Cheap inverter
This is hardly the right way to do things, but it seems to work.
I was at Harbor Freight and they had both the 1500 and 2000 inverters in a reconditioned state. The 1500 was only $60 so I brought both home.
I returned the 2000. I don't really know why, but testing with hairdryer etc. the 1500 did a better job. My guess is that the 2000 was more sensitive to the battery dropping in voltage.
I bought the two 6' number 4 wires with a 20% off coupon and a fuse from Napa. Ran the wire from the van battery through the firewall and just placed the inverter between the front two seats. To plug in I just cracked the front door and used the wire for connecting the van to a hook up and instead hooked it to the inverter. Started the van in morning and ran the coffee maker for 8 minuets. At night I ran the van for 8 minuets and heated up a dinner in the microwave. I am basically creating a 460 cubic inch generator. Yes it burns some gas, but with less than $100 in capital expenses it is going to take a long time for this gas expense to out run the savings in capital expense.
Of course there is right way to do this, but everyone on this board is so nice I have no fear in sharing this living in a van down by the river technique. I have been mapping out the right way with things like the thread about two rail mounted house batteries that drop down for service, replacing the Power Source PC-45 as well as the Sure Power isolator and the stereo wire used to connect to the house battery. OK, it is not stereo wire, but it certainly is too small with an inverter attached at the house battery. I think it is too small to even charge the house battery. Anyway the cost of doing this the right way added up to more than I could handle. I will report in the spring if this MacGyver technique makes it though summer.
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1996 Ford EB 2 wheel drive 460
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