Biggest Inverter my Alternator Can Power

[Niederlander]

I have a 2014 ram 1500 SXT equipped with a 180 amp alternator.
I want to use it (in lieu of a generator) to run an inverter to power a 120V electric chainsaw, string trimmer, hedge trimmer, etc.
Does anyone know what the maximum inverter size ( in watts) one could run with this set up? I doubt it is as simple as
180 amps x 12volts = 2160 Watts

I know it is ironic to say this here, but as an engineer I hate infernal combustion engines. They are way too complex and inefficient. I favor electric motors - my other car is a Nissan LEAF. But this post is not about the benefits and drawbacks of electric cars ( though I would be happy to discuss that elsewhere with anyone who is interested).
It is about landscaping. LOL. For me the biggest proble with Infernal combustion motors (such as those used on string trimmers and chainsaws) is that even if you use gas stabilizer and/or drain them, they may not start after being left sitting for a few months.
So how big an inverter can my Ram 1500 with a 180 amp alternator safely run? Thanks in advance.

 

[turkeybird56]

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[crazykid1994]

Well the alternator may be able to handle a 2000 watt inverter but that’s at 100% efficiency. But that equates to roughly 16 amps at 120v. Now you may run into issues with the existing wiring to the battery being undersized for full load and I believe that a 16 amp constant load on that inverter is harmful. May want to look into a battery operated trimmer and small battery chainsaw. They make 20v battery operated trimmers you can buy at Home Depot. I’m an electrician so dealing with motors they do put a big strain on the electrical system when loaded.

 

[Niederlander]

@turkeybird56 - thanks but I’m well aware of what’s out there for sale. I should have mentioned I’m a EE ( Electrical Engineer) so I know how this works. Just don’t know the limitations of the charging system.


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[Niederlander]

Well the alternator may be able to handle a 2000 watt inverter but that’s at 100% efficiency. But that equates to roughly 16 amps at 120v. Now you may run into issues with the existing wiring to the battery being undersized for full load and I believe that a 16 amp constant load on that inverter is harmful. May want to look into a battery operated trimmer and small battery chainsaw. They make 20v battery operated trimmers you can buy at Home Depot. I’m an electrician so dealing with motors they do put a big strain on the electrical system when loaded.

Battery powered tools are expensive and sometimes underpowered.

Maximum steady state load I would put on it would be 15.5 amps. And that would be for about 15 minutes out of an hour. And I would use 0 or 1 gauge cable, connecting to the battery. Thinking here I can draw on the battery as well as alternator when needed.

 

[Tim Garceau]

There are a lot of variables, best thing to do would be to perform a big 3 upgrade and/or wire in a separate 120VAC plug. Presuming you’d let the truck idle and not hold revs, it won’t have 180 amps but you can clamp the battery to get an idea of what the system is capable of running the generator on a heavy test load. Might be a safe idea to splice in another battery if you’re out in the sticks.

Not sure what all of those items draw as my tools all pollute the atmosphere because YOLO and global warming is a myth. IMOOC

 

[crazykid1994]

A small 2000 watt Honda generator might be better suited since it’s rated for constant load. It’s also better fuel efficiency instead of pumping all 8 cylinders. I know that you’re not wanting to have a small engine hence the inverter but the truck was never designed to be used like that.
Edit: most circumstances ratings are max load and only 80% of that rating shall be used at any given time

 

[McBroom]

If you do get a good 2000-3000 watt inverter I would also recommend changing your battery out for a deep cycle marine battery.
The largest possible.
A deep cycle battery will not hurt the truck at all. It’s still a 12V battery

I love my truck!
Blue Mule 18 Ram 4x4 C/C
Tradesman Power Wagon

 

[turkeybird56]

My bad, I thought a ??? was being asked, I surrender to the more knowledgeable, I's just a Boird......

Headed back to my cage and closing door......................

 

[Niederlander]

There are a lot of variables, best thing to do would be to perform a big 3 upgrade and/or wire in a separate 120VAC plug. Presuming you’d let the truck idle and not hold revs, it won’t have 180 amps but you can clamp the battery to get an idea of what the system is capable of running the generator on a heavy test load. Might be a safe idea to splice in another battery if you’re out in the sticks.

Not sure what all of those items draw as my tools all pollute the atmosphere because YOLO and global warming is a myth. IMOOC

Deep cycle is not necessary since I’m not planning to draw from that.


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[Niederlander]

There are a lot of variables, best thing to do would be to perform a big 3 upgrade and/or wire in a separate 120VAC plug. Presuming you’d let the truck idle and not hold revs, it won’t have 180 amps but you can clamp the battery to get an idea of what the system is capable of running the generator on a heavy test load. Might be a safe idea to splice in another battery if you’re out in the sticks.

