1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Hooking up an Invertor to 12-volt battery?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by IDaniel, Dec 4, 2019.

  1. IDaniel

    IDaniel Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2019
    4
    0
    0
    Location:
    Oklahoma
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    Two Eco
    Is it safe to hook up an invertor to my gen 2 standard 12-volt battery. I have a Milwaukee Tool battery charger that I use to recharge many batteries for my tools at job sites and charging up my power tools batteries while I'm driving would be great. Is that posssible and safe?
     
    #1 IDaniel, Dec 4, 2019
  2. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,414
    15,173
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Lots of threads here cover inverter hookups. Pay attention to where you tap, your wire gauge and fusing, and making sure the car is in READY when using your inverter, and it'll be fine. Being in the back, the battery is conveniently located to tap for inside-the-car purposes, but at the same time going out of your way to tap right at the battery posts doesn't buy you anything: when the car is in READY, the battery is a power recipient, not a source, so if you're tapping at the battery posts you're actually a couple connections farther downstream from the source than if you just used the nearby body ground point and the cable side of the battery fuse.
     
    #2 ChapmanF, Dec 4, 2019
  3. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,784
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    It is best to just plug something like that into the "cigarette lighter" 12 V power plug.
    If it draws enough to blow that fuse, I don't think I would use it.
    And regardless of how it's connected, the battery is small and you definitely should not use it unless the engine is "running".
     
    #3 sam spade 2, Dec 4, 2019
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    108,000
    49,089
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    lots of people here have inverters for emergency power. no prolemo, just follow chap's advice and research the threads for pics and info.
     
    #4 bisco, Dec 4, 2019
  5. George W

    George W Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2018
    909
    510
    1
    Location:
    San Antonio
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    100A fuse protects the 12V supply. I wouldn't surpass this.
     
    #5 George W, Dec 4, 2019
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)