My son is an over-the-road long haul trucker. He's having a power inverter installed in his truck for 110 volt stuff. Looks like TV, DVD and possibly a little fridge is all he will be using it for. I'm thinking a 1500 watt inverter will more than handle the things he may be powering. They only allow one brand to be installed. His only choice is 1500 or a 3000 watt.If I understand an inverter and it's power: The fridge runs 40 watts, the TV about 20 and the DVD about the same. That's less than 100 watts so he would have another 1400 watts available (maybe for a rasor, fan or other small items.Am I correct on the power draw placed on the inverter?

Yes and 500W would do if allowed. 1500W will run a small microwave.

We power More than that with a 2000 WATT. 1500 is sufficient What is the price difference between the two. Tinstar wrote:My son is an over-the-road long haul trucker. He's having a power inverter installed in his truck for 110 volt stuff. Looks like TV, DVD and possibly a little fridge is all he will be using it for. I'm thinking a 1500 watt inverter will more than handle the things he may be powering. They only allow one brand to be installed. His only choice is 1500 or a 3000 watt.If I understand an inverter and it's power: The fridge runs 40 watts, the TV about 20 and the DVD about the same. That's less than 100 watts so he would have another 1400 watts available (maybe for a rasor, fan or other small items.Am I correct on the power draw placed on the inverter?

Just make sure it's sine wave inverter and all will be good. If you go for the cheaper modified sine over the long run you'll end up replacing the appliances.

wallynm wrote:We power More than that with a 2000 WATT. 1500 is sufficient What is the price difference between the two. I'm not positive but it was somewhere around an extra $200 for the 3000 watt.

40W sounds low for a fridge, unless it's a tiny little thermoelectric desktop unit (which are barely able to keep a can or two of soda cool). It may consume a bit under 1 kWh per day, or an average of 40W, but the actual power usage would be practically zero (when the compressor is not running) or well over 40W (when it is—particularly when the compressor is starting up).Regardless, the 1500W inverter is more than sufficient for your son's needs and wants, and then some. He could also run a crock pot and an immersion heater for making tea or coffee.

Quick question about power inverter | Good Sam Community

Executive45
Explorer III
Sep 24, 2015
I agree, go with the 3000W...as he settles in and begins to enjoy himself, he'll want to add niceties and will appreciate the extra power..then again, he might shop used and buy an old 1500 from the guy who now wants the bigger one....:)..Dennis
dons2346
Explorer
Sep 24, 2015
For a lousy 200 bux, go for the 3,000 watt. Just make sure that either one of them is a pure sine wave.
DrewE
Explorer II
Sep 24, 2015
40W sounds low for a fridge, unless it's a tiny little thermoelectric desktop unit (which are barely able to keep a can or two of soda cool). It may consume a bit under 1 kWh per day, or an average of 40W, but the actual power usage would be practically zero (when the compressor is not running) or well over 40W (when it is—particularly when the compressor is starting up).

Regardless, the 1500W inverter is more than sufficient for your son's needs and wants, and then some. He could also run a crock pot and an immersion heater for making tea or coffee.
Tinstar
Explorer
Sep 24, 2015
wallynm wrote:
We power More than that with a 2000 WATT. 1500 is sufficient What is the price difference between the two.

I'm not positive but it was somewhere around an extra $200 for the 3000 watt.
creeper
Explorer
Sep 24, 2015
Just make sure it's sine wave inverter and all will be good. If you go for the cheaper modified sine over the long run you'll end up replacing the appliances.
wallynm
Explorer
Sep 24, 2015
We power More than that with a 2000 WATT. 1500 is sufficient What is the price difference between the two.

Tinstar wrote:
My son is an over-the-road long haul trucker. He's having a power inverter installed in his truck for 110 volt stuff. Looks like TV, DVD and possibly a little fridge is all he will be using it for. I'm thinking a 1500 watt inverter will more than handle the things he may be powering. They only allow one brand to be installed. His only choice is 1500 or a 3000 watt.

If I understand an inverter and it's power: The fridge runs 40 watts, the TV about 20 and the DVD about the same. That's less than 100 watts so he would have another 1400 watts available (maybe for a rasor, fan or other small items.

Am I correct on the power draw placed on the inverter?
Ivylog
Explorer III
Sep 24, 2015
Yes and 500W would do if allowed. 1500W will run a small microwave.

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