Portable Power Generator

Originally Posted by KZBell

George...your gonna have to start sharing that s hit...pass it around. Small ones run on gas, larger ones for back up power at home can be rigged to run on propane or natural gas.

So, the ones that scrappers use to tote around in their trucks to plug in power tools run on gas?

Originally Posted by GeorgeB

So, the ones that scrappers use to tote around in their trucks to plug in power tools run on gas?

Yes, and like MDG said often times larger ones run on Diesel, like the ones at construction sites. Now an inverter is just converting 12v power from your car/truck battery to 110 ac so you have to be careful not to drain the battery too much that it won't start your truck.

Originally Posted by KZBell

Yes, and like MDG said often times larger ones run on Diesel, like the ones at construction sites. Now an inverter is just converting 12v power from your car/truck battery to 110 ac so you have to be careful not to drain the battery too much that it won't start your truck.

Not what I was wanting to hear, but more a less what I expected.

Guess I know what I will be shopping for after Christmas.

Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper

Which part? Draining the battery? Wire in a 2nd battery and put an isolator in. Refer to link I just posted.

The generators taking gas. I knew that would be the most likely answer though.

Thanks for the link, will look into doing that as well. Might come in handy, versus toting around smelly gas all the time.

Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper

Which part? Draining the battery? Wire in a 2nd battery and put an isolator in. Refer to link I just posted.

Isolation Switch. protects main battery from draining. If you tow an RV your truck maybe already equipped. The wiring schematic will vary from the one below to keep the trailer battery isolated from main.

To get a picture in your minds eye, replace inverter with trailer battery which is only present when the trailer is hitched and plugged into the trucks brake and marker lights which also has a charging circuit which includes and isolation relay.

2nd battery does not have to be mounted under the hood, I used this same circuit to keep my winch battery fully charged on my car hauling trailer. The battery is located on the tongue near the winch.