Freightliner Cascadia power inverter problem

[Jezyna]

2012 Freightliner Cascadia problem with factory power inverter. It shuts off every time I use the microwave. The inverter is Philips with Philips shore power. It's grey with black metal box around it. Can't find any info anywhere. Does anyone know anything about it?

 

[Dauntless]

I would try running the truck while you run the microwave. If that works you might need to replace your batteries.

 

[ironpony]

2012 Freightliner Cascadia problem with factory power inverter. It shuts off every time I use the microwave. The inverter is Philips with Philips shore power. It's grey with black metal box around it. Can't find any info anywhere. Does anyone know anything about it?

Take a look at the information plate on the back of your microwave - there should be a specification for the average power requirement in watts. That needs to be less than the rated output of your inverter. Microwaves pull a lot of power when you turn them on - a lot more than the average rated power draw, that's why I always get an inverter that's rated for at least twice what my microwave is going to pull. If you have other loads hooked up, unplugging them will help too. The inverter has to be able to supply the sum of all the connected loads, plus the turn-on surge of the microwave.

@Dauntless is absolutely correct - running off the battery alone means your inverter is operating at the low line input voltage, which means it will be drawing a large amount of current to supply the output power demand. That can be enough current draw (amps) to trigger the protective shutdown circuits. Running your engine when you use your microwave should take care of that, and will put less demand on your batteries.

If your batteries are more than two years old, getting them load tested is a good idea with winter coming on, especially if a new truck. Manufacturers don't put good batteries in new trucks - "adequate" is the spec to pull in some extra profit. Even if you have one weak cell,I'd recommend replacing the whole batch since a week battery can damage the rest of them.

 

[r3gulator3]

You should never run your microwave without the truck running. The amount of power it draws will ruin your batteries if there’s not supply voltage going in.

 

[Rigjockey]

Yes, always run your truck when using your microwave, even if the microwave works off the batteries it is a heavy draw. If you are worried about idle time, it won't make much, if any dent in your idle time.