Using a Ford Truck as a Generator | BRINKLEY MODEL Z 3400 SOLAR TOUR
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- Опубліковано 16 вер 2024
- New 2024 Brinkley Model Z 3400 Luxury RV Solar Tour featuring our 1370W Brinkley Model Z Solar Package and uses a Victron Quattro instead of an Orion XS 50A DC-DC Charger to take advantage of the trucks onboard factory inverter.
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I think that's an awesome idea, even if your overnighting and going from point A to B.... 🎉 ❤
I have a BS in electronic engineering, this is my 2nd RV and my 3rd system and I run an almost identical system with the Multiplus 2 on my new 2024 GD Reflection. I don’t use the truck for charging because I don’t need it. I did use 6 of the newer Rich Solar 250w panels along with the factory 370w panel. I also used the Epoch batteries. Keep up the good work. I always follow your installs!
Nice, we just did a Nexus Wraith with six 250w panels last week. Safe travels -Tom
Great Idea! We just traded/sold our truck and GD Reflection for a new truck and Brinkley Z 3610. Our Reflection was loaded with a nice solar / Victron system we installed ourselves and it was so nice we were starting to plan our next install for the Brinkley. And, of course, I was fully committed to do the DC to DC charging. I actually thought to myself that the on board power on my new F350 was a waste. But now, after watching this, I am STOKED to use it with a Quattro. Thanks so much!
You're welcome, we are a Victron dealer if you need to order parts. We sell them at the lowest price we're allowed to, which is the same prices you'd see on Amazon. Happy tinkering! -Tom
Thanks for the info Tom, it’s good to see you again.
Great idea! Wish I knew about this 6 months ago. I have the F250 with onboard inverter. I went with the multiplus in the camper and use the truck to supply AC power through the shore power cord when stationary instead of carrying a separate generator. Would have been nice to be able to supply power while on the move. Now I would have to do a transfer switch to get a similar result.
Nice, hope it's worked well for you! Thanks for taking the time to comment and safe travels. -Tom
That was helpful. Have you found the inverter in ram trucks is reliable?
We haven't connected to one, but other commenters are saying they only have 400w inverters, which would be too small. The Multiplus can be limited down to only pull ~9 amps @ 120v (~1100w), so the 400w inverter (~3A @ 120v) wouldn't be enough. -Tom
Nice Idea. I am looking to get. Brinkley in the next 18 months and go full time.
How long does an average install take and I assume it will be at your location in FL?
One week, you drop on Monday and pick up on Friday, this and lots of other frequently asked questions (for example we have a travel installer and a shop) are answered here: greatoutdoorssolar.com/frequently-asked-questions/ Prices and stuff as well. Thanks for watching! -Tom
thanks for the heads up, my Deneli duelly didnt have the on board inverter...only a second alternator with a second battery..sniff so I went with the Orian 30amp. It was the only thing available with Victron. Its a good idea the way you set your client up, I like it.
I never came close to 50% with my battery bank on the road. Solar + Orian were on point during my drive.
Just depends on where and when you're traveling. For example fall, especially in norther states can be tough to stay full on solar alone. Lots of new trucks come with the 20A plug now in the bed, not all, but lots do. So this is simply an option, I wouldn't go buy a new truck or anything. However, when lots of people retire, they buy a new truck and a new RV to travel in, so it's an option for those people. -Tom
@@GreatOutdoorsSolar exactly true.. when I travel from Montreal to florida in Dec, the solar rays are very low. I also outfitted a small fan pushing fresh cool air onto the 12/12/30 Orion. It heats up and throttles the amps.. but not any more. thanks again for your awesome content. Keep it coming
How did you keep the truck from throwing a "Ground Fault" I'm Running mine through a Transfer switch and I bypassed the SurgeGuard so it basically from the truck to the Victron Multiplus II X120.
First, I'd check your grounds in the transfer switch (just in case). The Multiplus uses a relay that bonds the neutral to the ground while in inverting mode (this is a VERY important safety feature). It opens that relay when it connects to incoming power. That relay is pretty fast, but sometime it'll trip a GFCI outlet that's sensitive, or in your case, it seems your truck. My suggestion is to put the inverter into "charger only" mode and then plug it into the truck. In theory that will cause the relay to open, before it's plugged into the truck. Safe travels! -Tom
Looks fantastic! Why haven’t you started installing with 48v
I've answered this numerous times, but essentially we have done several, 24 and 48v, and we don't recommend them because they are less efficient and more complex system for no gains and more money. -Tom
Most inverters that come preinstalled in trucks are NOT pure sine and lower power. 350 to 800w isn't enough. So might as well install your own or upgrade the factory unit.
