Portable Generator Question.

Errol that rating is the fuse capacity and has nothing to do with the appliance itself. To know what the appliance surge is the more important equation.

Its not that it only lasts a half a second. It lasts a half a second for repeated uses. They add up over time.

Sigh

Brian, I just happened to be in a WM, so I took a look.

750W Schumacher inverter. Label reads: Maximum continuous output: 750W. Surge Capacity (0.1 second) 1500W.

Fuses are rated in amps (two 40As on this one).

I understand that most truck companies are not installing APU units anymore. I also know that you can idling of your truck if nesasary. But if I want to run a microwave or a tv and a gaming console would a inverter handle that?

I heard that some truckers use small portable generators to run some of their cooking appliances and entertainment stuff. But do laws allow you to have small amounts of gasoline strapped to the back of the truck? If so how much is to much?

This thread has veered into Inverters. What about Portable Generators such as the Honda EU2000. Very quiet and very portable. Many RVers swear by them.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

I don't believe I've ever seen a truck carry a portable generator and you won't need one. You'll be able to run televisions, computers, and gaming systems just fine with the smaller inverters. With the bigger ones you can run powerful microwaves and bigger refrigerators and such but you really don't need that stuff. The smaller 40 quart electric coolers do a good job and honestly I don't think a microwave is the best use of space inside a truck. Remember, you'll be parked in truck stop parking lots all the time and they have microwaves, even entire restaurants if you want one.

But no, do not plan on bringing a generator with you.

If you haul ANY amount of a flammable liquid, like gasoline, on a CMV , you are subject to Hazmat rules. It must be in a DOT approved can not more than 8 gallons, those cans are pricey too. Just be aware if you have a little plastic gas can on a CMV, you could be in trouble if they really wanted to push it, the fines are quite steep.

Phil

I have a generator on my truck and I carry a 2.5 gal gas tank on the back of my truck on the cat walk I don't put it back there when it's full my ac went out and I drive for my cousin and it took him a few weeks to get the money to fix the ac so we put a small unit n the closest n my sleeper the generator ran that I have a 3000 watt inverter it runs my tv fridge coffee pot and microwave all at the same time

I also have one of those you can simply take with you anywhere you go. And I'm looking for a new one, because my is out of order. I am lookink for something like wen 56200i.