Hey guys. I need help getting "juice" to my new cargo trailer, so I'm considering a power inverter to run power tools, etc. from my workbench inside the trailer.

Here's the problem: I'd like a generator, but I'm not sure they'r the best option right now. I'd also like to have power inside my truck to run my laptop, etc. so a generator wouldn't work there either.

I'm assuming I'll have to wire a power inverter directly to my truck's batteries, correct? This means I'd have to run cables all the way back to my trailer, which probably isn't too good.

How do you connect a power inverter so that it will feed off both batteries in parallel? Also, should I leave the truck idling?

I really like my honda 2000 watt generator. you can take anywhere is why i went that route and i hear that it will run computers very well with no power spikes or dips.

See my comments and some other goond ones at this thread...

http://dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38639&highlight=inverter

Problem with an inverter is that it draws 10 times the current from the batteries that the AC appliance uses. A tool that draws 8 amps at 120 volts will draw over 80 amps from the battery. You will need heavy duty welding cable from the battery to trailer to support this. Might be advisable to have a battery or 2 in the trailer, with a charging system.

A Honda EU2000i is a good generator choice. Cheaper than a 2000 watt high quality sine wave inverter.

Thanks for the info...I'm still trying to decide what to do. I'm trying to plan ahead so that I don't have a separte engine for each tool--such as having a gas powered air compressor, etc.

Pick, I'm not sure how you're figuring that a generator is going to be cheaper than a comparable inverter. The Honda generators I've looked at seem to run slightly more than $1,000 for a 1600 watt continuous model. I can get a quality pure-sine wave inverter with a similar rating for about $600-$700 depending on the manufacturer.

Now I have a question about not overloading my alternator. I'll almost always high idle or at least dead idle when I'm really drawing heavy current loads, so how can I calculate this? I have a single alternator, the 105 amp model. So if I'm figuring correctly, my alternator should be able to keep up with about a max of 10 amps of from the AC device. Is this right? I could draw more, but then that would drain the batteries faster than the alternator can recharge them?