Cordless tools, laptops, work lights, and compressors all want power, and a lot of crews still run the truck idle all day to get it. A planned onboard power system saves fuel, protects your starting battery, and keeps techs productive. Here is how the team at Star Truck Equipment in Wharton, TX approaches it for customers across Texas and Louisiana.
1. Start With the Load List
Add up what you actually run: battery chargers, a work light, a 120V grinder, a laptop, a small compressor. Peak draw matters as much as running draw, since motors spike at startup. That total decides your inverter size and wire gauge.
2. Inverter Sizing
Most service body crews do fine with a 1,000 to 2,000 watt pure sine wave inverter for charging and light tools. Heavier motor loads need more capacity and heavier cable. Pure sine models are gentler on battery chargers and electronics than modified sine units.
3. Dual Battery and Isolators
An auxiliary battery wired through an isolator or DC-DC charger lets you run lights and an inverter without draining the battery that starts the truck. Keep it close to the load to shorten cable runs, and fuse every positive lead near the battery.
4. Alternator Capacity and Idling
Check that your alternator can support the added load. Heavy upfits like a crane or a lot of LED lighting may warrant a higher output alternator. Related reading: our blog covers LED lighting upgrades and air compressor vs generator choices.
5. Wiring and Protection
Use the correct gauge for the amp draw and distance, loom and grommet every pass-through, and mount the inverter where it gets airflow and stays dry. Solid connections and proper fusing prevent most electrical failures.
6. Layout in the Body
Compartment-style bodies from STI and CM offer room for batteries and inverters inside dry, lockable storage. On a flatbed, an under-deck box works well. Plan the location before the body is installed so wiring is clean.
Plan Your Power With the Upfit
Call Star Truck Equipment at (979) 532-1486 to talk through a service body or flatbed with the electrical layout your crew needs. We are in Wharton, TX and serve Texas and Louisiana. Confirm specs and availability by phone.
