Power Inverter - Wicked Full Install - AC Power for your Car or Truck 

The loud beeping sound is because the starter motor draws alot of current and drops the voltage below the inverter's low voltage protection.

That is the cleanest install I have ever seen. And I do them all the time. Definitely earned a like.

I followed these instructions to the T, ordered the products listed and the 3D prints and by far the best purchase I have made. Install instructions on this video were amazing and easy to follow. If you have been thinking about doing this, do it and do it through this video.

Of note: When you drop a bolt in the a-pillar, you don't have to listen to it for 100,000 miles. Simply drop a magnet down there too. (Might need a stick and duct tape to get the placement right...) Had this scenario with a welding slag bb in the top rail of a Volkswagon. Nice clean install. You do good work, and the presentation was top notch.

I can't tell you how happy I am you made this video.

Hey, that was really satisfying to watch. Makes me want to install an inverter in my truck now.

This video is good for the learners and those who are not much tech savvy...

Excellent install! Very professional with attention to detail.

Excellent install and excellent video. Very easy to follow.

This is so salesmen. Cleanest install ever. I'd pay you to install mine whatever it costs. What am awesome job. So clean. Also best tutorial ever.

Don't have a 3D printer? The 3D Handyman now offers 3D prints! You can buy the Inverter Housing here. Please allow a few days for printing... www.etsy.com/listing/1223117781

Clean install, one thing I would of done install the fuse box next to the battery just in case if for some reason it shorts out u don’t burn ur truck

Great video and really nice build. I love your attention to all the small details.

Bro, you need is the fuse in the battery, is good if you relocate the cable to the master fuse or find a sound system fuse

Great clean install - breaker should be as close to the battery as possible though. I've seen cars burn to the ground from a shorted power lead.

Your breaker should be as close to the positive terminal as possible

EXCELLENT JOB, THANK YOU SMART MAN FOR GREAT PRESENTATION!

This is the most unique and clean video filming and editing I seen in a long time. The info given and the install itself is all great.

Wow that’s pretty solid, very nice job

You’re kind of a hot shot huh 😂👍💪💪.

Nifty work man .. very nice and clean. Have you found out why your truck makes that beeping sound when starting while the inverter is on the ON position?

After 3 years you still have the set up.

Clean….

Dude you’re a stud!

Awesome video 👏👏👏

Modified sine wave inverters are *the best* for resistive AC loads (lights, warmers-- things that do not have spinning parts, moving parts or motors). They're the best for those kinds of devices, because there is not as much loss in producing the modified sine wave. Running a resistive load on a pure sine wave inverter is a waste. Nothing will be broken or damaged, but the loss inside the inverter to produce the sine wave makes it run batteries down much sooner. If you will be running resistive load devices on your pure sine wave inverter only when the engine is running, and never on just batteries; it doesn't mean as much and you can just run all your devices on a pure sine wave inverter. On the other hand, never ever run an inductive load on a modified sine wave inverter, unless you know you do not care about the life of that device. They run horribly inefficient and run hot on modified sine wave inverters. They are something like the equivalent of giving your inductive device a brown-out to deal with, but you did it on purpose. Having both on hand for each device is appropriate. Choose wisely for the type of load you are going to run. Aims is good equipment, and runs cool. Also, as a rule, don't load them past 2/3 of their rated power. This has a lot of implications, too.

Nice and informative! Just how I like it.

I want to install a small 400W inverter in my old '06 dodge durango, for our many roadtrips... But I'm really scared of electricity. This video is very informative and well done. Thank you so much. (I wonder how long that would take me, since I'm not a very 'handy' guy...)

It was a very good class Master Thank you so much

If I where you I would buy a junction box for under the seat to protect the flammable carpet from getting lit from terminal spark also I would build a cover for the inverter so the outlets are only visible and then I would buy an external switch to hardwire it to prolly left side of stearing wheel so u could controll it from the front

Great info. Very thorough.

