Inverters....

[Kevin0915]

I thought i did a thread on inverters. I'm probably going to be getting one here in the next week. 1500w should do. Those of you who have them, how do you have them setup?

when i worked at a truck stop, there was one guy in the shop who would talk the buyer into buying a pair of trucker grade jumper cables, cut one end off, and the other end would go on the battery. Trucker grade so they dont slip off the terminals. The other end you attach the inverter too.

Right now, all i have to run is a printer (when i get my laptop log book program going) and a 700w microwave. eventually i want to get a 20in LCD and an xbox....but that is it. wont get a fridge, the cooler i got now works just fine.

any ideas??

(oh and i know...that anytime my truck is going into the shop....the inverter and cables will get stowed) =)

[Jumbo]

So how are you going to explain how you run the microwave and the xbox? If your company doesn't allow an inverter why would you risk running one?

[cdswans]

. . and it works like a charm!

[Jumbo]

Now that is going green.

[Cardog17]

Thats a good way to lose a job.

[Uturn2001]

When I was with Swift I seen 4 guys fired for doing exactly what you are wanting to do.

3 of them got nailed in the inspection lanes at the fuel island and one of them got nailed because the truck was in the shop and they seen the microwave and then found the inverter and jumper cables.

[--grande--]

Ok dumb Questions

What is the big deal ?

Why do companys not allow them ?

Are they a danger ?

If they are installed right whats the big deal ?

Just wondering, I asked the company I work for and they told me to take it to the shop we deal with and I would have to pay for the install. I have not done it yet, So if something bad is going to happen with my truck I would like to know.

[Jumbo]

Some companies just refuse to let inverters be installed in their trucks. It's their truck. Ours allows it but our shop has to install it for you. I think they charge $80. Would you want to spend $100,000 on a truck, tell your driver they cant have an inverter only to find out they went against your policy and had one anyway?

[Kevin0915]

if it is installed right. But the guy/s were caught not because a microwave was found in their truck. I've had a microwave on my truck since December, just no way to power it. Why do i want one? Because I dont like to sit in drivers lounges watching hunting for 4 hours. I'd rather just keep to myself, stay in my own truck. Besides, i've got the cooler. if i had a microwave that works, i wouldnt eat fast food nearly as much. eating breakfast now.....cold cereal because i acn keep milk cold. before it would be find a breakfast sandwich in a truck stop, pay $4 for it....

and trucks get burnt down because dumb drivers think just because you have 1000w of stuff to power, you can get away with getting a 1000w inverter. I have a 700w microwave. getting a TV and an XBox, i wouldnt be running them both at the same time.....,

and if i know i am going to be fueling at a terminal, my cables and the inverter go in a bag, and then i get out, take the bag into the terminal with me when i go shower. I've never been 'inspected' yet, and i've been thru several terminals. even the main terminal in PHX twice.

[matcat]

if it is installed right. But the guy/s were caught not because a microwave was found in their truck. I've had a microwave on my truck since December, just no way to power it. Why do i want one? Because I dont like to sit in drivers lounges watching hunting for 4 hours. I'd rather just keep to myself, stay in my own truck. Besides, i've got the cooler. if i had a microwave that works, i wouldnt eat fast food nearly as much. eating breakfast now.....cold cereal because i acn keep milk cold. before it would be find a breakfast sandwich in a truck stop, pay $4 for it....

and trucks get burnt down because dumb drivers think just because you have 1000w of stuff to power, you can get away with getting a 1000w inverter. I have a 700w microwave. getting a TV and an XBox, i wouldnt be running them both at the same time.....,

and if i know i am going to be fueling at a terminal, my cables and the inverter go in a bag, and then i get out, take the bag into the terminal with me when i go shower. I've never been 'inspected' yet, and i've been thru several terminals. even the main terminal in PHX twice.

Same here, when I was with swift I had an 800w inverter, and never got caught for it, always just stuffed it away when I knew I was going to a terminal.

[TomB985]

and trucks get burnt down because dumb drivers think just because you have 1000w of stuff to power, you can get away with getting a 1000w inverter. I have a 700w microwave. getting a TV and an XBox, i wouldnt be running them both at the same time.....,

Has NOTHING to do with it!!!!

Every inverter out there nowadays has built in overload protection. They WILL shut themselves down if you overload them, or at worst they may fry themselves, but it's very unlikely they'll cause a fire.

