I'm looking to put an inverter in my Ranger bed.

[Angry Possum]

Hey guys, I want to put an inverter in my 93 Ranger bed so I can use it for plugging in tools, heater etc.. Has anyone here done this yet, if so can you tell me a detailed way you have done it, with respect to drilling holes to run the wiring etc. Thanks . Detailed directions would be appreciated.

 

[franklin2]

Is the inverter you are looking at weather proof? What size inverter are you looking at?(wattage size).

 

[Angry Possum]

I don't have any power wires in my bed, so basically once that's achieved, I'll be halfway there.

 

[Angry Possum]

Is the inverter you are looking at weather proof? What size inverter are you looking at?(wattage size).

2000 to 3000 watts.
I have a fiberglass cap over my bed all the time, so it's waterproof.

 

[Angry Possum]

 

[franklin2]

Do you realize the wire needed from the battery to the inverter will be at least #2? That is big wire.

 

[Angry Possum]

Do you realize the wire needed from the battery to the inverter will be at least #2? That is big wire.

Oh, I didn't know. So your saying it's pretty thick, correct?

 

[lowspeedpursuit]

It felt hackish the first time I saw it, but mounting the inverter closer to the front and running an ordinary (outdoor, big enough wire) extension cord back to the bed has been growing on me.

 

[franklin2]

Here is a install kit. Looks like it's 6ft long wires. https://www.amazon.com/PowerDrive-P...er-Installation/dp/B07KFQWD8Q?tag=959media-20

Here's a 300 amp circuit breaker that you mount near the battery. https://www.amazon.com/PowerDrive-300-Circuit-Breaker-Switch/dp/B07X7GSQQ8/?tag=959media-20

 

[RonD]

You DO NOT want to put an inverter in the bed, it goes in the engine bay so the 12volt/Ground wires are shorter
The 120vAC wires are cheap, run one to the area you want it at the rear of the truck
You can install an 120vAC outlet in the bed

Heavily insulated extension cord is a good type of wire to use under the truck, as there will be debris strikes over the years

1,500watts is 12.5amps at 120vAC so extension cord wire rated for 15amp would be OK, 20amp rating even better

 

[Uncle Gump]

I was thinking of doing an inverter myself... but was going to use a "house" Battery on an Isolator to run the inverter. It would still require sizable cables to charge the house battery with the alternator.

 

[franklin2]

If you are going to use the truck's battery, it's going to be best to keep the truck running when you use it.

You could get yourself a deep cycle battery and mount it in the bed. Then the heavy wires to the inverter will be very short, which is a good thing. And you would not be relying on the truck's battery to supply the power. You could use a isolator under the hood, so the truck will charge the deep cycle battery, but the inverter would not run down the truck's battery.

 

[RonD]

Generally speaking you don't want to charge a battery at more than 10amps
They just get too hot and it will shorten their lives

Most alternators are 90amps now, it only take 35-40amps to run a vehicle with all electrics on, stock, lol
But at idle RPMs alternators only produce 60% of their rating, so 90amp alternator is at about 55amps at idle
Which is fine to run the vehicle, and has a little headroom to charge a 2nd battery

Lights dimming at idle means one of the fields in the alternator has failed, there are 3 fields so losing 1 is not bad, but you lose some power generation, so lights dim at idle, but does mean alternator is on its last legs

 

[Angry Possum]

This is cool.

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[Josh B]

Hey guys, I want to put an inverter in my 93 Ranger bed so I can use it for plugging in tools, heater etc.. Has anyone here done this yet, if so can you tell me a detailed way you have done it, with respect to drilling holes to run the wiring etc. Thanks . Detailed directions would be appreciated.

They made inverters over on scrap metal forum, many times with inverters from computer back=up battery systems. I never made one but saved a few of those inverters in case I ever decided to
There was an entire thread there about how to and people making them