteries are a larger capacity.

2bassbuds · 07-02-2015, 06:45 PM

Thanks guys! I used 6 foot 2AWG cables to the 6 VDC house batteries. The manual showed 3AWG for 6 foot so I should be fine with 2AWG.

It comes on and displays 119 - 121 VAC. I'm gonna have to wait till tomorrow due to thunderstorms to test it with a load.

I was thinking auto battery when I told the parts guy I was using the start battery. I sure didn't want to overheat the alternator.

Thanks,
Steve