Powering inverter off deuce

[47to70]

Could powering an inverter off the slave cable receptacle for an extended period of time mess up my electrical system? I would like to use it as a backup for power outages. My concern is that the vehicle batteries could over charge or do other damage to the electrical system. Am not much of a mechanic and even less of an electrician.

 

[DaneGer21]

Could powering an inverter off the slave cable receptacle for an extended period of time mess up my electrical system? I would like to use it as a backup for power outages. My concern is that the vehicle batteries could over charge or do other damage to the electrical system. Am not much of a mechanic and even less of an electrician.

Theoretically, no damage other than drain batteries.

What size inverter? Seems like a big task. Why not a generator?

 

[NDT]

A 1000 watt 24-120 volt inverter, when loaded with 1000 watts of 120 volt devices such as lights, fans etc will draw 40-50 amps of 24 volts DC. The truck's batteries can handle that for about 5 minutes, then the voltage will droop and you will have to start the truck to let the alternator supply the energy. That is where the problem begins. The MIL 60 amp alternator cannot handle production of 60 amps all day long as one might suspect, being mil spec and all. It will overheat and fail.

 

[47to70]

That's what I was afraid of. Have LOTS of wmo so running the old gal would not be a problem, but not at the cost of the vehicle charging system.
Thanks for the info.

 

[fleetmech]

inverters are cool in theory, until you do the math and realize how inefficient voltage conversion is.

Another consideration is temperature and load on the trucks engine. Big diesel/ MF engines like heat and hard work, running for hours on end with very little overall load might not get you up to temperature. Running at low temp burns fuel inefficiently and at best will cause condensation buildup which isnt good. Continuous use under temp will result in incomplete combustion and the attendant wet stacking, oil dilution, cylinder wall washing etc.