12V AGM is being charged by the DC to DC converter found in all RAV4 primes...plugging an aftermarket inverter into the 12V lighter port wouldn't be your best bet since this would be fused at a much lower amperage and just isn't engineered to draw much current from...aftermarket pure sinewave inverters are fairly cheap to buy I spent @$300 for my 2500W inverter via amazon but has to be connected directly to the 12V battery for proper use
1500w AC outlet addition to a Prime SE?
After 2.5 months or so, my Rav4 Prime is just about ready for pickup and I’m pretty excited to get it this weekend. After lurking around here, however, I probably screwed up by not ordering an XSE as I realize now that adding that AC outlet after the fact is not nearly as simple as I thought it would be.
My dealer says they won’t add the parts and do the work and says it needs to be done at the factory. I can understand that it’s probably a pain and potentially dangerous, and I wouldn’t dare attempt messing with the big battery in any way myself, but does anyone know or have any comment on other potential solutions?
I can’t say I understand all this electrical stuff, but I ultimately would like to have the peace of mind that I could use the huge battery in the Prime as a potential emergency backup power source to run my fridge/freezer intermittently in a sustained power outage. I do have a regular backup generator, but figure I could cut back on gas storage a bit if I could use the car as an additional backup.
Not sure if a regular inverter plugged into the 12V cigarette lighter would work. Wouldn’t that draw power from the regular 12V battery which it sounds like is not constantly charged by the big battery?
Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated!
My dealer says they won’t add the parts and do the work and says it needs to be done at the factory. I can understand that it’s probably a pain and potentially dangerous, and I wouldn’t dare attempt messing with the big battery in any way myself, but does anyone know or have any comment on other potential solutions?
I can’t say I understand all this electrical stuff, but I ultimately would like to have the peace of mind that I could use the huge battery in the Prime as a potential emergency backup power source to run my fridge/freezer intermittently in a sustained power outage. I do have a regular backup generator, but figure I could cut back on gas storage a bit if I could use the car as an additional backup.
Not sure if a regular inverter plugged into the 12V cigarette lighter would work. Wouldn’t that draw power from the regular 12V battery which it sounds like is not constantly charged by the big battery?
Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated!
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I don't think the car companies realize what they are sitting on, people would love these outlets in their hybrids.After 2.5 months or so, my Rav4 Prime is just about ready for pickup and I’m pretty excited to get it this weekend. After lurking around here, however, I probably screwed up by not ordering an XSE as I realize now that adding that AC outlet after the fact is not nearly as simple as I thought it would be.
My dealer says they won’t add the parts and do the work and says it needs to be done at the factory. I can understand that it’s probably a pain and potentially dangerous, and I wouldn’t dare attempt messing with the big battery in any way myself, but does anyone know or have any comment on other potential solutions?
I can’t say I understand all this electrical stuff, but I ultimately would like to have the peace of mind that I could use the huge battery in the Prime as a potential emergency backup power source to run my fridge/freezer intermittently in a sustained power outage. I do have a regular backup generator, but figure I could cut back on gas storage a bit if I could use the car as an additional backup.
Not sure if a regular inverter plugged into the 12V cigarette lighter would work. Wouldn’t that draw power from the regular 12V battery which it sounds like is not constantly charged by the big battery?
Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated!
Ah yeah that makes sense. What gauge wire Is used to connect directly to the battery? So many choices on Amazon, if you are happy with what you got, which one is it?12V AGM is being charged by the DC to DC converter found in all RAV4 primes...plugging an aftermarket inverter into the 12V lighter port wouldn't be your best bet since this would be fused at a much lower amperage and just isn't engineered to draw much current from...aftermarket pure sinewave inverters are fairly cheap to buy I spent @$300 for my 2500W inverter via amazon but has to be connected directly to the 12V battery for proper use
Also, if the 12V battery is an AGM I guess that would work better this way than a typical starting battery, but what would I have to do to keep the 12V charged while using the inverter? Sounds like something that could be a good solution... Thanks!
