- Thread starter
- #1
I'm thinking of ordering a fridge. What's everyone's experience as to what that outlet can handle, engine running or off???
Sponsored
Sponsored
The outlet in the beds -- can it handle a refrigerator? What can it power?
I run a refrigerator/freezer/icemaker in my backseat off that 120 and it works fine I pre-cool it with the battery before I start driving you’re not going to power anything with the truck off of course so if you get a fridge, get one with an optional back up battery so you can keep it cool when you make stops.
- First Name
- Eric
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2022
- Threads
- 12
- Messages
- 1,428
- Reaction score
- 1,459
- Location
- Encinitas California
- Vehicle(s)
- '24 Lariat, Lexus NX 300, PT Cruiser 5 spd. C172P
- Engine
- 2.5L Hybrid
By my basic calc, the 400w outlet rating is designed to power a 120v device that draws 3.33 amps safely. That is too low for a blender, not enough for a corded circular saw, but you can recharge Li batteries for tools etc.
At 12v. it should be able to support a devic that draws 33.3 amps. Unlikely the cute little fridge draws that. To compare, a modern 25 cu ft kitchen fridge draws roughly 8 amps at 120v.
At 12v. it should be able to support a devic that draws 33.3 amps. Unlikely the cute little fridge draws that. To compare, a modern 25 cu ft kitchen fridge draws roughly 8 amps at 120v.
Last edited:
Not much... 3.3 amps at 120volts. Plus it is a Modified sine wave inverter so anything requiring pure sine wave will not run. Motors will have to pull less than 3.3 amps due to their extra startup load requirements. Also someone posted that it appears to be a split phase inverter which depending on device you plug in that device may or may not work. You most likely will need to get a 12v device or a rechargeable pure sine power station with a battery. Possibly a solar panel to help recharge.
Sponsored
- First Name
- Eric
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2022
- Threads
- 12
- Messages
- 1,428
- Reaction score
- 1,459
- Location
- Encinitas California
- Vehicle(s)
- '24 Lariat, Lexus NX 300, PT Cruiser 5 spd. C172P
- Engine
- 2.5L Hybrid
I'm not an EE but: Watts/volts = amps. So an inverter rated at 400w/120v=3.3 amps rated load.
400w/12v =33.3 amps rated load. Maybe a 12v resistance heater or a 12v toaster draws that many amps? [if there even is a 12v toaster - I haven't checked]
Hope that helps
I've used mine a couple of times for a crockpot but wouldn't power an electric roaster. Made the led on the outlet blink
Good luck, it wouldn't power my tire inflator 
The 12v in the bed powers my fridge just fine and I did run it once off the backseat outlet. Zero issue, on or off.
Sponsored
Not exactly. Divide your 400 watts MAXIMUM by the voltage you are running.
It is an INVERTER, making 120 volts out of 12 volts, so when you are using a 120 volt appliance, you have 3.33A ONLY. The 12 volt calculation is not relevent to an inverted 120 volt output. 400W = 120V times 3.33A.
- First Name
- Joe
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2024
- Threads
- 9
- Messages
- 685
- Reaction score
- 1,595
- Location
- Squamish, BC
- Vehicle(s)
- 2024 Ford Maverick XLT Tremor
- Engine
- 2.0L EcoBoost
I just use an insulated cooler with ice. Much cheaper.
400/120v AC = 3.33 amps
400/12v AC = 33.3 amps. (If you can find inverter 12v ac and a 12v ac fridge)
- First Name
- Peter
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2022
- Threads
- 0
- Messages
- 94
- Reaction score
- 114
- Location
- Vancouver Island BC Canada
- Vehicle(s)
- 1987 GMC S15 4x4
- Engine
- 2.5L Hybrid
The outlet will power my E-bike battery charger during transport between rides just fine (it says it draws 4 amps). I have repeatedly charged a half depleted battery many times with no problems. However, if it is a completely dead Ebike battery it may be a different story.
I do know that the max draw of the charger it's slightly more than the rated output of the 110 AC outlet, but to date, no problems.
I do know that the max draw of the charger it's slightly more than the rated output of the 110 AC outlet, but to date, no problems.
- First Name
- Eric
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2022
- Threads
- 12
- Messages
- 1,428
- Reaction score
- 1,459
- Location
- Encinitas California
- Vehicle(s)
- '24 Lariat, Lexus NX 300, PT Cruiser 5 spd. C172P
- Engine
- 2.5L Hybrid
Not sure I understand your question. The outlet has a 120v AC three -prong receptacle. It incorporates an inverter to turn the truck's 12v DC into 120v. AC. You refer to a 12v inverter - but the plug, as I wrote is already AC so you don't need to "invert" it.
Your household cell phone charger [aka brick] takes 120v AC and transforms it into DC to charge your phone battery. So instead of using the dash port to charge your phone, you could take the charger from your house, plug it into the recept in the bed and charge away.
I use my bed recept to charge my Milwaukee power tool 18v Li batteries while I drive. You could run an LED TV from the bed recept. Just read the label on devices and be sure that a device that runs on 120v doesn't draw more than in the range of 3.3-ish amps. Make sense?
I'm certain that cute fridge w/ice maker [wow!] will work but ask the question or dig into the specs.
Sponsored
