hey you guys; just want to know how much electricity i can get out of the cigaarrete lighter of my 2001 ram 2500 diesel? I went ahead and plugged in a 400W inverter and attempted to use a 2 gallon compressor to pump up my tires but it didnt seem to be giving much juice. How does everyone else use heavy duty tools with their trucks' internal power systems?

 

I would go to the battery. You have to think of electrical wires like water pipes. Your cigarette lighter plug has very small gauge wire coming into it, so you won't be able to get any more out, then comes in.

 

Yup direct power source to the battery, one the cigarerate lighters is only 5 amps, at 12 volts. With a little tiny wire... As HRD explained the waterpipe theory. Have the inverter hardwired to the batt and it should work ok..

 

You need to look at the compressor and how many Amps it needs your inverter is only putting out a little over 3 amps. at peak Did some checking and a 1/3 hp motor uses about 7 amps. It looks like that is the size of the motor on that small of a compressor. So you may be under powering you compressor Remember you are no longer using the power companies grid. Also be sure to fuse it if hooking anything directly to the battery at the cost of batteries these days if you get a short you would not want to burn one out!