Hi I’m new to class one , well 4 months and gone straight into tramping, I am getting an inverter for my truck, will a 2000 watt modified sine wave inverter work with a 700 watt microwave
Absolutely yes. But make sure it’s wired in correctly best way is direct to the batteries with an inline fuse. Don’t whatever you do, try plugging it into a ■■■ lighter or Hella socket.
dreamingofoz:
Absolutely yes. But make sure it’s wired in correctly best way is direct to the batteries with an inline fuse. Don’t whatever you do, try plugging it into a ■■■ lighter or Hella socket.
The truck has got an Anderson lead coming in the passenger side, and the mechanic at work has got the electrician to make a lead for the inverter to plug into it, i just hope it works.
Happy days then. Enjoy life on the road.
dreamingofoz:
Happy days then. Enjoy life on the road.
I’m hearing happy days a lot now, and I’ve got the trucking bug I don’t even want go home at weekend to screaming kids and wife, the only problem I have is parking at night in truck stops , it’s so hard to see were you’re reversing, any tips would be great
ryan011284:
dreamingofoz:
Happy days then. Enjoy life on the road.I’m hearing happy days a lot now, and I’ve got the trucking bug I don’t even want go home at weekend to screaming kids and wife, the only problem I have is parking at night in truck stops , it’s so hard to see were you’re reversing, any tips would be great
Just take your time and get out and look if in any doubt. And foreign drivers are quick to help if they’re around don’t forget to say thank you!
TiredAndEmotional:
ryan011284:
dreamingofoz:
Happy days then. Enjoy life on the road.I’m hearing happy days a lot now, and I’ve got the trucking bug I don’t even want go home at weekend to screaming kids and wife, the only problem I have is parking at night in truck stops , it’s so hard to see were you’re reversing, any tips would be great
Just take your time and get out and look if in any doubt. And foreign drivers are quick to help if they’re around don’t forget to say thank you!
I always say thanks, I’m still telling everyone it’s my first day
ryan011284:
dreamingofoz:
Happy days then. Enjoy life on the road.I’m hearing happy days a lot now, and I’ve got the trucking bug I don’t even want go home at weekend to screaming kids and wife, the only problem I have is parking at night in truck stops , it’s so hard to see were you’re reversing, any tips would be great
Try to adjust your start times so you start earlier and finish earlier. I like to get parked up around 5:30 - 6 pm precisely so I don’t put myself in the position of struggling with our inadequate truck stops. If you’re pulling in at 8 pm you might not get a space, and if you do it’ll be the ones all the other drivers have not fancied having a go at.
If there’s a single space on your good side that you don’t fancy but a double on your blindside have a go at the blindside. So long as you can plonk it somewhere in the middle you can always shunt it between the lines once you’re in.
As said above any inverter over 300 watts must be connected directly to the battery and one professionally. I use just a 300 watt inverter and it is ok to connect to a high amp socket in the cab.
Pat Hasler:
As said above any inverter over 300 watts must be connected directly to the battery and one professionally. I use just a 300 watt inverter and it is ok to connect to a high amp socket in the cab.
That’s no good for a microwave. OP is right to get 2000, and pure sine is right too - gives you a consistent current so won’t damage your TV. I think my inverter is 1500w. Basically you double the wattage. So that’s fine for my 600w microwave and TV.
Always leave engine running when I’m using the microwave to save the battery.
ebay.co.uk/itm/2000W-4000W-P … 1176243950
I’ve had one of these 1500w/3000w for 18 months, use it all the time and runs perfectly. It’s got a remote so you can store it under the bed and have an extension lead and the on/off remote in the cab so you never need to lift the bed to turn it on. Great piece of kit, I’d recommend.
You can get cheaper, but for quality, convenience (the remote) and reliability it’s worth every penny.
ryan011284:
dreamingofoz:
Happy days then. Enjoy life on the road.I’m hearing happy days a lot now, and I’ve got the trucking bug I don’t even want go home at weekend to screaming kids and wife, the only problem I have is parking at night in truck stops , it’s so hard to see were you’re reversing, any tips would be great
To be serious for a minute mate (and I realise you were speaking lightly on this)
Tramping, If I was on Mastermind it would be my specialist subject 
…Speaking from experience don’t be too eager to stay away from your Mrs and especially your kids, they grow up in the blink of an eye…(.trust me 
)
I am certainly NOT casting aspersions on your wife (I am sure she is as good and trustworthy as mine was and is) but I know a lot of trampers who are divorced and on their second and third marriages, with their wives being ■■■■■■ off about them being away tramping all the time.
