another generator option...Use Your Car/Truck for Portable AC Power

[Hoot]

https://www.thervgeeks.com/cargenerator/

 

[abnorm]

An Inverter connected to the Vehicle battery while boondocking ?.............Sounds like you'll need a JumpStart(s) in the future....................

 

[bullfrog !]

As if we don’t spend enough time telling folks how inefficient it is to idle a vehicle just to charge batteries not to mention wear and maintenance of the vehicle’s engine and alternator. It’s one thing to charge while using the vehicle for transportation and totally another to let it idle turning an oversized alternator continuously to run an inverter. I have been surprised by how efficiently I can charge up my Delta 2 in usually less than an hour using 1200 watts of my generator and in combination with a couple of house batteries and 100 watts of solar on sunny days run everything I need over 24 hours and on cloudy days up to three days if I conserve energy. My generator uses less than 1/2 gallon of fuel an hour and only requires 20 ounces of oil to maintain it every 100 hours. Lots cheaper than replacing an alternator on the vehicle or doing an extra oil change on it!

 

[Gr8ful]

All depends on if you drive the vehicle to explore, go to town, etc r if it just sits for a week. Even sitting newer vehicles run the battery down. The ambo has a master switch, 250 amp alt & 2 large batteries. The 1st remote cabin we built before adding a genset, charger, 6 golf car batteries, etc we just used an extra car battery & when it got low we started the truck, changed batteries before driving somewhere & it worked great.

 

[FlipperFla]

https://www.thervgeeks.com/cargenerator/

$750 for a 1k inverter in a waterproof box?

 

[maki2]

That’s less the same price as a Honda i1000 and it is not even waterproof

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

All depends on if you drive the vehicle to explore, go to town, etc r if it just sits for a week.

Having the capability to charge house batteries when driving is smart but not inexpensive to set up (vehicles with 'smart' alternators or deeply discharged or lithium batteries need a DC to DC charger).

Even sitting newer vehicles run the battery down.

My truck sits for two week often with only about 1% measurable discharge: trivial. My other vehicle can sit for 6 months and still start easily.

The ambo has a master switch, 250 amp alt & 2 large batteries....

Ambulances and fire trucks are designed to idle long periods and have special alternators that produce more current and air flow at idle speeds. The trade off is an ambulance with 100K miles on the it has about 2 - 3 times as many hours on the motor. Regular vehicle alternators are designed to need airflow from moving most of the time or they will heat up with heavy loads.

 

[eDJ_]

"Tote A Volt" Model 150A was once an inexpensive and handy device for making 110 VAC from the Vehicle's 12 VDC Alternator.

Back in the 60's and 70's "Tote-A-Volt" used to advertise their units in Mechanics Illustrated and other such magazines. Popular with camper's and trades worker to use a power tool for something in camp or on the job. You can still find them new/used in good condition on eBay.

Tote A Volt Model 150A

These are about 6" long by 3 1/2 inches wide, and 3 1/2 inches deep and install under the hood. The box has 2 covered receptacles (like any outdoor covered receptacle) with controls.

 

[maki2]

That device is an inverter that uses your starter battery. But you need to run your vehicle to keep your starter battery charged while taking power out of your car’s battery.

That would not be at all a good thing to do to my Honda Element as it has both a small battery as well as a small alternator.

I will stay with carrying a small generator. It can be sheltered from the rain.

 

[bagabum]

The estimated fuel consumption of an idling engine is 0.6 litres / hr per litre of engine displacement. This means that an idling 3.5 litre engine consumes more than 2 litres of gas per hour. >1/2 gallon, M y Honda 1000 runs about 5 hours half load on its 0,5 gallon tank.

 

[Gr8ful]

I used to install & keep a 1500 watt inverter in each of my diesel trucks. They were harbor freight square wave but worked well for power tools,lighting, etc & cost $69. I think fire trucks run at idle much longer than ambos do but my ambo had a new 250 watt alt, surp belt, 2 new big batteries & all new tires just before I bought it.

