How to install 3000W pure sine wave inverter?

[canadian_ranger]

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to install a 3000w pure sine wave inverter in the truck bed of my 2020 Ranger. The reason is an incredibly stupid one, but is among other things to be able to run an espresso machine out of the back of the truck. The sheer senseless of this makes me happy.

Question: uh, how do I do this? ?

I’ve got the inverter (naturally, I bought it before educating myself on the “how”), and now wondering:

1. What gauge wire to run for that wattage, given the thing will be in the truck bed?
2. Can I just run from the battery all the way back? Or is it more complex than that?
3. I read warnings all over the place online about the sensitivity / fragility of modern car electronics, which makes me worry I’ll somehow damage it. Is that true? Is it avoidable?
4. What else don’t I know that’s relevant here?
5. Who / what type of professional would be right to install something like this? Standard mechanic? Car audio installer types? Someone else?

Lot packed into this post but any help is appreciated!

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[Tom_C]

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to install a 3000w pure sine wave inverter in the truck bed of my 2020 Ranger. The reason is an incredibly stupid one, but is among other things to be able to run an espresso machine out of the back of the truck. The sheer senseless of this makes me happy.

Question: uh, how do I do this? ?

I’ve got the inverter (naturally, I bought it before educating myself on the “how”), and now wondering:

1. What gauge wire to run for that wattage, given the thing will be in the truck bed?

12V power to the input of the inverter? Wow. Power = current x voltage. 3000watts divided by 12V = 250 amps! Is that right? Checks my math. Yep, it seems right to me. That's, um, a lot of juice. Need to look at this device and get back to you.

Do you have a link to the inverter?

1. Can I just run from the battery all the way back? Or is it more complex than that?
2. I read warnings all over the place online about the sensitivity / fragility of modern car electronics, which makes me worry I’ll somehow damage it. Is that true? Is it avoidable?
3. What else don’t I know that’s relevant here?
4. Who / what type of professional would be right to install something like this? Standard mechanic? Car audio installer types? Someone else?

Lot packed into this post but any help is appreciated!

 

[canadian_ranger]

Sure thing, here’s the link:
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B07P6TWL7B/

 

[Tom_C]

Sure thing, here’s the link:
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B07P6TWL7B/

OK. There's not much information there. The battery cables they use are definitely not rated for that much current, but, it's not going to be pulling full power all the time, so the cables will get hot but likely will handle the load for short times.

If it were me, I would find a way to mount that thing under the hood in a watertight enclosure, and run a heavyduty 120V extension cable back to the bed when you need it.

To run a 12V power wire back to the bed, I personally wouldn't run less than #4 copper, which in household wiring is rated for 100Amps, if I remember correctly. I think I would avoid that and only run 120V power back to the bed with an extension cord.

 

[WLFPIR8]

DON'T / You Can't (Shouldn't). Not without a lot of caveats.

First off. DO NOT just wire this in to the existing battery/alternator. I doubt the alternator has ample wattage to feed a full 3KW (250AMPS) at 12 Volts.

Feeding directly off the battery is a no-no as well. HALF that wattage would probably be fine. But you are going to get into battery load/drain issues, as well as make the trucks battery tender freak out.

What you SHOULD do is... Run a dual battery setup (or more) and have the truck slow charge that system, and run the alternator off the secondary batteries. You will need a dual battery switchover system/conditioner (I can't remember the proper term) that will manage the power without catching the whole electrical system on fire. Even better, you could set it up as a 24V system for better efficiency.

Those big ass inverters are made for connecting to a decent sized battery setup for things like RV's, emergency home power, large solar arrays (battery backed), etc.

If you are essentially wanting what the new F-150 has (in bed 120V/220V at high amperages) you have to remember that their system uses an auxiliary battery setup and charges off the power system for the hybrid engine.

Also... they make propane espresso machines. Espresso machines of a size that would require 3KW are normally 220V or 3-phase.