You may want to ask James Klafehn. I'm sure he can help you. Watch his video:
Can a Toyota Rav4 Prime Power Your House??? - Bing video
Can a Toyota Rav4 Prime Power Your House??? - Bing video
> Dennis
Thanks, I just watched it. Informative, and it looks like a pain. 😫You may want to ask James Klafehn. I'm sure he can help you. Watch his video:
Can a Toyota Rav4 Prime Power Your House??? - Bing video
Regretting not getting the XSE but definitely not going to cancel over it. Hoping they maybe would be able to offer this upgrade later?
Of the XSE options, I really only wanted the fake leather seats and the plug in the back. Preferred the SE wheels and lack of bigger sunroof to the XSE so thought I was being smart and saving a few thousand. 🙄
I pretty much have the ame thought as u. Only want thx xse for the blizzard white, soft tex and 110v. Couldnt justify paying extra. 5k for them 🙄 staying with a se.Thanks, I just watched it. Informative, and it looks like a pain. 😫
Regretting not getting the XSE but definitely not going to cancel over it. Hoping they maybe would be able to offer this upgrade later?
Of the XSE options, I really only wanted the fake leather seats and the plug in the back. Preferred the SE wheels and lack of bigger sunroof to the XSE so thought I was being smart and saving a few thousand. 🙄
Learn all about it here: pure sinewave inverter for AC powerAh yeah that makes sense. What gauge wire Is used to connect directly to the battery? So many choices on Amazon, if you are happy with what you got, which one is it?
Also, if the 12V battery is an AGM I guess that would work better this way than a typical starting battery, but what would I have to do to keep the 12V charged while using the inverter? Sounds like something that could be a good solution... Thanks!
I went with this inverter and 2 AWG cabling.
Now I'm regretting not getting the XSE too. Having an outlet on the Chrysler Pacifica for plugging in lamps has been very useful. I wish the 110v outlet was a standard feature on the SE.
For the price you pay just to have the 1500 w outlet you’re better off buying a generator.
There are advantages of having AC power generated by a hybrid vehicle over a generator. With a hybrid, the fuel is generally fresh without needing additional thought, fuel is safely stored, quieter than most generators, less of a theft risk than a generator, can be moved from location to location easily, is "exercised" every time it is driven, a hybrid engine is designed to be ran much longer hours than most air cooled contractor generators, can be run in any weather without the need for a tarp or housing, is easy to deploy quickly, and can be used in places where generators are prohibited.For the price you pay just to have the 1500 w outlet you’re better off buying a generator.
Most of the above advantages of a hybrid over a generator can be reduced with knowledge, time, and money. Stabilized E0 fuel can be stored (and rotated) in air tight containers, one can purchase a Tri Fuel generator, heavy duty chains & locks can secure a generator to some degree although battery powered tools can get through anything, and one can exercise a generator with a load every month or two.
For me, my first line for generating power is my tri fueled Yamaha inverter generator, my second option is one of my hybrids with a 1000 pure sine wave inverter.
As I look at many contractor generators in with their single plastic gas can sitting next to it in a hot garage in Florida, I wonder how many will work when needed, who will be able to sleep with all of these contractor generators running (glad I have impact windows), and if anyone will be electrocuted, burned, or die from carbon monoxide poisoning.
It took me many years to learn how to maintain a generator and how to use it safely.
Yes $5K can purchase a large quality inverter or small diesel genset but there is something to be said about the simplicity & safety of using a hybrid vehicle to generate power. I am glad that Toyota has an inverter as a factory option now.
Here is another good video installing an inverter in a Prime.
