115v plug in rear seat console

[BunkieJeeper75]

I have a 2023 gladiator and my rear 3-prong plug (which the cover says is 115v -400 watts) is only outputting about 90-95 volts!
any idea of what could be wrong or is this normal?

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[Lost1wing]

They have talked about this a few times before. Some have brought it in for the dealer to look at only for them to say no trouble found. You can try it again with something plugged in and turned on. Leave enough room to probe the plug for testing. Mine was 117vac with out anything plugged in.

 

[Mr._Bill]

Are you testing with just a meter and no load?

What happens if you plug a device in and try it?

I never tested either of mine, they just worked with what I connected.

 

[Hootbro]

I think you need a multimeter that is RMS capable for AC voltage. Has something to do with the peak to peak voltage on the wave form and not a perfect sine wave. Cheaper non RMS meters assume the peak to peak is a perfect sine wave and does a averaging that gives the lower AC voltage readings with inverters.

 

[BunkieJeeper75]

Are you testing with just a meter and no load?

What happens if you plug a device in and try it?

I never tested either of mine, they just worked with what I connected.

I checked with a meter because my power station couldn’t charge (my jeep is 4 months old) first time trying. It does charge my cell phone. My power station displayed a low voltage error message which got me to check with a meter.
Funny thing is that my cigarette lighter on front console isn’t working either.

 

[sharpsicle]

I checked with a meter because my power station couldn’t charge (my jeep is 4 months old) first time trying. It does charge my cell phone. My power station displayed a low voltage error message which got me to check with a meter.
Funny thing is that my cigarette lighter on front console isn’t working either.

When you say "power station", what are you talking about? That outlet isn't very useful for anything that draws a decent amperage.

 

[Lost1wing]

I think you need a multimeter that is RMS capable for AC voltage. Has something to do with the peak to peak voltage on the wave form and not a perfect sine wave. Cheaper non RMS meters assume the peak to peak is a perfect sine wave and does a averaging that gives the lower AC voltage readings with inverters.

I just looked at a few power stations and a small unit had 120v 400watts required for charging and 25a for DC charging. Maybe your u it is too large for that 115vac outlet and maybe your cigarette lighter outlet fuse has blown.

 

[BunkieJeeper75]

I just looked at a few power stations and a small unit had 120v 400watts required for charging and 25a for DC charging. Maybe your u it is too large for that 115vac outlet and maybe your cigarette lighter outlet fuse has blown.

I just installed a Redarc BCDC1225 and I used the cig lighter as the ignition sensor with an add a fuse tap. The fuse looks ok and the Redarc is working!

 

[Lost1wing]

Your 12vdc input should work. The on-board 400w inverter may not be enough.

 

[BunkieJeeper75]

Yes the house battery in the bed will work but still doesn’t help that the receptacle cover states 115v and yet I’m only getting 90-95v from it!

 

[Hootbro]

I am going back to what I said earlier and say it is use of a non true RMS multimeter.

I just went out checked mine with a non true RMS Craftsman multimeter and got 95-98V. Used my Fluke True RMS capable multimeter and got 115-116V.

I double check the non true RMS Craftsman multimeter on house voltage and got a steady 120V.

 

[Lunentucker]

Same meter reads 125 volts on the receptacles in the garage.

I guess I need to check the torques on these things ?

 

[Hootbro]

Looking at your power station label picture, it looks like it pulls a 800W max AC input. I think your power station is pulling to much wattage and as @Lost1wing mention, the vehicle inverter may not be enough.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I think you need a multimeter that is RMS capable for AC voltage. Has something to do with the peak to peak voltage on the wave form and not a perfect sine wave. Cheaper non RMS meters assume the peak to peak is a perfect sine wave and does a averaging that gives the lower AC voltage readings with inverters.

To rephrase - you are saying these aren't true sine wave inverters?

I know it will run a cheap air compressor I have, among some other small stuff, and most computer power supplies don't care or are switching type power supplies.

I've not tested mine with my Fluke.

 

[Hootbro]

To rephrase - you are saying these aren't true sine wave inverters?

They are a modified sine wave (MSW) or square wave inverter. This is common on cheaper inverters vs. a Pure Sine Wave on more expensive. This is why you get those low voltages using a non RMS multimeter because that leg drop lag on the square wave as it passed the 0V transition messes up the averaging of the cheaper non RMS meters.

https://wagan.com/blogs/news/invert...e-sine-wave-and-a-modified-sine-wave-inverter

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