If you are trying to do a food truck setup or coffee kart type thing, you either need a generator or a large battery/inverter system and some way to charge it.

 

[Radioman]

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to install a 3000w pure sine wave inverter in the truck bed of my 2020 Ranger. The reason is an incredibly stupid one, but is among other things to be able to run an espresso machine out of the back of the truck. The sheer senseless of this makes me happy.

Question: uh, how do I do this? ?

I’ve got the inverter (naturally, I bought it before educating myself on the “how”), and now wondering:

1. What gauge wire to run for that wattage, given the thing will be in the truck bed?
2. Can I just run from the battery all the way back? Or is it more complex than that?
3. I read warnings all over the place online about the sensitivity / fragility of modern car electronics, which makes me worry I’ll somehow damage it. Is that true? Is it avoidable?
4. What else don’t I know that’s relevant here?
5. Who / what type of professional would be right to install something like this? Standard mechanic? Car audio installer types? Someone else?

Lot packed into this post but any help is appreciated!

The manufacturer says not to worry about fusing the wire to the inverter because the inverter has internal fuses. That is just crazy and a good way to burn up your truck if the wiring becomes damaged. I would install a fuse (circuit breaker) near the battery if I were installing the inverter.
(Which I wouldn't.)

You are going to require a very heavy gauge wire run all the way to the bed of the truck.

If I were going to need that much power, I would buy a good gas powered generator.

 

[slowmachine]

This sounds like a great reason to buy a 2000 watt inverter generator. I own a Honda, but I hear good things about Yamaha and Champion too. Probably costs a lot less than required upgrades to the Ranger, and more versatile.

 

[WLFPIR8]

This sounds like a great reason to buy a 2000 watt inverter generator. I own a Honda, but I hear good things about Yamaha and Champion too. Probably costs a lot less than required upgrades to the Ranger, and more versatile.

I have one of the 2kw Honda’s and love it. Pretty quiet and used it to power a espresso machine (small), big ol bunn coffee maker and grinder for an event without issues.

 

[db_tanker]

I would suggest an AGM or gel battery, charging Isolator for that battery and hook directly to that.

I've seen overlander rigs use this set up. Youtube has MANY folks in Australia do this exact set up. Its not cheap as some have mentioned you probably are better with a 2kw honda but since you already have the inverter then go the rest of the way.

D

 

[WLFPIR8]

I would suggest an AGM or gel battery, charging Isolator for that battery and hook directly to that.

I've seen overlander rigs use this set up. Youtube has MANY folks in Australia do this exact set up. Its not cheap as some have mentioned you probably are better with a 2kw honda but since you already have the inverter then go the rest of the way.

D

LiFePo4 if you can get a good deal. Those are the ultimate battery.

 

[canadian_ranger]

I would suggest an AGM or gel battery, charging Isolator for that battery and hook directly to that.

I've seen overlander rigs use this set up. Youtube has MANY folks in Australia do this exact set up. Its not cheap as some have mentioned you probably are better with a 2kw honda but since you already have the inverter then go the rest of the way.

D

Thanks for this! So, in short: Ranger battery -> battery isolator -> high quality secondary battery -> inverter. And would you put a fuse on the secondary battery as well or is that overkill?

 

[canadian_ranger]

LiFePo4 if you can get a good deal. Those are the ultimate battery.

Interesting! Never heard of these before, googling now. Thanks for the share!

 

[MTB-BRUH]

3000 watts is a ton of power.. you definitely can’t run that off one 12v car battery. Maybe 3 or 4? Like everyone else said you are much better off buying a generator

 

[canadian_ranger]

I have one of the 2kw Honda’s and love it. Pretty quiet and used it to power a espresso machine (small), big ol bunn coffee maker and grinder for an event without issues.

Yeah, I may well have gone down the wrong — or at least, the more complicated — path to begin with here.

 

[TN Ranger]

Not a good idea. Here's a picture of what I use with my 3000 watt inverter

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