Calling on the Electrically Intelligent for Power Inverter connection in bed

[BlueOx2500]

I want to be able to charge my Generac battery based generator (the GB2000) with my truck. It doesn't work. When I plug in the Generac the inverter starts to power the GB2000 and then just cycles on / off repeatedly. I guess the draw is too much?

When the GB2000 is plugged into my normal house outlet it does say it is drawing a little more than 400w at times. It seems to vary a little while it is charging. I'm not very electrically intelligent as you can tell.

My 2022 has the 400w AC connection in the bed of the truck and the truck has 1 alternator.

What are my options to make this work, if any? Are there any after market or even RAM produced modifications I could do to make this happen?

Thanks.

 

[CdnHO]

I doubt that you can modify the OEM inverter to meet the requirements of your power pack. Your Generac is just drawing too much, even if by a little bit. I would suggest using the "car charger" (I checked the owner manual) cable and extending it to an appropriate DC source. More efficient than an inverter and much less complicated.

 

[Hitman]

I doubt that you can modify the OEM inverter to meet the requirements of your power pack. Your Generac is just drawing too much, even if by a little bit. I would suggest using the "car charger" (I checked the owner manual) cable and extending it to an appropriate DC source. More efficient than an inverter and much less complicated.

A 400 watt load at 12VDC will pull 33.3 amps, I'm not sure a vehicle power point (cigarette lighter) wire or fuse or sized for that high of a current draw. Before using one of the power points check to see if there any specs printed on the power point. A 400 watt load at 120 VAC will pull 3.3 amps. A 400 watt inverter trying to power a 400 watt generator will give an intermittent problem like you are experiencing, especially if the generator is rated for 400 watts continuous with some capacity for a little surge in amperage. If you can power the generator with 12 VDC, a direct, fused line from the battery would do the best. Check the amp hour rating on the battery to keep from draining the battery to the point that it will not start the engine. You would need a 40 amp fuse with #8 awg copper wire.

 

[BlueOx2500]

A 400 watt load at 12VDC will pull 33.3 amps, I'm not sure a vehicle power point (cigarette lighter) wire or fuse or sized for that high of a current draw. Before using one of the power points check to see if there any specs printed on the power point. A 400 watt load at 120 VAC will pull 3.3 amps. A 400 watt inverter trying to power a 400 watt generator will give an intermittent problem like you are experiencing, especially if the generator is rated for 400 watts continuous with some capacity for a little surge in amperage. If you can power the generator with 12 VDC, a direct, fused line from the battery would do the best. Check the amp hour rating on the battery to keep from draining the battery to the point that it will not start the engine. You would need a 40 amp fuse with #8 awg copper wire.

Thanks.

Ideally I want the GB2000 just sitting in the bed while it's charging. IF I could just swap out the current inverter for a beefier one, that seems like the most ideal for me. I don't know how to do that and I wonder who would? Should I just try a local diesel mod shop maybe?

Powering it via the cig lighter doesn't seem like a great idea and I certainly don't want to kill the truck batteries to charge the GB battery.

 

[BlueOx2500]

I doubt that you can modify the OEM inverter to meet the requirements of your power pack. Your Generac is just drawing too much, even if by a little bit. I would suggest using the "car charger" (I checked the owner manual) cable and extending it to an appropriate DC source. More efficient than an inverter and much less complicated.

Yeah, I just want the GB2000 to sit in the bed when it's charging...small chance (hopefully)...but if it bursts into flames I think the truck could survive the fire. Also, there's no room in the cab in my scenario for it to sit while driving around due to pax and dogs.

 

[AH64ID]

The simplest thing will be to get the 200W charge enhancer and use it solo off the Ram’s inverter.

Next best, especially if you have aux switches, would be to run a 8ga wire to the bed and charge the GB2000 off of DC. You’ll get ~400W of charge that way.

 

[BlueOx2500]

The simplest thing will be to get the 200W charge enhancer and use it solo off the Ram’s inverter.

Next best, especially if you have aux switches, would be to run a 8ga wire to the bed and charge the GB2000 off of DC. You’ll get ~400W of charge that way.

Oh, holy cow...the 200w charge enhancer...didn't even know that existed!

So, this 200w adapter will just work on the 400w plug already installed...brilliant! Thanks!

 

[AH64ID]

Oh, holy cow...the 200w charge enhancer...didn't even know that existed!

So, this 200w adapter will just work on the 400w plug already installed...brilliant! Thanks!

Correct, it’s designed to work in addition to the standard 110V charger but since it plugs into the DC port on the charger it can also work standalone, slower but standalone.

 

[CdnHO]

A 400 watt load at 12VDC will pull 33.3 amps, I'm not sure a vehicle power point (cigarette lighter) wire or fuse or sized for that high of a current draw. Before using one of the power points check to see if there any specs printed on the power point. A 400 watt load at 120 VAC will pull 3.3 amps. A 400 watt inverter trying to power a 400 watt generator will give an intermittent problem like you are experiencing, especially if the generator is rated for 400 watts continuous with some capacity for a little surge in amperage. If you can power the generator with 12 VDC, a direct, fused line from the battery would do the best. Check the amp hour rating on the battery to keep from draining the battery to the point that it will not start the engine. You would need a 40 amp fuse with #8 awg copper wire.

According to the manual the power pack comes with a cigarette lighter cable as a charging option. Highly unlikely that the power pack would draw 33 amps. Must be some circuitry in the device that limits the amount of draw if using cigarette lighter cable to charge.

 

[BlueOx2500]

Correct, it’s designed to work in addition to the standard 110V charger but since it plugs into the DC port on the charger it can also work standalone, slower but standalone.

Thanks, yeah, that make more sense now and I'm excited to try it...arrives later today!

 

[BlueOx2500]

Correct, it’s designed to work in addition to the standard 110V charger but since it plugs into the DC port on the charger it can also work standalone, slower but standalone.

It works! However, it was telling me that it will take 3.5hrs to go from 60% to 100%...so the practicality is going to be a little iffy - but better than nothing! It was showing an input to the GB2000 of 175w from the truck and new adapter.

 

[AH64ID]

It works! However, it was telling me that it will take 3.5hrs to go from 60% to 100%...so the practicality is going to be a little iffy - but better than nothing! It was showing an input to the GB2000 of 175w from the truck and new adapter.

Glad it works, and that charge rate seems about right.