Car Inverters

[bassman1975]

I am looking at buying a car inverter, like the ones you can plug into a cig. lighter or even have it hard wired into your truck. The purpose is to be able to charge the four batteries on the boat while traveling. I saw a guy doing this and he ran a orange cord out the back of his truck to the back of his boat to charge his batteries. I was trying to find him to ask him some questions but by the time I walked around he had left. So my question is how much wattage should I look for in charging the batteries. 1000 watts seems to much but I have no idea. Any help would be great. Thanks

[Bobby T]

I have been using inverters for a long time to charge the batterys on my boat and it also comes in handy for lights or a coffee pot and small power tools. Hard wire your inverter with large wire like the same size as you battery cables and use a battery isolator to a seperate battery. If you use a small inverter with built on small wires you are going to run into problems with the wires over heating or the circuit breaker in the unit itself or your vehicle. Get at least a 1200watt. I went though a couple of 750watt inverters before I up graded.

[bassman1975]

Thank You BobbyT for your info. I think you answered my question on how many watts.

[fishinman]

I have been using inverters for a long time to charge the batterys on my boat and it also comes in handy for lights or a coffee pot and small power tools. Hard wire your inverter with large wire like the same size as you battery cables and use a battery isolator to a seperate battery. If you use a small inverter with built on small wires you are going to run into problems with the wires over heating or the circuit breaker in the unit itself or your vehicle. Get at least a 1200watt. I went though a couple of 750watt inverters before I up graded.

COULD YOU POSSIBLY DIRECT US TO WHAT YOU MEAN BY A SEPARATE BATTERY AND ISOLATOR AND WHERE THEY ARE PLACED AND WIRED IN AS TO THE EXTENSION CORD GOING TO THE CHARGING UNIT IN THE BOAT FROM THE BATTERY THAT RUNS THE TRUCK.

[Bobby T]

By seperate batery I mean for a seperate battery placed under your hood with a isolator block between your main battery and the new battery. Give me a call (805) 720-4097
Bob