 

[bullfrog !]

^^^Trucking company I worked for didn’t allow us to install inverters in company trucks so everyone had an inverter with short jumper cables they could temporarily hook up to run their small microwave to cook with on the road. God help you if you had to be jump started and the mechanic noticed you had hooked up an inverter even temporarily! Lol!!!

 

[BlueMarkOhio]

Seems a bit pricy for an inverter, but the larger versions with the house connect option seems like a good backup power solution for home blackouts.
In RV use I'd definitely pay the price to upgrade the alternator, regardless of whether you use this system or a custom version to charge your house batteries while driving.

 

[FlipperFla]

That’s less the same price as a Honda i1000 and it is not even waterproof

Here is a concept, mount a regular inverter inside your vehicle so water wouldn’t be an issue.
So I’m suppose to let my truck idle for 10 hrs while I charge my house batteries? And this is more efficient than a generator? My Yamaha EUi 2000 uses around 1 gal for 10 hrs. My truck idling for hours would use a lot more. Then what? an empty fuel tank in the truck. 2000 PSW in the truck and a 1200 under the seat in the Outback. No issues. IMO this is just a gimmick, one more thing, heat dissipation of the inverter in a sealed box would be an issue.

 

[BlueMarkOhio]

Here is a concept, mount a regular inverter inside your vehicle so water wouldn’t be an issue.
So I’m suppose to let my truck idle for 10 hrs while I charge my house batteries? And this is more efficient than a generator? My Yamaha EUi 2000 uses around 1 gal for 10 hrs. My truck idling for hours would use a lot more. Then what? an empty fuel tank in the truck. 2000 PSW in the truck and a 1200 under the seat in the Outback. No issues. IMO this is just a gimmick, one more thing, heat dissipation of the inverter in a sealed box would be an issue.

If your truck is diesel it probably uses very little fuel while idling (but who can afford diesel?). Gas motors - not so much, unless they are Atkinson cycle engines like in a Prius.

Personally, I'd upgrade my alternator and match it to a good charging system to top off the house batteries whenever driving. Idling would only be an occasional need - such as overnight AC during heat waves.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

A DC to DC charger would be a cheaper, easier, and safer alternative to changing you alternator to higher output, especially if you have a smart alternator and/or lithium house batteries.

For idling for long periods of time it would be cheaper to get a 1000W generator (>0.13 gal/hr) and battery charger than idling for 8 hours (3.2 gal - 6.5 gal a van = $10 to $20 per night).

 

[BlueMarkOhio]

A DC to DC charger would be a cheaper, easier, and safer alternative to changing you alternator to higher output, especially if you have a smart alternator and/or lithium house batteries.

For idling for long periods of time it would be cheaper to get a 1000W generator (>0.13 gal/hr) and battery charger than idling for 8 hours (3.2 gal - 6.5 gal a van = $10 to $20 per night).

Yes, if your alternator is sufficient for the cause, no need to upgrade.
Personally I wouldn't know, so I'd check with an expert.
Some good info in this article ... probably.

https://www.trbowlin.com/2022/04/01/using-your-vehicles-alternator-to-charge-your-rvs-batteries/

 

[Gr8ful]

BlueMark, Great read, Thank you! The ambo uses 13 amps in daylight with no lights on & has a 250 amp alt so plenty of power.

 

[FlipperFla]

If your truck is diesel it probably uses very little fuel while idling (but who can afford diesel?). Gas motors - not so much, unless they are Atkinson cycle engines like in a Prius.

Personally, I'd upgrade my alternator and match it to a good charging system to top off the house batteries whenever driving. Idling would only be an occasional need - such as overnight AC during heat waves.

We also have a 140A HD alternator with a Blue Seas Systems ACR battery link for charging the house batteries while driving.

 

[Happy Camper]

Having a backup plan to the backup plan is the best way to go, regardless of which option is 1,2, or 3.

Alternator
Generator
Solar
External plug-in if available

Or if you find yourself stranded with friends, or strangers: