2021 Silverado 3500 Onboard inverter testing

[@charlieearle5016]

Looking for a way to test the outlet. My plug-in tester shows and open ground. Now trying to find the fuses and possibly the actual invertor itself.

[@squirrel1179]

Does anyone know where the physical location of the inverter is? I would like to upgrade it?

[@ddacombe4752]

agree, i was somewhat disappointed that they give you a bed outlet which cant run a power tool!

[@crownlounger]

Sorry for the late reply! So I was reading that the inverter is located on the back wall of the cab somewhere. I no longer have the truck, so I can't confirm that.

[@dansauve4843]

I have been using the outlets to charge solar generators for camping. I have one in the cab to power my fridge and one at the tailgate to make coffee. Charge while a drive. I have found that I can only get 300 watts before it trips. Can not get anywhere close to 400 watts. I would be interested to see what your watt limit is. Currently I can have 229 watts charger working in the front with a 43 watt charger in the back. Tried different chargers in the back trying to get closer to like 350 total watts. At 331 watts it trips out. At 295 watts is does not. At what wattage will your trip out?

[@crownlounger]

Unfortunately it was a work truck and I was forced to trade it in for a Ford… :( Just a guess, but I believe that the 12v cigarette lighter outlets are also on the same circuit. If you are using a phone charger or other 12v accessories it might be pulling some power from the same circuit as well causing it to overload. If that isn’t it, it’s likely to have an actual load rating lower than what they claim.

[@parneypots]

When it trips….how and where is the reset?

[@radrovers8819]

Hey bud! Can you help me out? I have a 2021 Silverado 1500WT . After watching your vid i would assume we have the same 400w built in...? It's not good enough for me. I want at least 800w and was thinking of 1200w. So, could i replace the built in 400 or should i just do my own thing separate from the truck wiring harness. If i COULD swap out the 400 to an 8 then do you think the wiring harness is up for the spec ? or thats gotta be upsized too...? I mean obviously the fuse but i don't know where that is yet either let alone if its a thermal, i hope it is.

[@radrovers8819]

And where is the dang thing anyway !

[@crownlounger]

Sorry for the late reply! So I was reading that the inverter is located on the back wall of the cab somewhere. I no longer have the truck, so I can't confirm that. As far as upgrading to a larger sized inverter, I'm not sure it's as simple as swapping it out for a larger one. My gut tells me that all the wiring is sized for 400 watts max, which works out to be approximately 33 amps, at 12 volts. By moving to a 1200 watt inverter, the max amperage would be somewhere around 100 amps at 12 volts... A substantial increase! I can absolutely guarantee that non of the wiring from the fuse box to the inverter is sized for that, and I would even go as far to say that the wiring from the inverter to the 120 volt outlets is likely not sized large enough for the potentially 10 amps at 120vac. Replacing all the wiring to each outlet and rewiring to the inverter is doable, but I'm sure it would be a lot of work. I hope this helps!

[@Jonh707]

Would it handle charging my makita 20v drill battery’s while I’m driving around?

[@crownlounger]

Yes it should just fine. I used it for charging my 20v Dewalt batteries. Seems to take a bit longer than when it’s plugged into the wall, but it still works.

[@AlejandroMQuine]

Hello. Any tips on how to increase the wattage?

[@crownlounger]

There’s no way to increase the wattage of the stock inverter without replacing it and all the wiring. You’d be better off just buying another inverter with a higher rating and using it separately

[@tuggerman84]

@@crownlounger of course they use the smallest wires possible for the stock inverter so working guys can't upgrade it cheaply... I was just gonna swap it out....

[@crownlounger]

Haha yeah of course. I once read somewhere that if an auto manufacturer could save 1 inch of wire per vehicle, over the course of the production run of that vehicle they could save a million dollars… for the same reason they are definitely not going install larger wiring or fuses for the possibility that someone might want to swap it out one day for a larger inverter

[@wigleyd]

SO where is the inverter? Id love to add this to my LT but no info on all the pieces that i will need. I need the 2 plugs, the dash on off switch and the inverter. Do I need wiring too

[@crownlounger]

Sorry for the late reply! So I was reading that the inverter is located on the back wall of the cab somewhere. I no longer have the truck, so I can't confirm that.

[@wigleyd]

I ditched mine too! 😂

[@JasonOlivet]

Not a super helpful video. I was looking for info on fixing/ testing the inverter itself. Neither outlet in my 2020 Silverado is working whether the engine is running or not and even though the AC outlet button lights up green. The fuse tested good. Not sure what to check next.

[@Sea-Doopilot]

Did you enable the inverter with the dash switch?

[@eb9367]

Same. Not sure who this was for. I'm assuming most came here because their plugs are no longer working. Light on the dash comes on also. No power. Where's the vid for that?:)