What is the Trick? To leaving the Pro Power ON?

[Jim Lewis]

Maybe Ford's concern with leaving PPOB on with the truck off is some kid fooling around with the outlets in the truck bed and frying themselves on the 240V outlet? So, it just seemed safer from a liability perspective to have PPOB off when the truck is off (and presumably might be unattended).

Sponsored

 

[Albern]

Maybe Ford's concern with leaving PPOB on with the truck off is some kid fooling around with the outlets in the truck bed and frying themselves on the 240V outlet? So, it just seemed safer from a liability perspective to have PPOB off when the truck is off (and presumably might be unattended).

By that logic, household outlets wouldn't be safe and "hot" 24/7/365.

 

[Jim Lewis]

By that logic, household outlets wouldn't be safe and "hot" 24/7/365.

Your household outlets are on your property and presumably always under your control. Your truck is parked here, there, and everywhere. Ford is a bigger target of legal opportunity than Joe Homeowner, at least Joe the Average Homeowner...

 

[chl]

Maybe Ford's concern with leaving PPOB on with the truck off is some kid fooling around with the outlets in the truck bed and frying themselves on the 240V outlet? So, it just seemed safer from a liability perspective to have PPOB off when the truck is off (and presumably might be unattended).

So...in some years it was a no no, and in others it was OK?
That does not compute.

They could easily fix it in a software update by removing that silly low power / inactivity shutdown, yes. No there is no known fix in Forscan. But no a dealer can't do anything; the software gods would have to do it.

I just leave the truck "on" with the main shutdown timer disabled (there *is* a Forscan tweak to have that one permanently disabled if so desired) if I have my cooler running. I usually have the dog in the truck so I need it "on" for the climate control anyway.

Seems like on my truck, if I had the shut down time off when I turn my truck off, it stays that way when I turn my truck on the next time, without any FORscan tweak needed.
The PPOB defaults to on as well if I had it on before.

 

[chl]

Maybe Ford's concern with leaving PPOB on with the truck off is some kid fooling around with the outlets in the truck bed and frying themselves on the 240V outlet? So, it just seemed safer from a liability perspective to have PPOB off when the truck is off (and presumably might be unattended).

So...in some years, 2022-2023 model years, it was a dangerous no no, and in others years 2024+, it was OK?

That does not compute.

 

[Jim Lewis]

So...in some years, 2022-2023 model years, it was a dangerous no no, and in others years 2024+, it was OK?

That does not compute.

Must have bothered you a lot, since you felt compelled to post the remark twice! I don't see the problem.

Say, in 2022-2023, they make some design decision, and liability wins out. So, it's hard to maintain PPOB ON with the truck off because of that. Then, there's a lot of grumbling from 2022-2023 owners, "Why the F--- did you do that?" So, PPOB ON with the vehicle off is designed to work better for 2024+ vehicles, and liability concerns take a back seat. I haven't bothered to find out what's involved with PPOB ON with the vehicle off, or the 2024+ design changes from 2022-23. But since the vehicles have their differences, it's entirely possible that design priorities changed from what was originally built into the 2022-23 vehicles. The same Park Lock fix that works for 2024+ vehicles does not work for 2022-23 vehicles. Considerations of electrical safety can change and change how PPOB is allowed to work, and possibly not be worth fixing as Ford puts the original Lightning out to pasture. I'm still waiting for Ford to make the Home Integration System work reliably automatically .... Maybe if I'm lucky, Ford will fix that before it gets around to making PPOB work with the vehicle off in the 2022-2023 model years...

 

[Firn]

I’m not talking g hvac I’m talking about hvb heating/cooling

also the contractors have to be closed to power the inverter to make AC power.

If the contactors are closed to power PPOB then I expect heating and cooling off the HVB is the same as if the truck was "On".

Yes, the contactors do have to be closed. That's the point. When they are closed there is 400v outside the battery housing.

It takes about 300W to leave the truck ON, turning off every accessory. It’s incredibly inefficient to power a 15W electric cooler. If it’s occasional or you simply do not care about the <5% efficiency, then leave the truck ON.

You are assuming those things are not powered if PPOB is on but the truck is "off". We already see that all the modules and other components stay on when charging, even if the truck is off, the same is likely true when ppob is engaged.
I'm pretty sure the only real difference between ppob being with the truck on or off is if the dash screens are on and if hvac runs.