That is an option if you really wanted the onboard truck inverter. A simple 2000w cheap pure sine inverter would work just fine. -Tom
What HD trucks have a 2000w inverters? I thought they were down around 400w
Fords have up to 7200 watt inverters
@@EBKRV412 only the f150 hybrid. I don’t think any of the HD Ford trucks have it.
@@ClayBellBrews the HD's have the 2KW since 2023 and the 150s have the 2kw or 7.2kw at the moment but the new Super Duty's will also have the 7.2kw or larger as an option in 26 when their new Hybrid HD launches....GM and RAM are falling far behind
@@EBKRV412 Look at Ford slithering in on being useful during this electrification craze. A shame GM and Ram always playing catch-up
I know Ford does, not sure about others, but it's definitely coming to the market. There have been people making tool boxes that have inverters and batteries in them for mobile workers for a while now. You see it in the oil field and other more remote jobs quite often. I think the manufactures are finally seeing that as a selling point. So hopefully more and more will put a bigger inverter in. LOTS of campers would love to not need a generator while camping. -Tom
What year and what model Ford Super Dutys have the onboard inverters?
Sorry that's a question for the vehicle manufacture. Thanks for watching.
You didn't show the solar insulation.
Guess you missed it, it's just panels on a roof, which were shown. Cheers -Tom
Why do i need a 2nd AC input? I can just use a 110v adapter to the shore power?
Sure you can use the shore power cord.. but I'm not sure how you'd drive down the road with the shore power attached. -Tom
why didn't you use an ecoflow to simplify everything
Because the cost for what you get isn't great. Like a tiny battery bank for example.
Can you explain to me(us) how you're going to pull 15A from the vehicle inverter when the vehicle system is only rated for 400W/3.3A(max) at the vehicle 120V outlet...?
I run a VE 12-12/18A dc-dc as an alt method to charging batteries on a travel day...
You're missing the fact that some vehicles comes with a 2000w inverter, not a tiny just about useless 400w one. So this video is for those people. 18A @ 14v is ~250watts which isn't much when you're recharging a 10,000wh battery bank. It'd take ~40 hours, where the 120A from the inverter charger is ~1600w aka ~6 hours to recharge the whole battery bank. -Tom
@@GreatOutdoorsSolar What vehicles come with a 2000W inverter...???(other than fords power pro option, which an additional $995 for the 2400W on the gas version of the F150, or even the superduty, IF you ordered it)
Well, I have 12,960Wh battery bank, and I didn't say that it was the only I have of charging, I said it was a method of charging on a travel day, I also have 2200W PV panels on the roof, 3 VE 150-/70 charge controllers, feeding 2-VE Multiplus II 120x2 3000Va inverters in parallel, and the necessary HW to support the system...
Additionally, my other unit has a 12/12-50 DC-DC charger in addition to 1000W PV panels, 1-150/70 charge controller and a Multipus II, 12000Wh battery bank, and all the necessary supporting HW...
Relying or even utilizing the vehicles onboard inverter(regardless of size) for extended periods of time is foolish and irresponsible, they're meant to be used for short periods of time, not maxxed out for extended times...
Alternators are another consideration, undersized alternators running full bore all the time won't last long either...
Do it long enough and often enough and you smoke the vehicles electrical system, that is if you don't burn the vehicle to the ground...
The Ford in the video clearly came with a 2000w inverter as it was pictured. A $1000 truck upgrade for a 2000w inverter is about the cost of a similar sized good generator. It's only about $600 extra for us to install the Quattro this way. So about $1600 total.. where a single DC-DC charger installed is typically $1400-1600 for less charging. So it is a good option, we're simply taking advantage of the vehicles that do have the 2000w inverter for our customers... we don't tell them what truck to buy. As far as burning up the alternators and/or causing the truck to burn down. I feel you're unjustly upset at us for your truck not having a 2000w inverter. We are not a vehicle manufacturer, so I suggest you take some of your questions to them. Hopefully the multimillion dollar company designing and selling the truck put some basic R&D into the inverter they are installing and the system that is powering it. As far as your systems go, I'm glad they are working for you. Just like your systems, this one isn't solely charging off the truck... -Tom
Great! You’re using your truck to charge on travel days (a basic example you used) and by using the trucks inverter to charge, they “save a lot of money”. Well that inverter is a VERY costly option on the truck side, about $1000. Can you install a DC to DC charger for less than $1000? It only sacrifices minimal about of charging power for cheaper. Yes, the way your utilizing the on board power is is a cleaner option, just don’t sell it as a cheaper option, thats relative.
Seems like you didn't watch the entire video, I talked about if your truck doesn't come with an onboard inverter. I also say how much it cost for us to do a DC-DC converter and wire the truck, which is not less than $1000. For those that have the plug already it is cheaper, in fact it less than half the price. For those that don't, I would just buy a cheap generator that will power the 120A inverter charger over the more money and less charging of a DC to DC charger on a towable. -Tom