Power supply for 1997 Chevy 5.7L Ext Cab

[zRobx71]

Just a creative question here...there is a spot on the opposite side of my original battery that can fit another battery. I was just wondering if I could somehow get a power outlet into my truck with another battery hooked up to my alternator? Just wondering. Wouldn't be powering anything higher than a PlayStation 3.

[DeltaP]

Why not install a power inverter? Or they sell small inverters that plug into the cigarette lighter. They're capable of powering a small electrical device less than 20 amps like laptops,etc. They're about 25-30 bucks. Seen em at Radio Shack,Walmart,K-Mart,Best Buy,etc. Alot less trouble for what you need.

[gremlin96]

it will cost a bit, but go with the bigest alt you can get for the truck. then add a second battery, you will need a battery isolator. this way you can run the second battery for a inverter and to run more 12v stuff and not run down the cranking battery. depending on the size of inverter you get you can run any thing you want. if you do wnat to run power hungry tools the truck will need to be running or the battery could go flat in no time.




http://www.neon-john.net/RV/Electric...ion_relays.htm

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by zRobx71

Just a creative question here...there is a spot on the opposite side of my original battery that can fit another battery. I was just wondering if I could somehow get a power outlet into my truck with another battery hooked up to my alternator? Just wondering. Wouldn't be powering anything higher than a PlayStation 3.

with the operation of a device that uses 110volts ac you use the watts required of the device . lets say the play station uses a max 50watts ac then you should get a 100watt inverter. the 100watt inverter would use 10amps if it is putting out the 100watts. this would work fine in a power outlet in the vehicle. if you need more than 100watts then you must run a fused feed from the battery to the inverter with wires of a very large guage to handle the higher current. 100watts is 10amps draw from the 12volt system. 1000watts would be 100amps required.

inverters used to power air pumps and supply power to small computer devices is for some a great tool.

I still have a inverter from the late 1960's. this was a mechanical inverter not designed at all like these new smaller more powerful units with good regulation and noise control.

[DeltaP]

I was just trying to keep it simple... Hope you don't use the playstation while you're driving!