 

[jobofly79]

This is a very basic ask that Ford needs to address. We need a camp mode and dog mode as well. When I am camping in the winter time, I want my outlets to stay on all night so I can turn my electric blanket on and off as needed. Also need my devices to charge until full overnight.

 

[K6CCC]

I agree that PPO while the truck is off is kinda pointless with the power draw floor requirement, but I'm continually perplexed by the advice to just have a semiconstant load.

Because it's an easy fix.

Just leave the truck on and disable the auto shut off timer? There's no way the truck in the on state with HVAC off is using more power than running a space heater off the cabin outlet. Can you please explain what I'm missing?

What you're missing is the duty cycle. In my example, 100 watts for 1 second every 210 second is about 2400 watt seconds per hour - or about 2/3 of a watt hour per hour - or less than a LED nightlight bulb. No WAY the truck being ON uses less than that. Someone in this thread said it's about 300 watts to keep the truck on.

Not to seem like a Nervous Nelly but I guess space heaters never cause fires, right?

With one second of on time, the heater never even gets warm - let alone hot.

 

[ryun]

What you're missing is the duty cycle. In my example, 100 watts for 1 second every 210 second is about 2400 watt seconds per hour - or about 2/3 of a watt hour per hour - or less than a LED nightlight bulb. No WAY the truck being ON uses less than that. Someone in this thread said it's about 300 watts to keep the truck on.

I did see the duty cycle. I'm still not really getting why it's best to spend over $30 on a solution when one already exists. But I guess if you need every watt (though I remain unconvinced truck off + PPO is appreciably different than just truck on + HVAC off) and use PPO with truck off regularly then it's the best way.

Thanks for the explanation.

 

[chl]

Must have bothered you a lot, since you felt compelled to post the remark twice! I don't see the problem.

Say, in 2022-2023, they make some design decision, and liability wins out. So, it's hard to maintain PPOB ON with the truck off because of that. Then, there's a lot of grumbling from 2022-2023 owners, "Why the F--- did you do that?" So, PPOB ON with the vehicle off is designed to work better for 2024+ vehicles, and liability concerns take a back seat. I haven't bothered to find out what's involved with PPOB ON with the vehicle off, or the 2024+ design changes from 2022-23. But since the vehicles have their differences, it's entirely possible that design priorities changed from what was originally built into the 2022-23 vehicles. The same Park Lock fix that works for 2024+ vehicles does not work for 2022-23 vehicles. Considerations of electrical safety can change and change how PPOB is allowed to work, and possibly not be worth fixing as Ford puts the original Lightning out to pasture. I'm still waiting for Ford to make the Home Integration System work reliably automatically .... Maybe if I'm lucky, Ford will fix that before it gets around to making PPOB work with the vehicle off in the 2022-2023 model years...

LOL, no, the system did that somehow, not sure what I did to have it show up twice...go figure!

Sorry about the HIS - if it were me, I think I'd demand my $$ back, and just use a $400 manual transfer switch...

 

[chl]

With one second of on time, the heater never even gets warm - let alone hot.

I see.
How much did the heater and timer cost and where do you put it, in the frunk?

The only time I need to keep the PPOB and the truck on is if there's a storm coming I want to be prepared for it, so if it's 300W x 10hrs (at most) that is 3kWh or about 15 cents where I live.

"The workaround that many of us have done is to get a short interval timer and a 100 - 200 watt heater. I found that with my 100 water heater, 1 second on and 220 seconds off will keep PPO on."

 

[Ford Motor Company]

@Ford Motor Company Hey Brian, is it feasible to have the minimum greater than 90W power draw to keep PPO "ON" be removed from the software logic? If so, could someone please generate a ticket for a future software update?

The desired outcome is that even if there is no load, PPO will remain in an "ON" or "Ready" state regardless of whether the full vehicle is "ON" or "OFF".

I've shared this with the team!

 

[chl]

I've shared this with the team!

 

[K6CCC]

I see.
How much did the heater and timer cost and where do you put it, in the frunk?

I would have to look. Not all that much.
Primary reason I have used it so far is when camping and using PPO to power my CPAP. I just put the heater on the tailgate pointed out. I can hear the relay in the timer click every cycle if I'm sleeping in the truck bed. If I set up the tent I can't hear it.

Sponsored