What causes fire is high current with high resistance, caused by improper wiring. When you're pulling your 1500 watts through cables that aren't rated for it, or through a bad connection that has too much resistance, you can start a fire.

Fires are caused by drivers who don't know how to wire an inverter, NOT by overtaxing an inverter!

[Kevin0915]

Same here, when I was with swift I had an 800w inverter, and never got caught for it, always just stuffed it away when I knew I was going to a terminal.

well i look at it like this.....kinda like if you work in an office where jacket and tie is required, except on fridays, when the office manager tells you 'under the table' it is okay to wear jeans. Then you're told the regional manager will be in on the 5th (which happens to be a friday), and you're dumb enough to wear jeans when officially you arnet supposed to.

If i look at my fuel route, and notice "fuel-swift-oklahoma city-fill up", you better bet i am going to stop at the pilot off exit 140, and pack it away.

[Rev.Vassago]

Has NOTHING to do with it!!!!

Every inverter out there nowadays has built in overload protection. They WILL shut themselves down if you overload them, or at worst they may fry themselves, but it's very unlikely they'll cause a fire.

What causes fire is high current with high resistance, caused by improper wiring. When you're pulling your 1500 watts through cables that aren't rated for it, or through a bad connection that has too much resistance, you can start a fire.

Fires are caused by drivers who don't know how to wire an inverter, NOT by overtaxing an inverter!

The end result is the same, no matter what the cause.

[Windwalker]

well i look at it like this.....kinda like if you work in an office where jacket and tie is required, except on fridays, when the office manager tells you 'under the table' it is okay to wear jeans. Then you're told the regional manager will be in on the 5th (which happens to be a friday), and you're dumb enough to wear jeans when officially you arnet supposed to.

If i look at my fuel route, and notice "fuel-swift-oklahoma city-fill up", you better bet i am going to stop at the pilot off exit 140, and pack it away.

I'm just a little bit curious. I've had a few inverters, of varying sizes. Up to a 600 watt, I simply plugged into a cigarette lighter outlet. The thousand watt had cables that ran through a hole in the floor, under the sleeper. You're talking about a 1500 watt. How do you plan to run the cables into the truck so that you can make use of it? Or are you going to stop, hook it up outside, and run the power inside? If someone gets under your truck with a creeper ( yes, they do this at times), a hole for that size cables is not that hard to see. How do you plan on hiding that?

[Kevin0915]

I'm just a little bit curious. I've had a few inverters, of varying sizes. Up to a 600 watt, I simply plugged into a cigarette lighter outlet. The thousand watt had cables that ran through a hole in the floor, under the sleeper. You're talking about a 1500 watt. How do you plan to run the cables into the truck so that you can make use of it? Or are you going to stop, hook it up outside, and run the power inside? If someone gets under your truck with a creeper ( yes, they do this at times), a hole for that size cables is not that hard to see. How do you plan on hiding that?

i have yet to find the hole in the bottom of the sleeper. But i was looking at buying 4 guage trucker size cables. But like i said, i would long have since have the inverter and cables packed away before pulling into a terminal.

and when/if i do find a hole, i'd figure out a way to put a flap of material over the hole. It isnt like I will have the inverter hooked up to the battery while i'm driving. It'd only get hooked up when i sit for my 10 hour break or longer.....

[headborg]

If you go with the Cobra 1500watt Inverter- you can get by with 4-guage wire Minimum, you'll need 15feet of black and red. You can find it next time you stop by a Tractor Supply Co. or Farm & Fleet-- will cost you 100.00. Get 4guage O-ring terminals. Then in the electrical section of Wal-Mart 2 packages of 3/4 Black "cable neat" and some large wire ties to cover them up. Look for the plastic plugs in the bottom of the sleeper floor ( easier to spot from the outside. There's no need to cut or tear up anyone's truck.

For that matter, I ran around with a box under my bed with 2 AGM Truck batteries tied together(parellel) then ran a 12-guage wire with cigerate lighter socket to them -- then a jumper cable to an interier cig lighter socket ( to keep those batteries charged up-- hence no wiring anything perminent to the truck.)

If you're wiring something larger- you can use electric welding cable 2-guage ( it's cheaper than going with the red or black ).