Not sure what all of those items draw as my tools all pollute the atmosphere because YOLO and global warming is a myth. IMOOC

Yes I’m just planning to idle the truck. The biggest draw will be the chainsaw at 15 amps. I would assume about 20 -25 amps for startup.

No 3 prong upgrade needed as I would cable the inverter to the battery.

( climate change is another topic for elsewhere but if 98 doctors out of 100 I consult tell me I have cancer, I don’t dismiss their diagnosis as “myth”)


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[turkeybird56]

NIEDER: U gonna mount and wire Inverter under the Hood and just run 14-16 gauge to battery???? (with in-line fuses)


(Just a ???? as you know more about electrical in yer pinky than me in my whole body, lol)


ADDED: See the New Chevy commercial where they tout the Bed Coating and a 120V plug, where they plug in and light up a Light Pole, LOL

 

[McBroom]

NIEDER: U gonna mount and wire Inverter under the Hood and just run 14-16 gauge to battery???? (with in-line fuses)


(Just a ???? as you know more about electrical in yer pinky than me in my whole body, lol)


ADDED: See the New Chevy commercial where they tout the Bed Coating and a 120V plug, where they plug in and light up a Light Pole, LOL

Yeah I laughed at the part where they say the deepest bed. But they don’t mention the shorter smaller windows and the seriously increased blind spots.


I love my truck!
Blue Mule 18 Ram 4x4 C/C
Tradesman Power Wagon

 

[crazzywolfie]

i could be wrong but feel like i should point out that you may want to be looking at a pure sine wave inverters. electric motors don't like modified sine wave inverters. i would also recommend a generator. way more efficient than running a v8.

 

[turkeybird56]

I agree but sure easier just to bring yer ride with U, LMAO... Honda got them lil inverters 1000-2000 watts. I got me a 4950 Generac on the porch for when there are long power issues... I honestly thought about getting a Big *** generac to be wired in for all the house, BUT that is way off topic. We sure used a lot of 5K generators in the military, lol...

If I was gonna do an inverter, would get pure sine and wire into truck direct 14 gauge to battery with inline fuses, . But alas, the Red Beast stays parked 96% of the time in front of house, so no need. But NIEDER is real into electrical stuff and super up on dat stuff, so I just stating my thoughts (skerry), all above IMHO !!!

 

[Niederlander]

i could be wrong but feel like i should point out that you may want to be looking at a pure sine wave inverters. electric motors don't like modified sine wave inverters. i would also recommend a generator. way more efficient than running a v8.

Agreed. I wouldn’t ever waste my money on a “modified sine wave” inverter. Modified Sine Wave = Electrically Noisy As Hell andbad for you Gear.

 

[Niederlander]

NIEDER: U gonna mount and wire Inverter under the Hood and just run 14-16 gauge to battery???? (with in-line fuses)


(Just a ???? as you know more about electrical in yer pinky than me in my whole body, lol)


ADDED: See the New Chevy commercial where they tout the Bed Coating and a 120V plug, where they plug in and light up a Light Pole, LOL

Hi Turkeybird

Lol. (Light pole must be LEDs)

No I said I would run 0 or 1 gauge wire from battery to inverter. 14 gauge would make a nice pyrotechnic show as it vaporized from 150 amps going through it. [emoji14]

For equal amounts of power( watts) you need bigger wires for lower voltages. At 20,000 volts you could easily deliver 2000 Watts of power over a straight pin sized wire. At 12 volts you’d need a wire as big as you thumb.

And always use stranded wire for DC folks. Look up the DC skin effect if you want to know more.

 

[superjoe83]

At idle you will probably only get around 100 amps out of the alternator, most modern alternators are made to maintain the battery state of charge and run the trucks electrical system, if you are pulling full load from the alt, which it sounds like you will be, it WILL overheat and drastically shorten its life, especially at idle speed since there is not much air moving through it.

 

[sbarron]

Man...

The entire root of this thread evades me. Using an idling V-8 to directly power 120V electric tools? Seems like a lot of layers of risk, especially to the vehicle electrical system that would need to be unpacked here. What do the control modules on the truck do when it senses that many amps going "somewhere"?

Just thinking out loud here.

 

[crazzywolfie]

i understand the need for a good sized portable inverter but for how little it would get used i would never hardwire 1 into my truck. doubt it would deal well with the moisture exposure under the hood. weight wise you can pretty much get a small generator that is pretty portable and way better on fuel.