So, I just watched this because im thinking about installing an inverter and a plug or 2 in my 99 f350 diesel. I don't do any work out of the truck, so itd just be for recreation and trips, chargers, maybe lights or a coffe pot here and there or something. Im leaning towards wiring into a toggle on the dash to switch it off and on. Thats my only thought really is dont you have any open auxiliary ports in your dash to run it on a switch in a convenient more "stock" looking location? great video, TONS of great reference for my project when I get on it

Nice install I may have missed it but I didn’t see an in-line fuse from the battery otherwise great video

Awesome job and video!

Thank you @ The 3D Handyman. Excellent video I'd say. How is the inverter handling 🤔?

i wish i could just print things on my 3d printer when i needed it. lol Id be staring at the software for 10 yuears before i figured out how to use them

Well played

Thank you very much excellent video

Great video! Thanks for the detailed explanation ☺️

Could you have found a ground location closer to the inverter? I would thing one of the seat bolt would be bolted to the frame. Great video by the way. I will be using this to put one in my expedition.

That's impressive, but I'd rather just attach my inverter to the anchor points in the roof at the rear of my vehicle and power it from a 12V socket haha. I'm planning on doing this starting tomorrow since my 400W inverter isn't even enough to power one charger for my tool batteries, so a 1000W or 1500W inverter might be enough. Edit: my older one can charge a battery with the vehicle off, but the vehicle needs to be running for the inverter to continuously power the fast charger. The fast charger will probably just be used as a backup for when I'm driving or need power quick.

Would it be appropriate to ground to the battery?

Great install!

Install a 50ah Lifepo4 battery under the seat and a battery contractor. So the Lifepo4 engages only when the alternator is running. Rest of the time if u power the inverter on it will only drain the lithium battery this not leaving u stranded if u forget to turn it off and fully drain the battery remember this won't be automatically shuting off till the battery is done to 10v and a car battery at 10v is useless.

Small nitpick - you stated the AC vents would blow cool, moist air on the unit - it will actually blow cool, DRY air (moisture is removed at the evaporator and drains out under the truck).

Dump that inverter and get a pure sine way you won't be sorry. I have had 110 ac in almost of the cars I have owned. As a photographer videographer I need power and coffee. One of my coffee maker refused to work with a modified sine wave type inverter . I even run a electric frying pan with mine. Also if you are going to use and inverter get a 12 volt circuit breaker and a Blue Sea charger isolator as well as a marine AGM type battery. Good luck.

how about a 2nd smaller battery ? ...

Well am motivated 🤩

Super clean, nice job sir! I see your update in the description about the fuse. Noted:) Any other lessons learned? How the system functioning?

Very nicely done. Is the Breaker neccessary though? what if you didn't install a Breaker?

Good job!

Also for your fridge and other device. Why not just get the pure sign wave inverter? You maybe would spend 50 more dollars and never have to worry about anything ever again.

Very interresting video, thank you, I was thinking fitting one to convert to electric heating but always wonder if it could be use when the engine is on and if the alternator could cope, does the manual says what how many amps the converter will draw ? Cheers

I'd out the breaker as close to the battery as possible

If you are plugging in a plug with earth terminal (non double insulated appliance) into the inverter how is the car earthed if the appliance fails?

I have a 2009 single cab f150 I would love to install something like this

Hey I’ve clicked on the link to purchase this from you but says not available, can you still sell one in tan color by request? Or know where I can get it done?

Muito bom

Best way I can explain it power inverter will throw it south into a low power mode I’m trying to crank it’s all based on the battery you have the more cold cranking amps and cranking amps you have stronger battery would help also upgrading to a little bit stronger alternator if you feel it’s necessary that would also help

Will this setup work for charging Milwaukee m18 batteries?

You should just take out passager seats uses bolt put the seats back....

a battery is no more than a capacitor

Well that just made me realize how shitty of a car ownership/subpar mechanical abilities i really have. Thanks for nothing Mr...also grammatical too.

how you made it?