There is more to life than spending it in a truck mate
Take my advice or don’t I aint fussed, just do not make the same mistakes with your kids that I did.
The more you miss of your kids growing up, the more you regret being away and missing all those ‘milestone moments’
Not bad eh? …Ask for advice on an inverter, get free life coaching. 
All has been said on inverters/microwaves, I can’t add to it.
As for parking, you do not HAVE to use t/stops it’s your choice (and deffo not rip off/■■■■ hole msa.s 
…or lay bys)
Try and build up your own little places that you notice on your trips, close to town facilities ind ests and retail parks that are well lit and (relatively) safe, obviously unless you have hi.value loads, if not leave a trailer door open to avoid any snouty ■■■■ s or slashed curtains.
As for reversing into spaces at dark, make sure mirrors are spotless, switch on catwalk light and adjust it to shine down nearside if poss. Take a wide angle sweep in an arc rather than cut in on a sharp angle.
Get someone to watch you back if in doubt, rather than take somebody’s mirror off. or keep getting out and checking as many times as you need.
Good luck, …and listen to the ‘‘life coach’’ bit.
ryan011284:
Hi I’m new to class one , well 4 months and gone straight into tramping, I am getting an inverter for my truck, will a 2000 watt modified sine wave inverter work with a 700 watt microwave
Youve gone around it exactly the right way. Some will try to run wattage to wattage ie 700 watt appliance and 700watt inverter and wonder why it cuts out/ overheats. 2KW inverter will be fine to run most things and being sine wave is safe to use on more delicate low power stuff as they dont give power spikes.
Ref being keen to stay out, take RobRoys advice, if you can get home do so and dont always volunteer yourself for too many nights out. My current ones a goodun and we’ve been together 18 years but shes my 4th wife!
Good luck in your new job and stay safe… 
robroy:
ryan011284:
dreamingofoz:
Happy days then. Enjoy life on the road.Take a wide angle sweep in an arc rather than cut in on a sharp angle.
That’s great advice, use all the space going. I had it last week when a fork truck driver tried telling me not to drive through “his loading area” so I could get a comfortable angle to reverse a trailer into the workshop. Ignore people like that. Your number one priority is not to hit anything and I’d have quite happily argued my case to my boss had the jobsworth gone running into the office telling tales. People moan about bad days, but my philosophy is that every day you get around without hitting something is a good day. All the other issues are just trivialities you just take in your stride.
One more thing NEVER TRUST A BANKSMAN. If you’re in doubt get and have a look. Even if if it’s another driver. I’ve had it when another driver is waving me in and I wasn’t happy - got out and looked - and if I’d carried on listening to him I’d have hit another unit.
re using an inverter, using a microwave for a few minutes isnt going to drain your batteries and most good quality ones will have a low battery indicator. However, if youre going to be using it for any length of time especially higher wattage stuff just start and run the engine for a few minutes every hour or so to be on the safe side…
Thanks all for advice, I can’t wait for summer so it’s light most of the day.
Tris:
Pat Hasler:
As said above any inverter over 300 watts must be connected directly to the battery and one professionally. I use just a 300 watt inverter and it is ok to connect to a high amp socket in the cab.That’s no good for a microwave. OP is right to get 2000, and pure sine is right too - gives you a consistent current so won’t damage your TV. I think my inverter is 1500w. Basically you double the wattage. So that’s fine for my 600w microwave and TV.
Always leave engine running when I’m using the microwave to save the battery.
Take it you don’t have a microlise unit hectoring you for ‘idling’ ■■■■ them to hell. 
some really interesting stuff on this page, and also some good advice. Now im not that good with the technical stuff, but can you enlighten me as to what difference a SINE wave makes ( no dont tell me its what the queen does ) as against a normal inverter. I have seen peak mentioned as in : 2000w peak 4000w. ( £159 ) I have through this post read that it must be connected direct to the batts…at the mo i use a 300w standard inverter,in to the ciggy lighter, but only use it for my tv…so if i want to buy a cheapo microwave from argos eg …i will need a 2000w sine wave inverter…is that correct …and thanks in advance for the advice.
You are looking for ‘pure sine wave’ as opposed to ‘modified sine wave’, they’re all one or the other. Pure is more expensive and will be ok for sensitive electronic things, modified is cheaper but will make your expensive stuff either not work or let out all its smoke.