Powering Gadgets....

Ok, I will say I am a bit of a tech geek. How do you supply your phone, laptop, crockpot, cooler etc. while on the road? I found a 5,000 watt cobra converter at walmart for $199. Is that an over kill? Will companies allow you to have these installed hard wired to the battery of the truck? Is there already one on the truck? How do you power all the different things?

At most a 1500 watt maybe 2000 watt inverter would be all you would need plan some.

Companies are not allowing most drivers to connect directly to the batteries but there is a solution. 5 are a pair of jumper cables and cut one end off. Connect it to the inverter. You will see how once you get one. Super easy. And the other you still have the cable clamps to attach to the battery when your shut down and it's a super fast way to disconnect also.

Though you will still have to idle the truck during use cause it can drain your batteries.

Almost all phone can be plugged into the cig lighter cause all it needs is 12 volts to charge.

Or you can get one of the inverters that plugs into your 12v power socket. It will not power a microwave, but will do just fine for a computer.

As already mentioned, all these things will drain your batteries. So you do have to be careful not to drain them too far. But if you are pulling a reefer trailer, you do have your own built in jump start.

Ernie

Ernie I used the 300 watt one that plugs into the cigarette lighter. It will power a laptop no problem but the reason I quit using it was because it would get pretty hot to touch and blow the fuse.

Ernie I used the 300 watt one that plugs into the cigarette lighter. It will power a laptop no problem but the reason I quit using it was because it would get pretty hot to touch and blow the fuse.

I have used the 100 watt one myself in the past. Powers laptop, cool to the touch and did not blow the fuse. It has a fan in it that got really loud after several hours use however.

Ernie

Ernie I used the 300 watt one that plugs into the cigarette lighter. It will power a laptop no problem but the reason I quit using it was because it would get pretty hot to touch and blow the fuse.

I have used the 100 watt one myself in the past. Powers laptop, cool to the touch and did not blow the fuse. It has a fan in it that got really loud after several hours use however.

Ernie

I meant the actual plug got burning hot to the touch

What about a crockpot? I hear all you guys and gals talking about cooking while driving. Do you power that with a 12 inverter as well.

What about a crockpot? I hear all you guys and gals talking about cooking while driving. Do you power that with a 12 inverter as well.

Thanks for asking these questions cause it's going to save me from asking them later...

At most a 1500 watt maybe 2000 watt inverter would be all you would need plan some.

Companies are not allowing most drivers to connect directly to the batteries but there is a solution. 5 are a pair of jumper cables and cut one end off. Connect it to the inverter. You will see how once you get one. Super easy. And the other you still have the cable clamps to attach to the battery when your shut down and it's a super fast way to disconnect also.

Though you will still have to idle the truck during use cause it can drain your batteries.

Almost all phone can be plugged into the cig lighter cause all it needs is 12 volts to charge.

That's a really good idea on the jumper cables..

I wouldn't be doing the jumper cable thingy...I'd hate to explain to the company why my truck burnt to the ground when a jumper cable shorted out on the battery box and blazed me... Crock pots come in a 12 volt version, I believe. But alot of folks use the Burton cookers...thats what we used ,and cooked about everything in it...