I agree, most fires are caused because drivers don't know how to wire properly- loose connections cause heat. It's also a good idea to place an in-line fuse or breaker down near the battery end of your hot wire-- you'll
need a 275 amp fuse/holder.

[TomB985]

Good advice borg...

Here's the way I look at it. I'm pretty sure from the responses from the other swift drivers here that doing what you're talking about is cause for immediate termination. It certainly was at my last company! At the end of the day...is it really worth it to you? Right now you're employed.

If you get terminated for not following company policy, your chances of employment are somewhere between slim and none. With your lack of experience most companies will look at you like you just got out of driving school, and most training companies are either very selective or just not hiring student drivers anymore. In either case, they wouldn't touch anyone who was terminated!

Think of all you're risking....

[Kevin0915]

Good advice borg...

Here's the way I look at it. I'm pretty sure from the responses from the other swift drivers here that doing what you're talking about is cause for immediate termination. It certainly was at my last company! At the end of the day...is it really worth it to you? Right now you're employed.

If you get terminated for not following company policy, your chances of employment are somewhere between slim and none. With your lack of experience most companies will look at you like you just got out of driving school, and most training companies are either very selective or just not hiring student drivers anymore. In either case, they wouldn't touch anyone who was terminated!

Think of all you're risking....

You're right. Looks like ill wait till i get my own truck, and lease it on with them. Like i said, the only way i can possibly think of going O/O would be if i could get steady 2500mi/wk. after everything is taken out, if i am still making $500/wk (which is close to what i'm making now), but i can have an inverter and my dog in the truck...why the hell not?

[BobBski]

Just wondering if this "no Inverter" policy that some of you mention applies to the 150 and 300 watt size that plug into cigarette lighter receptacles?

I'm particularly interested in Crete and Heartland policy on these.

The 150 and 300 are the only ones I've ever used and in the last several years mostly just a 150 to power my 17" laptop/TV/DVD player. The inverters are both fused, have great cooling fans, and really don't see much difference between them and the other 12 volt "appliances" used on the road by many of us.

Bought a new 150 a couple weeks ago for my pickup while visiting a BestBuy....great cooling fan on it and has one plug in receptacle along with a cigarette lighter recepticle. Also sits great in my cup holder.
Amazon.com: CyberPower CPS150CHI AC Mobile Power Inverter/Converter, 12VDC to 120VAC, 150W, Cup-Mount: Electronics

Have fun.

[headborg]

Just wondering if this "no Inverter" policy that some of you mention applies to the 150 and 300 watt size that plug into cigarette lighter receptacles?

I'm particularly interested in Crete and Heartland policy on these.

The 150 and 300 are the only ones I've ever used and in the last several years mostly just a 150 to power my 17" laptop/TV/DVD player. The inverters are both fused, have great cooling fans, and really don't see much difference between them and the other 12 volt "appliances" used on the road by many of us.

Bought a new 150 a couple weeks ago for my pickup while visiting a BestBuy....great cooling fan on it and has one plug in receptacle along with a cigarette lighter recepticle. Also sits great in my cup holder.
Amazon.com: CyberPower CPS150CHI AC Mobile Power Inverter/Converter, 12VDC to 120VAC, 150W, Cup-Mount: Electronics

Have fun.

Heartland policy is -- 100% total- No inverters (period)

Crete- you can have one as long as you don't "hardwire" it into the truck- modify the wiring or obviously no Big Inverter... yes, the microwave/refridgerator would probably be a dead giveaway.

But, the Freightliner Century/Columbia fuse box has a very nice place/power fuse block where you can quickly clip the small alligator clips to the positive and ground to the frame-- and you can get maybe 800watts from there.
Not enough power to start and run a microwave( I don't think: .95kw input).

The box of 2 deep cycle batteries connected to your inverter and a small cord ran to the cig lighter to keep them charged/ recharged gets around the 'no wire up' policy..... but now that Crete is putting APU's on their trucks-- makes the whole inverter issue a mute point. Less of course, you're not one of the 'lucky ones' with an APU-- while those drivers are saving up to 150.00 a week with a microwave, etc you're not having an extra 150 added to YOUR check- but still not allowed to have an inverter in the interm until they get around to installing an APU on your assigned truck.

Kinda unfair---giving half your fleet a break( pay raise) while the other half toils on.