What's the highest power one could get from a Lightning over DC?

[TaxmanHog]

The onboard Ford DcDc converter could probably provide that, thru the 12V battery lugs, but all of this is academic to answering the question, how does someone get max Dc output.

What that number is, I have no idea, but who ever wants to experiment, should reserve enough energy to keep the Lightning ~running~ to employ the onboard DC/DC converter active, otherwise the house of cards will collapse.

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[HOTAS]

So quick summary. For those who want maximum DC output from the Lightning….
For full access to the nominal voltage of the HV battery, the home integration system will allow that, but inverts it to 240V AC, and is very expensive elaborate equipment for a reason.

Connecting a so called “alternator-generator” to the trucks HV AC inverter could get you 800W of 12V Dc.

Finally, connecting directly to the 12V battery lugs or jump lugs, could get you 15VDC and lets say over 1000Watts. With the truck in ACC/on mode.
This is the quickest and most reasonable way to (hack) the system. lol

In a Prius , I used to pull 450w of 15V DC from a direct connection to the little 12V battery, with the car on. The real advantage of this is no voltage sag over time.
Its DC DC converter had no problem with that. About 30amps.
Way more than you could get from a cigarette lighter plug.

 

[HOTAS]

What that number is, I have no idea, but who ever wants to experiment, should reserve enough energy to keep the Lightning ~running~ to employ the onboard DC/DC converter active, otherwise the house of cards will collapse.

Mustang Mach E ….The GT models are reported to have a 220A DC/DC converter, which would limit you to around 1750W converter output. Remember that converters are not 100% efficient so the input wattage will be higher than the output wattage and must be accounted for so you don't overload the 12V system. The car needs 30-40A left to run its systems while on. Bet the spec sheet says make sure the max inverter input amps does not exceed around 180A.
Lightning would be in that ballpark.

 

[Firn]

Not ignoring but would like to follow up.



Well, a “single kW“ is 1000 Watts. At 12V something would be drawing an 83 amp load. That’s pretty big. Not exactly an analogy or example of a feeble electrical load.





Actually, nobody seemed to get my point about “what DC voltage would you want“? Anything above 24v in dangerous and of little use. Without additional equipment like an expensive DC voltage step down, or an expensive AC inverter, like the home integration system, high voltage DC is dangerous and useless to us.

Yes, Every socket and plug on the truck is limited, in load, by its wiring.
That’s the most fundamental knowledge of a circuit.

If you hook up your Eco Delta Pro directly to the 12V battery, with the truck in AcC mode, it will be provided with about 15VDC. And its Maximum input limit, which would need to be reset or changed by you, could be raised to About 1600W ? Whatever the Delta Prom input limit is. It doesn’t care If it’s solar DC or battery DC.
But you better have cables good for over 100amps. !

The onboard Ford DcDc converter could probably provide that, thru the 12V battery lugs, but all of this is academic to answering the question, how does someone get max Dc output, from the truck, as it sits now in stock form.

83 amps is a lot of current, it still isn't a lot of POWER.

Nobody here said they wanted pack DC ONLY. You keep trying to make this pack voltage, but that was never the question.

Of course we can't do this as the truck sits, that was the WHOLE POINT of the discussion, was it not?

Bottom line the system is limited in output. The DC side is weak, able to put out what, maybe 100a. That is a lot of current, but again, it's still not a lot of power.

The AC side is better, but still not perfect. The AC side wouldn't run my house, it would be nice to be able to run my house. Yes, it can run a portion of my house, but that's a portion.

Personally, I'm not messing with it, but you keep asking about the specific voltage someone is going to use, but that wasn't the discussion. If, IF, I was in the mood to access the HV side of things it would be all about the POWER output, because as you pointed out, as it sits, all available options are limited.

 

[TaxmanHog]

I have a 32kWh Zendure "solar generator" system in an off grid shipping container. I

At the end of the days solar production what is your state of charge on the Zendure and how many kWh of energy do you anticipate needing during dark hours for operations and charging?

 

[Maquis]

True. But not possible. And that’s why we don’t have,and shouldn't want, access to “nominal pack voltage“. That kind of “power” will fry ya!
My solution above, is the best option for Dc direct, without additional equipment.
And pretty good.

Of course! That’s why I lead with “With no other constraints…” You listed one of the most pertinent constraints - safety.

The question as written is very open-ended, so I simply provided a theoretical answer that addresses the question as it’s literally stated.

 

[HOTAS]

Here’s a guy who getting 40VDC out of the alternator-generator connected to his EV. He’s using it’s XT60 output, which is rated higher than the Ecoflow connector output.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

Someone with a Mustang Mach-E tapped into their HV heater connection to pull about 380V at 18A (the heater is fused for 50A inside the high voltage junction box), for 6.8kW max power to a 240V inverter.

 

[potato]

All of the above is great, very creative, but for anything below 7.2 kW you're better off just plugging something into the bed outlet and use the built-in 120/240V inverter. Even if you need DC it's still going to be way safer and probably cheaper to use some external converter I think.

For loads above 7.2 kW, like *proper* whole house power, not just a few circuits, again I think the built-in interface used by HIS that already exists for that purpose would be best. Unfortunately using it would require Ford to open it up, or someone to reverse engineer it. And of course a high powered external inverter.

Practically I think the answer is "you can't get there from here".

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