How long do your batteries last?
#11
03-17-2007, 12:07 AM
Originally Posted by SteveBooth
I was just told that running your batteries down then starting the engine to charge them back up takes a real toll on your alternator. Running your inverter and the engine at the same time with some high wattage things going also causes your alternator to work hard.
I had my engine running, a small ceramic 750 watt heater going and a few other small things and my alternator was RED hot. It burned up a few days later and had to be replaced. I don't know if the mechanic was correct on this issue, just repeating what he said. I have 4 Optima Yellow Top batteries and I was running the truck off them for 3 days without knowing the alternator was pretty much dead. They recovered every night but on the last day went down to 11.4 volts and the alternator had to be replaced.
#12
03-18-2007, 06:47 PM
Alternators
The average company truck these days has the bare minimum. YOu know.. save that extra 200 bucks on the truck, screw the driver.
If your truck runs a 90 amp alternator it can barely pull a 750w inverter at full power and run the truck. I drive a pete 387 very well maintained and with a 100o watt more than once ive pulled down the batteries while idling to the point it redlighted (course i was slow idling). But you rarely use THAT much power. If you plan on pulling a 1500-2500watt inverter though you need to get a heavy duty alternator on the truck. AS i posted elsewhere a driver suggested a dry cell deep cycle battery (about 240 bucks or more) that will run whatever you want for hours and hours. For SMALL stuff your batteries can handle it for a long time. Like a 5" 12v tv etc they really barely pull anything. For a laptop, fridge or anything that pulls ac through and inverter though you have to figure conversion loss etc.. they pull a lot of amps out of batteries that arent designed for continuous duty. YOur batteries are designed to operate like a capacitor.. LOTS of amps for a very short time then a long slow recharge. |
