DC-AC Inverter for tractor

[Daver1963]

Has anyone ever hooked a DC-AC inverter to a tractor for running things like pole saw, hedge clipper, ect.....
Was looking at approximately 2000w inverter to provide max 15amps power.

 

[RjCorazza]

I keep a small 500w inverter in my tractor, but obviously not enough to run power tools. My 2kw inverter is setup to clamp on a battery / vehicle, but I rarely use it.
The other 2kw inverter I installed in a previous RV was used extensively. On to my point... You will need a short run of very heavy cable to run a 2kw inverter. For a short run of 3 feet or so, 2/0 cable will suffice with a 250 amp fuse. Mount the inverter as close to the battery as possible and run a 120v cord to where you want it on your tractor.

 

[grsthegreat]

After my last inverter i had installed in my work van caught fire, ill never use one of those things again. I was lucky to save my truck.

 

[Richard001]

Why not go with battery power tools ?

 

[dodge man]

If you had a tractor with enough battery and alternator it would work. I don’t know for sure but I’d say the Kubota in your signature line wouldn’t work.

 

[sd455dan]

I did exactly that a 2000 watt HF years ago. tractor has 2 850 CCA 12 volts in parallel.
Runs a Pole saw fine and here is a pic of it starting the 10 HP track drive snowblower with no problem.

I did put a power shut off switch in line with the low volt high current B+ supply line.

 

[ultrarunner]

Installed one in 1990 in my truck.

It was a learning curve that led to putting in a larger alternator and then a second battery with RV isolator.

Also found I needed a very small load to prevent sleep mode.

Problem with sleep mode is a large load in sleep mode would lock out the inverter.

With a continuous small load like a 25W light bulb no lockout.

Mine is not sine wave and some electronics didn’t like the quality of the modified sine wave produced.

 

[2manyrocks]

With an inverter, you'd still be tied to an electric cord where a battery powered tool could be used anywhere. Once you get a 40v power head that accepts interchangeable attachments, you're pretty much on your way to doing what you want where you want without messing with an inverter and power cord.

It always seemed like I'd find a way to cut my power cord when using the electric hedge trimmers, too.

 

[5030]

Why not go with battery power tools ?

EXACTLY...

 

[5030]

Have a 3000 watt in my camper with a remote on-off to run my CPAP machine and it's mounted near the batteries and takes a heavy cable. It's a Xantrex I believe. PSW is the only way to fly.