A few critiques. 1. You really should have some overcurrent protection (fuse or breaker) within 6-12" of the connection to the battery. This minimizes the risk of the cable getting damaged, shorting out, and causing a fire. The likely good if this happening is small but does potentially exist with animals or an accident. As it currently is installed the line is unprotected from the battery to your breaker under the seat. 2. I've hooked up a fluke VR1710 to one of those Schumacher inverters and the power quality coming off of it is a quintessential modified sine wave. Ok for non sensitive electronics but I'd have some reservation about plugging in anything sensitive to one as you pointed out. If you ever decide to swap it out the xantrex prowatt SW1000 would be a good replacement that's not horrendously expensive. Power quality isn't perfect but likely better than your wall power at home. I've got their prosine 1800 in multiple company vehicles. They're about as perfect as you can get but stupid expensive and large. Other than that you're install is super clean. The wire lug covers you used was a really good idea. I probably would have grounded out to the same point out maybe the seatbelt retractor mounting bolt in the b pillar, mostly to save wire and not drill a hole. Looks like the seat rail to body bolts would have been a pain with the plastic trim covers.

attaching the inverter to the battery, will it drain the vehicle battery?

Really nice ,well thought out , super clean , and practical install you out a lot of thine and thought into every detail. I love when you can see that in someone’s work bravo

I have never seen a tutorial video this clean before. I wish everything I look for in a project had such clear steps and examples.

Your engine won't turn on unless the inverter is off because the inverter is pulling current from your battery, which reduces your crank amps to power the ignition. By turning it off, the battery is able to provide full capacity amperage to the ignition. So either you get a battery large enough to power both or just be wise and turn off the inverter when the car is off

Probably has been said but you should put fuse / breaker as close to battery as possible.

Nice install

That installation looks great! I don't understand why you would go to all that work but not spend a few extra dollars for a pure sine wave?

breaker should be as close as possible to battery

great job

Personally I would of tapped the ground wire mount versus using a magnet and tape to hold it in place but clean install overall!

My f150 came with the inverter installed. I loved that feature. Going to do this to my Ram now. Its amazing how often you use them when you have them.

Damn age quite impressive, granted, ill be returning mine and sticking wiht my 410w that plus into my cigg lighter lmfao. seemed like too much worse considering i dont run any power tools or anything, ocasional scan tool and laptop

How do you know what breaker to get?

I want to do something like this in my Ranger, but I want the outlet(s) in the bed. The storage area under the rear seat (Supercrew) is useless for me since my kids' car seats are a pain to remove, so I'm thinking of using 2 6V batteries (aka golf cart batteries) in series and maybe the inverter under there. Then running the AC power to the location(s) I may want them. I'll add a battery isolator so that it only charges the 6V batteries when running. Great video BTW. great shooting angles and just enough content to not be boring.

Do you have the print file for the breaker mount, or can we order a breaker mount from you? I do not see that listed in the description or on your Etsy page. Thank you for an amazing explanation!

Cold air hitting a hot thing won't cause condensation, that would be hot air hitting a cold thing, like your hot breath hitting cold glass. Very clean install though.

Very nice

Perfection!

Or you can run it to your fuse box. Use the ciggy lighter fuse

Great vid. This really helped. Getting ready to do this. Do you happen to have a link to the terminal cover boots you used at the end?

That's was great good ideas

I somewhat familiar with installing devices connected to the batter (emergency lightings/escort flashers) and have only had power inverters that use the 12V outlet. Is the breaker under the seat a necessity or just a safeguard? I want to make sure I do it the right way in my truck and am not familiar with the breaker or its purpose, so this has been super helpful, but any info on the breaker & its purpose would be helpful too! Thanks

Very good info

Great job!

awesome!!!!

Nice clean install (pretty much perfect). If I were to nitpick, I'd color it black, which might blend in better than the gray that doesn't match the surrounding gray.

Everything looks perfect but I have a question I know you put a kill switch but aren’t you missing a fuse on the positive close to the battery?

Can I purchase the 3D printed holding compartment from you. I have a 2011 f150 and the same inverter but no access to a 3d printer.

I'm doing a similar install - freezer in the crew cab running off 700watt inverter - but have a question on connecting the negative wire which for me is a 6g. The two options I see are (1) connect it directly to the battery negative terminal or (2) connect it to the truck frame (which is electrically connected to the battery negative). You obviously went with option (2). Did you research the best options? Does it matter? Please share any info you have on the issue. Thanks!