Keeping Accessories Running

[Firestop]

interesting LIMITATION to the Frunk's 120v outlet....

Out Of Spec Reviews, on the latest 'Lightning as a power strip, charging 5 other EVs with ProPower', made mention of a fact no one has yet to consider:

The Frunk's 120v outlet(20amp) will only output the full 20amps when the truck is PARKED, and the Frunk is left OPEN/Cracked. He noted that when the frunk is closed, and/or the truck is in GEAR/motion, the output of the frunk's 120v outlets is LIMITED to 175watts(about 1 1/2 amps)... this could put a squash on those of us who have thought of using the 20amp outlet for a mini-fridge or similar powered appliance or device while traveling, if it exceeds that power need, at least in the Frunk area.

He did NOT mention whether this same limitation applies to any of the other 120v outlets, or the 240v 30amp outlet, while in Gear/motion - let's HOPE NOT!

ALSO... something else to consider along with this video is that he mentioned that while you are using the maximum 7.2kw output of the 240v 30amp outlet in the bed, you will NOT have any further output from the other 120v outlets in the bed - limiting the max output of the bed to 7.2kw, not the 9.6kw some of us have considered possible.... at least UNLESS the other outlets, like in the cab and in the frunk, are STILL active while using the 240v outlet.

Maybe a current owner can make this test happen to confirm one way or the other.


?

Interesting take……I had (thought I) always understood that the max from the truck bed was 7.2 KWh, and that the remaining 2.4 KWh could be accessed from the remaining outlets. What Kyle mentioned in his video was the truck uses two inverters @ 3.6 KWh max each. I asked Kyle if he could clarify their use in a different post elsewhere on this forum….

@OutofSpecKyle, great test and I appreciate the information you provide.

You noted in your video (see transcript excerpt below) that each of the Lightning’s inverters can separately put out 3.6 KWh.

Can the single 240V/30A outlet in the bed draw from both inverters simultaneously (for 7.2 KWh total draw), or are you limited to 3.6 KWh max. on that outlet, and you can only access the remaining 3.6 KWh (the other inverter) from the other outlets in the Frunk?

Followup question:: If it can, and you’re drawing 7.2 KWh from the 240A bed outlet (e.g., providing temp power to your house), does that limit the use of the outlets in the
Frunk?

Again, thanks for all of your testing!

From your video:
20:21 Timestamp
“……what's interesting also another limitation of pro power on board is if you were to use the 240 volt connection, right, and you maxed that out at 7.2 kilowatts, it means that these other plugs, uh, you can't pull anything more from it.

So while there's more plugs and available power here in terms of, you know, stuff you can plug in, its maximum is 7.2 kilowatts, and the thing is, you have to arrange your power bank by bank because one bank does 3.6, the other bank does 3.6, so that's why we did this kind of weird equation thing so we wanted to at least have one of the inverters going to the max 3.6 kilowatts to see if it would overheat and that's what we did with the rivian and the truck still providing full power…..”

I’ll be interested in his reply….it may answer your question/point……

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[hturnerfamily]

I would think that the addition of the 7.2kw ProPower 240v output would be a single ADDITIONAL inverter, with 240v output, to go along with the included 2.4kw 120v inverter... and the software then shows the total output of each 120v 'side' of power on the screen, a combination of the two, or 4800watts per side. If the system actually only shows 3600watts per side, then it's not taking into consideration, or showing on the screen, the already included 120v power that the truck offers, that may also be in use.

The ProCharger's DC output to a separately home-installed Inverter is a different story, as the battery pack is certainly capable of that output thru the two DC pins, all at once. The truck's inverters then are not part of that equation, and don't weigh on the amount of power the truck can output in that scenario.

 

[hturnerfamily]

after watching his video more closely, I believe his is accessing separate screens for the 'normal' 120v 20amp output circuits, with side A, and B, etc(frunk, cab, bed)., and a different one for the bed's 240v output, which shows two 'sides' in tandem(circular graphs), both up to 3600watts each. That bears out the idea that there are two different inverters, for the differing 120v and 240v power outputs.

 

[FlasherZ]

The 12 volt supplies everything operational in the truck except the drive motors and the Pro Power. I do not know how they get the Pro Power to the plugs, but it won't be through the 12v.

Generally, the HVAC compressor(s)/heat pumps and resistive heaters are also HV-based in EV's.

 

[FlasherZ]

I would agree and I come from experience with Tesla. They have replaced them under warranty but a huge percentage of the Model 3's have had the 12v battery replaced. I figure this is due to some stress put on them or the way they are charged - not with an alternator, etc.

The 12V batteries are replaced because they're used differently than in a typical ICE automobile. The 12V in a Tesla is a smaller battery and is deep-cycled more during vehicle downtime than a traditional starting battery in an ICE vehicle (which wears them out more quickly). While the car is driving, the 12V battery is kept topped, but while sitting idle, the battery discharges more before the HV contactors close to recharge it.

In my Model X, I replaced the lead-acid battery with an Ohmmu lithium-ion unit that has been issue-free for a while now. Jury is still out on how much I can squeeze out of it from a longevity perspective.

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