I get a lot of questions on Outside Supply about mobile applications for power inverters. Power Inverters can provide a great source of mobile power. There are however some factors to keep in mind. A power inverter merely inverters the DC power to AC power. It cannot create power from nothing. It must use a battery. Batteries and Battery banks have finite amounts of power. This is important when considering large continuous loads on a mobile power inverter. Mobile Power Inverters can run loads in Excess of 3000 watts. However you will need a ton of batteries (Literally) to get decent continuous run time on these batteries.
Heavy Duty Mobile Power Inverter applications may be better suited for short term run times, under 5 minutes over 1500 watt. You can usually run loads under 1000 watts as long as the vehicle is running. This however depends on the quality and size of the alternator in your vehicle. Most mobile inverters have auto shut off and warning alarms if the voltage goes too low. If you get a warning immediately shut off the inverter and allow your vehicle to recharge.
There are no magic answers when it comes to run times and loads. This is because every car is different. They have different alternators in different states of charging. Learn how well your vehicle powers an inverter before taking it out on that critical trip. Also never use a power inverter for life support equipment, they are not designed for this application.
It is always recommended to also make sure you read the owners manual for proper operation instructions and follow their installation recommendations as well.
