400w bed inverter only works when truck is running?

[MidnightMavFX4]

So one of the main reasons I got this inverter was to use while camping/tailgating. So fast forward to today when I went to test out some lights only to find out the plug only works while the truck is running.

Is this how it was designed? Because that seems like a poor design imo. Or should I bring this back to the dealer to checked out?

Thanks!

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[Snax]

It's normal. A car battery is too small to drive a 120v outlet for very long, so the engine needs to spin the alternator (EB) or electric motor (hybrid) to generate power.

 

[Timaysz]

I use to have a 2014 f350 and the outlitin the front seat and back seat use to only work when the truck was running... Mainly only ever used to charge a laptop or and cordless batteries for Milwaukee cordless

 

[MidnightMavFX4]

For some reason I thought I saw someone on here test the outlet and it ran for 90 min after the engine was off....meh. This kinda puts a kink in my plans.

 

[huunvubu]

It's normal. A car battery is too small to drive a 120v outlet for very long, so the engine needs to spin the alternator (EB) or electric motor (hybrid) to generate power.

For an EcoBoost it does need to have the ICE engine running to power the 400W inverter.

However you are incorrect about the Hybrid as it does not need to "spin the electric motor (hybrid)"
to generate power. The 400W inverter gets its power from the 12V battery.

What needs to happen is that the Hybrid is "Made Ready" by turning the key. If the HV battery has enough charge the ICE engine will be off.

When the 12V battery gets low on charge it will be recharged from the HV battery.

The ICE engine will only run if the HV battery gets low on charge and it will only run until the HV battery is charged to whatever level is determined by the software.

This is another plus for the Hybrid vs an EcoBoost Maverick.

 

[unlimited]

For an EcoBoost it does need to have the ICE engine running to power the 400W inverter.

However you are incorrect about the Hybrid as it does not need to "spin the electric motor (hybrid)"
to generate power. The 400W inverter gets its power from the 12V battery.

What needs to happen is that the Hybrid is "Made Ready" by turning the key. If the HV battery has enough charge the ICE engine will be off.

When the 12V battery gets low on charge it will be recharged from the HV battery.

The ICE engine will only run if the HV battery gets low on charge and it will only run until the HV battery is charged to whatever level is determined by the software.

This is another plus for the Hybrid vs an EcoBoost Maverick.

Looks like OP has the EB.

 

[huunvubu]

Looks like OP has the EB.

I wasn't responding to the OP I was just correcting the wrong info that @Snax posted about the Hybrid and how the inverter functions in a Hybrid for others to know.

 

[DarkStormy]

For some reason I thought I saw someone on here test the outlet and it ran for 90 min after the engine was off....meh. This kinda puts a kink in my plans.

pick your self up a rechargeable power pack and charge it while driving out to the camp site.
https://www.jackery.com/products/ex...SSC&utm_term=4587987149925905&utm_content=All

this one is pricey but there are many others for much less, depends on your power needs.

 

[Snax]

For an EcoBoost it does need to have the ICE engine running to power the 400W inverter.

However you are incorrect about the Hybrid as it does not need to "spin the electric motor (hybrid)"
to generate power. The 400W inverter gets its power from the 12V battery.

What needs to happen is that the Hybrid is "Made Ready" by turning the key. If the HV battery has enough charge the ICE engine will be off.

When the 12V battery gets low on charge it will be recharged from the HV battery.

The ICE engine will only run if the HV battery gets low on charge and it will only run until the HV battery is charged to whatever level is determined by the software.

This is another plus for the Hybrid vs an EcoBoost Maverick.

Yes, the 400W inverter gets power from the 12v battery. And, yes, the 12v battery is charged from the gas engine on an EB. On a hybrid, the gas engine spins the electric motor to charge both the traction battery and the 12v. So, my statement that the 120v outlet requires the gas engine to run to generate power is correct. If the Maverick were a plug-in hybrid or BEV, it could use power from a larger traction battery--but the hybrid's traction battery is too small to provide much power for very long, so the gas engine is necessary.

 

[QuesoEnFuego]

For an EcoBoost it does need to have the ICE engine running to power the 400W inverter.

However you are incorrect about the Hybrid as it does not need to "spin the electric motor (hybrid)"
to generate power. The 400W inverter gets its power from the 12V battery.

What needs to happen is that the Hybrid is "Made Ready" by turning the key. If the HV battery has enough charge the ICE engine will be off.

When the 12V battery gets low on charge it will be recharged from the HV battery.

The ICE engine will only run if the HV battery gets low on charge and it will only run until the HV battery is charged to whatever level is determined by the software.

This is another plus for the Hybrid vs an EcoBoost Maverick.

I don't mean to second guess but is this confirmed? I'm happy to hear it but a little surprised

 

[Snax]

I don't mean to second guess but is this confirmed? I'm happy to hear it but a little surprised

Yes, the 12v is charged from the traction battery--which is charged by the gas engine spinning the electric motor. But the traction battery isn't very big, so don't expect the 120v plug to provide much power before the gas engine kicks in.

 

[Maverickman74]

I was under the impression that it worked with key on engine off. Which unfortunately uses even more juice to run the computer. For me its fine for the cab inverter, I did not get the bed inverter. If I had I would get magnetic mount solar panel for the roof, make a battery in a box "solar generator" with a small weather resistant yet vented plastic tote. Put a small charge controller in it with a deep cycle battery. Then run the power for the bed inverter to the box and be done. I have personally kept up a similar setup for 3 days off a 50 watt panel. Thats with lights, phones, projector, and a $350 amazon fridge freezer filled with cold drinks.

 

[LGA737]

Nope, The 12v battery in a hybrid is powered by a dc/dc converter that steps down the high voltage traction battery voltage to 12v to charge the battery and operate all the other low voltage dc loads. The engine doesn’t need to run to charge the 12v battery.

 

[Snax]

Nope, The 12v battery in a hybrid is powered by a dc/dc converter that steps down the high voltage traction battery voltage to 12v to charge the battery and operate all the other low voltage dc loads. The engine doesn’t need to run to charge the 12v battery.

Yes, the traction battery does indeed charge the 12v battery. But the traction battery is charged by the engine (or by regen). The traction battery isn't very big, so the gas engine will turn on very quickly if the 120v system is pulling much power.

 

[huunvubu]

Yes, the 400W inverter gets power from the 12v battery. And, yes, the 12v battery is charged from the gas engine on an EB. On a hybrid, the gas engine spins the electric motor to charge both the traction battery and the 12v. So, my statement that the 120v outlet requires the gas engine to run to generate power is correct. If the Maverick were a plug-in hybrid or BEV, it could use power from a larger traction battery--but the hybrid's traction battery is too small to provide much power for very long, so the gas engine is necessary.

Thanks for the clarification that is the HV battery needs to be charged with the ICE engine spinning the Generator in the eCVT.

The 12V battery is charged from the HV battery via the DC-to-DC Converter.

I have actually seen and measured the 12V battery being charged with the Hybrid being Readied and the ICE engine not running.

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