Has anyone put electrical outlets in the truck permanently? if so where did you buy your stuff? I have an inverter, I need the outlets.

thanks

Henry

 

Any electrical supply store will have what you need---weatherproof outdoor recepticals. If I ever get to it I want the same setup-plugs in the rear bumper.

 

Thanks for the reply, I have those for the outside from tractor supply place. I'm looking for ideas for the inside. I have a few locations in the cab where I would like to put them.

 

They make square snap in type outlets that are made for metal cabinets. I'm not sure the exact term for them, but they are about 1" square and come with a pigtail on the back. You would cut a hole in wherever you want it, snap it in, then wire it up. They would be sold at an electrical supply place or even HD most likely. In fact, I'm pretty sure I have seen them in HD in the special switch area (where they have things like pull chain switches, panel mount toggle switches, etc).

Personally, I wish they would put USB outlets in more cars and trucks now, since almost everything like phones, mp3 players, and GPS' come with USB cables.

 

one problem with AC inverters
is what minimum load they will
"turn on" at

I carry a small ten dollar 25 watt AC inverter built into the 12 volt plug
and a ninety dollar 1200 watt continuous/1600 watt surge inverter

the small 25 watt will turn on to run 'wall wart' power bricks
for cell phones, pda, computer equipment
that draw small loads and won't turn on a larger inverter

the 1200 watt is enough to run 120 volt
recip saw, half inch drill or modest sized Wet-Dry Vacuum

after Hurricane Wilma knocked out the power in S Florida
i was able to run
a refrigerator, DirecTV satellite receiver, 27 inch CRT TV, box fan, light
off my 1200 watt at one time

 

you had a $25k generator?! that's just awesome.

 

Yeah, I was doing the same thing with my $25k four door "generator" after Ike knocked out our power last week! I ran the refrigerator all afternoon and evening that way. I'm just glad the neighbor offered to let me tap into his 8000 watt generator, since the power is still out 10 days later!

I think the truck at idle uses less gas than that generator does, though! Almost 14 gallons a day! There's three of us attached to it now, though, so the cost is spread out a little.

 

after a storm/flood there are usually many vehicles around
that have batteries you can 'borrow' temporarily

the best way to use the inverter is to feed 4 to 8 batteries in parallel
then let these batteries feed the inverter
this will double or triple your fuel efficiency
and let you turn off your engine for long periods

know the trick of how to put several long extensions on a socket wrench socket
in order to unscrew the hood latch on a vehicle from underneath
to get at the battery without harming anything

 

Are you advising that he loot his neighbors? I'd be pretty pissed if some a-hole unbolted my hood latch and "borrowed" my battery while I was gone.

Maybe if he gets thirsty he should do another one of your "tricks" and dip into his neighbors alcohol cabinet...

 

wtf? I think he is advising that. that's just stupid. I'd have to beat down any A-hole I found tryin to do that, especially at a time when it's critical.