Can I plug a trickle charger into a Toyota factory inverter.

[Boatbuilder79]

My wife’s car a Toyota 4 runner has an inverter built into the cargo area. It says it is good for 400 watts.

I have a 2 amp trickle charger I want to use to keep a spare battery topped off while driving.

When I am parked the spare battery will be used for a fridge overnight.

I Will plug the fridge into the cars 12 volt socket when driving.

Will it hurt anything to do this? It is just for the next few days.

Will be getting an isolator and doing it right eventually....

 

[john61ct]

As long as the charger's average input is more than covering the fridge's draw, Ah per hour.

If you see voltage dropping after an hour or two, it's not enough amps.

And lose the ciggie port connection asap, IMO go Andersons

 

[john61ct]

As long as the charger's average input is more than covering the fridge's draw, Ah per hour.

If you see voltage dropping after an hour or two, it's not enough amps.

And lose the ciggie port connection asap, IMO go Andersons.

Why not just run a mains AC extension cord out there?

 

[Bayou Boy]

2 amps is going to do virtually nothing to charge while you drive. Actually worse than nothing because you think it might but you'll just be disappointed. Run an auxiliary wire to the battery from your starting battery. Even 10AWG will give you 15 amps or so. 2/10 marine cable is pretty cheap and easy to run.

 

[john61ct]

Wow O misread, thought the setup was for charging off mains power while parked.

Sorry. Yes while driving just hook the battery up to the alternator output with fat enough cables.

Isolator is to keep from running down the Starter batt once parked. Just remember to disconnect manually

 

[Martinjmpr]

I am wondering the same thing but instead of a 2a trickle charger I'd be using a 7.2a charger/maintainer. I also have a 400w inverter.

I'm looking at using this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004LWTHP2/?coliid=I1ECG7FR5RNHPQ&colid=29PHGCD6GGEP&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

7.2a at 12v. Draws 132w max from the AC side

I also got a Renogy 20a DC-DC charger that I'd prefer to use. The issue there is getting a wire from the battery into the cab. I'm still working on that but it seems like this could work to keep my 12v battery pack charged up to run the fridge.

7.2a isn't 20a but it's nothing to sneeze at either.

 

[Boatbuilder79]

My concern was with the modified sine wave shape of the Toyota inverter but It was so cold I ended up not having to charge the deep battery the whole trip.

I did plug the fridge into the car while driving and into the deep battery while parked.

 

[john61ct]

My concern was with the modified sine wave shape of the Toyota inverter but It was so cold I ended up not having to charge the deep battery the whole trip.

I did plug the fridge into the car while driving and into the deep battery while parked.

Best setup is the loads always run off the battery, except when it's getting charged, everything happens automatically without any attention paid.