110V Electrical Outlet Specs

Big_D · July 29, 2015

The Ford F150 has a 400W inverter, is Chevy not capable of the same engineering? if not, I guess we should swap to Ford.

Ford Website: "110-volt/400-watt Power Inverter "http://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/trim/lariat/viewall/

This

ember1205 · July 29, 2015

Yes, I understand the equation and the relationship. What I'd like to see is a 350w inverter. This would allow for about a 3 amp outlet, which would be adequate for that 18v charger that we talked about earlier. Yes, this would be about a 30 amp load at 12 volts. Assuming the inverter is behind the socket in the dash, and the wiring being no longer than 8-10 feet routed (probably less),10 gauge wire could be used. I know copper is expensive, but it would be nice to have something a bit more powerful.

I understand that never will everyone be happy. So, you have to draw the line somewhere. Largely, I don't believe these outlets even get used. The fact that I'm -already- paying for something in my truck that is of no value to me is irritating. Having to pay even MORE for heavier duty wiring and a larger inverter would be even more irritating. I get what you're saying, but I (and MANY others) don't want to be paying for features that only a handful of people actually need or will use. I would much rather this not be present AT ALL and buy an aftermarket inverter to plug into the accessory outlet.

A really small laptop. As I mentioned earlier, a high performance laptop like the Alienware can't even be on, and charge at the same time on this outlet.

We all understand that it's for light, intermittent use. But at what point is it useless? I think that is the point I'm trying to make. It's useless. Just a marketing gimmick.

Here's the real question of the day... Who the hell still uses a portable DVD player? Even 2 year-olds and grandparents use iPads now.

Yep. Understood. The bigger laptops have the higher current draw adapters. That's largely to be able to supply enough power to charge while also driving the large screen.

The example of a portable DVD player was generic.

The Ford F150 has a 400W inverter, is Chevy not capable of the same engineering? if not, I guess we should swap to Ford.

Ford Website: "110-volt/400-watt Power Inverter "http://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/trim/lariat/viewall/

It amazes me how many otherwise reasonably mature people have temper tantrums like a 3yo over such petty stuff. Really? You're going to dump your $40k plus truck and buy a -FORD- because of a $30 accessory you can buy in a parts store? Honestly, I wish more people WOULD jump ship for reasons like this. GM would cut their pricing to win people over, and in doing so, might even pull some of these useless accessories out of the truck altogether. That would make the truck lighter, it would get better MPG...

Yes. Please go buy a Ford. There's no downside for anyone, really.

jkyle · July 29, 2015

You're going to dump your $40k plus truck and buy a -FORD- because of a $30 accessory you can buy in a parts store? Honestly, I wish more people WOULD jump ship for reasons like this. GM would cut their pricing to win people over, and in doing so, might even pull some of these useless accessories out of the truck altogether. That would make the truck lighter, it would get better MPG...

The Ford get better gas mileage...and is lighter...

TenofMe · July 29, 2015

The Ford get better gas mileage...and is lighter...

And it has rear seat vents. And a real AC inverter.

Still wouldn't own one. Lol!

MikeNH · July 29, 2015

The Ford get better gas mileage...and is lighter...

Fords are barely lighter, if any. The 700 pound claim they use is bull. Realistically maybe 2-300 seems about the norm when comparing similar trucks. And mileage isn't that much better in the real world.

As for the outlet, if availability of a more powerful AC outlet is a deciding factor, more power to you.

CounterMeasure · July 29, 2015

While I am not surprised GM put as small an inverter as it can get in there so they can claim the outlet as a marketing checkmark, I am surprised they do not offer a "workman package" option that upgrades the inverter to something much more useful to charge or run bigger stuff. A workman being able to charge Li-Ion tool batteries between jobs is useful. Its obviously a bolt-on item, and running heavier wire is easy in the manufacturing process. It looks like they do that depending on the radio options. Maybe a future option..

MikeNH · July 29, 2015

A really small laptop. As I mentioned earlier, a high performance laptop like the Alienware can't even be on, and charge at the same time on this outlet.

We all understand that it's for light, intermittent use. But at what point is it useless? I think that is the point I'm trying to make. It's useless. Just a marketing gimmick.

Here's the real question of the day... Who the hell still uses a portable DVD player? Even 2 year-olds and grandparents use iPads now.

Really small laptop? Both my MacBook Pros have/had 90 or 95 watt power bricks and my tank of an HP from work it the same. I'm sure there are some that use more juice but they're gonna be the exception to the rule.

tnchevy · July 29, 2015

The 5.0 in my 2012 Ford work truck gets almost the same mileage I am getting out of Silverado, about 18 to 19 mpg in the summer. I was hoping the cylinder deactivation would get better real world mpg's than the Ford 5.0 but in my case it doesn't. I will say IMO that the DI 5.3 power curve is quite a bit better than the 5.0. I am glad this thread got started because I just assumed the AC outlet would power most small electrical items but now I am going to test my air pump and a few other things before I got camping or to the drive in.

ghgmi · July 29, 2015

The 5.0 in my 2012 Ford work truck gets almost the same mileage I am getting out of Silverado, about 18 to 19 mpg in the summer. I was hoping the cylinder deactivation would get better real world mpg's than the Ford 5.0 but in my case it doesn't. I will say IMO that the DI 5.3 power curve is quite a bit better than the 5.0. I am glad this thread got started because I just assumed the AC outlet would power most small electrical items but now I am going to test my air pump and a few other things before I got camping or to the drive in.

The popcorn popper will be too much.

Robert.jean1 · July 29, 2015

Not caring about the wattage of the outlet, I have not had a single problem using mine for anything I have plugged in it. I charge my laptop, a battery charger and a small emergency air compressor. The A/C outlet seems to work perfectly for its designed proposes. I'm not a carpenter with my truck on a job sight but if I was I would have inverter installed and hooked up to the battery if needing to run high powered items. Or use a portable generator.

waverider · July 30, 2015

Okay. Here's the equation:

P=VI (Power (watts) = Voltage (volts) x Current (amps))

With the numbers provided above, the available current (I, in amps)

should be...

I = 150/12 = 12.5 A

Yes, I am a physics nerd.

That's at 12 volts input. Divide by 110 volts output gives you 1.36amps at 110 volts which isn't a whole lot. It's designed to run computers etc.

bmf4069 · July 31, 2015

Even the outlet in the Tacoma bed is 400w. Plus you only need the heavier guage wire to the inverter, not to the plug. The cost wouldn't be that much more....

Edited July 31, 2015 by bmf4069