I don’t disagree. I totally wanted the 1500W inverter. But it requires the premium package which is $8000 more than the SE I got. I don’t like that it’s only bundled with the Premium Package. So if the inverter is the only real thing someone wants. Better off buying a generator.There are advantages of having AC power generated by a hybrid vehicle over a generator. With a hybrid, the fuel is generally fresh without needing additional thought, fuel is safely stored, quieter than most generators, less of a theft risk than a generator, can be moved from location to location easily, is "exercised" every time it is driven, a hybrid engine is designed to be ran much longer hours than most air cooled contractor generators, can be run in any weather without the need for a tarp or housing, is easy to deploy quickly, and can be used in places where generators are prohibited.
Most of the above advantages of a hybrid over a generator can be reduced with knowledge, time, and money. Stabilized E0 fuel can be stored (and rotated) in air tight containers, one can purchase a Tri Fuel generator, heavy duty chains & locks can secure a generator to some degree although battery powered tools can get through anything, and one can exercise a generator with a load every month or two.
For me, my first line for generating power is my tri fueled Yamaha inverter generator, my second option is one of my hybrids with a 1000 pure sine wave inverter.
As I look at many contractor generators in with their single plastic gas can sitting next to it in a hot garage in Florida, I wonder how many will work when needed, who will be able to sleep with all of these contractor generators running (glad I have impact windows), and if anyone will be electrocuted, burned, or die from carbon monoxide poisoning.
It took me many years to learn how to maintain a generator and how to use it safely.
Yes $5K can purchase a large quality inverter or small diesel genset but there is something to be said about the simplicity & safety of using a hybrid vehicle to generate power. I am glad that Toyota has an inverter as a factory option now.
Hopefully Friggin Toyota wakes up and offers the outlet as a stand alone option on all hybrids.I don’t disagree. I totally wanted the 1500W inverter. But it requires the premium package which is $8000 more than the SE I got. I don’t like that it’s only bundled with the Premium Package. So if the inverter is the only real thing someone wants. Better off buying a generator.
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This firm sells a kit for Rav4 Hybrids to turn them into household generators. SUPPORTED VEHICLE LIST | PlugOut Power . They support the Prius Prime and the Rav4 Hybrid. My guess is they could support the Prime but given the current low volume probably not a priority.
You simply keep the car "on" in either EV or HV mode and the power for the 120v inverter is pulled from the DC to DC converter which continuously keeps the battery charged. I did this with my Prius years ago so the car is my V2H (vehicle to home) power supply to keep my fridge and few lights on in a power outage. You do need to use heavy gauge wire to connect the battery to the inverter. The car's 12v accessory plug can't supply the required amperage. With this system the ICE only cycles on 4-5 times per hour for a few minutes each time. The wire gauge you need to use will be function of the inverter capacity. Mine is 1000w continuous/2000w surge and I used 1/0 gauge with an in-line 80 amp fuse. That's a bit conservative but better safe than sorry. There is a lot of information on doing this on the Prius Chat forum. Good luck.Ah yeah that makes sense. What gauge wire Is used to connect directly to the battery? So many choices on Amazon, if you are happy with what you got, which one is it?
Also, if the 12V battery is an AGM I guess that would work better this way than a typical starting battery, but what would I have to do to keep the 12V charged while using the inverter? Sounds like something that could be a good solution... Thanks!
Agreed. I didn’t realize at first it was a $8k up charge from the SE to have the outlet. That’s way too steep. Even a basic 150W outlet would be nice to plug in a lamp or keyboard.Hopefully Friggin Toyota wakes up and offers the outlet as a stand alone option on all hybrids.
I know the Sienna has a high power 1500W outlet that could be used for microwaves; maybe they could put the higher wattage outlets in the more premium package.
Has anyone tried using the 1,500W outlet to charge another Prime?
My 2003 Matrix had two of these.Even a basic 150W outlet would be nice to plug in a lamp or keyboard.
1500W outlet is the option I miss the most with my SE.
The 150W variety can be had as 12V plug in accessory. Cheap.My 2003 Matrix had two of these.
1500W outlet is the option I miss the most with my SE.
https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-Power...8&sr=1-2-22d05c05-1231-4126-b7c4-3e7a9c0027d0
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