400watt limit on Frunk

[Ragman]

Testing some electric tools (Greenworks 80v grass whips) and setup chargers in frunk. Figured charge batteries in between sites. All was fine until closed up frunk and got the max 400watt message.

Ford this a bit conservative, no doubt the reason is someone will stick a heater or something however for anyone planning to charge batteries (actually use it as a work truck) or I suspect even a large powered cooler this will be a huge frustration.

At least give us 600 watts (one 80v charger pulls 570) - or a way to override.

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[hturnerfamily]

or you could just charge your batteries from the bed outlets, with no limitations...

or, inside the cab

 

[Ragman]

That I could, however the frunk makes sense it’s dry, secure, and clean - and has 4 outlets with 2.4kw. To cut that usability by 80% because we close the lid is a design flaw.

The end goal for this truck is to have 4 grass whips, 2 push mowers and 2 zero turns on trailer with 4 employees. All electric, with truck as charge station.

 

[RickLightning]

That I could, however the frunk makes sense it’s dry, secure, and clean - and has 4 outlets with 2.4kw. To cut that usability by 80% because we close the lid is a design flaw.

The end goal for this truck is to have 4 grass whips, 2 push mowers and 2 zero turns on trailer with 4 employees. All electric, with truck as charge station.

If you have feedback, use the app in the truck to send feedback. Here, a social media rep might read it.

 

[Maxx]

In the cab you can open the windows, but frunk is smaller space and I am not sure how ventilated it is. With folks freaking about EVs catching on fire,. I can't blame ford for trying to be on the safe side with their first electric truck. With this heatwave we are having, you may not even have to plug anything in to set the truck on fire.

 

[Scorpio3d]

I ran into this issue when I plugged in my garage fridge and freezer when the power went out about a month ago. I always pull front first into the driveway because that is where my charger is located and the charge port on the truck is in the front. (Just in case any of you didn’t know where it was)-
Anyway, I got the same warning so I had to unplug my extension cords back the truck out and back into the driveway and use the outlets in the bed! I was kind of frustrated at the time, but not that big a deal, I agree that it would be nice if you could do it from the frunk.

 

[Maquis]

I ran into this issue when I plugged in my garage fridge and freezer when the power went out about a month ago. I always pull front first into the driveway because that is where my charger is located and the charge port on the truck is in the front. (Just in case any of you didn’t know where it was)-
Anyway, I got the same warning so I had to unplug my extension cords back the truck out and back into the driveway and use the outlets in the bed! I was kind of frustrated at the time, but not that big a deal, I agree that it would be nice if you could do it from the frunk.

The frunk outlets are capable of powering a fridge and freezer with the frunk open. The limitation is when it’s closed.

 

[Lytning]

In the cab you can open the windows, but frunk is smaller space and I am not sure how ventalated it is. With folks freaking about EVs catching on fire,. I can't blame ford for trying to be on the safe side with their first electrc truck. With this heatwave we are having, you may not even have to plug anything in to set the truck on fire.

Think of 400 watts as four 100 watt light bulbs. Some people use one 100 watt light bulb to protect a well pump house from freezing. 400 watts is a significant heat load in a small confined space. I am impressed that Ford Engineers were attentive to the hazard.

 

[RickLightning]

Think of 400 watts as four 100 watt light bulbs. Some people use one 100 watt light bulb to protect a well pump house from freezing. 400 watts is a significant heat load in a small confined space. I am impressed that Ford Engineers were attentive to the hazard.

Please stop applying logic and reason to things. This is the internets.

 

[chl]

Think of 400 watts as four 100 watt light bulbs. Some people use one 100 watt light bulb to protect a well pump house from freezing. 400 watts is a significant heat load in a small confined space. I am impressed that Ford Engineers were attentive to the hazard.

Yes, incandescent bulbs are good heaters, about 2% efficient (light).
That fact shocked me when I found out 98% goes to heat when I started engineering school in 1979. No CFL or LED bulbs in those days.
Cut my electric bill big time when switched CFL and again to LEDs for home lighting.
Hybrid water heater another big cut in electric bill.

 

[Joneii]

I wish Ford would have ducted some climate control to the frunk and then given us the option to set it as a separate zone. This could be great for keeping my groceries cool in the summer or preventing my ski boots from becoming ice blocks in the winter. It would also allow the outlets to function at full capacity. Obviously you may not want to use your juice for this at all times, but the option would be nice.

 

[GoodSam]

Found Frunk power limit when closed is now down to 175W. I use a flat 14awg cord that allows the frunk to close. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09Q9WMTDB
The way to bypass this power limit is to pull the red strap at the driver's footwell to pop the frunk a touch. Not sure if this would allow rain to get into frunk, but mice could certainly slip in? When finished, open and close the frunk with any of the buttons or fob.

 

[LightningCanuckNB]

I just found out about this today.

IMO its a wacky choice to do this AND not give the owner to click a button to override it.

I have a small LiON battery pack the size of a shoe box that outputs 1.5 KW, and I can use this in my closed frunk zero issues

 

[21st Century Truck]

I just found out about this today.

IMO its a wacky choice to do this AND not give the owner to click a button to override it.

I have a small LiON battery pack the size of a shoe box that outputs 1.5 KW, and I can use this in my closed frunk zero issues

Maybe the Ford concern is heat buildup in the frunk caused not at the frunk 120V receptacle but rather caused by whatever device with a de facto resistor circuit a user might leave plugged in, in the locked frunk.

 

[richl025]

Ran into the same problem - I plugged in a crock pot that is rated at 275W (presumably on the "High" setting) for a short drive to a relative's house

My center console display gave me a message that my device exceed the 400W limit. This happened even after I reset and placed the crock pot on the "low" setting, and after a few seconds I got the same error message.

My FordPass app received the error messages as well, but it says the limit is indeed 175W (not the 400W the center console claimed)

Given the fact the crock pot tripped the 'breaker' even on the low setting, it looks indeed like the limit is 175

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