110v/400w AC power in bed--What do you do with it?

I have used it for a soldering gun, drill motor, charging camera battery ,cellphone and a rechargeable spotlight, dremel tool, running a laptop, air mattress pump And I think a few other small things that I cant remember.

 

does the car engine have to be on when the outlet is used??

 

tacoboltz, No. Just the ignition must be set to "ON" engine does not have to be running.

 

I just read the manual on this a couple days ago...finally used the bed power outlet (filled up a inflatable pontoon boat with a elec pump.) The max watts is 115 while driving, 400 if parked. The way I understand it after reading the manual is truck needs to be running for the outlet to operate.

 

It doesn't seem to have to be running as I've charged my cell phone with it once, and didn't start my truck.

I kinda thought that it was 400W while idling, and 115W while running as it says on the cover over the outlet.

It didn't much sense to me, so I took "running" to mean while it was "on", not the truck, but the inverter.

 

Close.

It's 100W Max when shifter is in any position other than drive for automatic or when clutch is depressed for manual transmission.

400W with Ignition on and in park or neutral.

The manual is wrong.

Yes ignition on, it will work. It's 100W or 400W, not 115W, its 115 Volts AC.

Did you guys know that many of us, myself included have modified our inverters to run at 400W anytime? It's extremely simple.

Go here to read about the free easy mod: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/25944-110v-factory-inverter-always-400w.html

 

I used it to power my drill while changing out my tail lights. I also used it two summers ago after Hurricane Gustav to run the blender. It's been used here and there for other small projects and to run my laptop as well.

 

I didn't use mine to power a skilsaw, tried but it didn't work would've been nice if it did so I could build stuff where there's no electricity...

 

I found 400 watts to be pretty useless in the bed of the truck so I tapped into the AC line going to the bed and added an outlet in the cab. This way I can power a laptop or charger in the cab.

What did Toyota have in mind with the 100/400 watt switch? Why limit the power while driving? Anybody know?

 

Charge computer, Charge Cordless drill. Actually ran a Corded Drill off it but when the drill bound up it did trip the overload and I had to reset the inverter. I've been wondering if there is a way to upgrade the 400w to something more using stock wiring but there is very little room where the inverter is installed? It's great for charging things on the way to a work site so that's what I use it for the most. (I have done the 400W hack so I can charge several things on a power strip as I drive).

All in all not the greatest inverter but I do find I use it and it's handy.

 

cell phone, air mattress, or plug in a cooler!

 

love my outlet, use it all the time to charge my power tools on job sites, and vacuum my truck out with it

 

I don't think the riddle has ever been fully answered. We do know that at max current draw (400W), it would pull 33 DC Amps from the electrical system. We also know that those that have the tow package have a 130-amp alternator.

Some simple math suggests that if we were drawing 33 amps, that leaves ~97 amps for all the other systems that are running. It seems like a lot.

I theorize that Toyota must have felt that the charging system would somehow be compromised if a continuous 33-amp load was put on the system while the truck was being driven.

 

That sounds acceptable. What draws power while driving vs parked? All lights for one. Is there any electronics pulling power while moving? I suppose the alt. under load will put more drag on the engine like the AC pump I suppose. (Thinking out loud, so to speak)

 

I used it to power a cut off wheel to chop my exhaust pipe last week. It wasn't running it at full power but it gave it enough to cut the exhaust pipe.

I've used it to charge a lot of things.

Couldn't power a full size vacuum with it. Couldn't power a 1.5HP air compressor with it either. That was annoying.

 

Only time I've ever used it was plugging my laptop in, would sit back there and study for school.

Oh and filling up air mattresses when camping.

 

Sorry to digress... But I think I was wrong. Don't we have a 140 amp alternator with the tow package?

 

I've run a dremel off it for cutting a hole in my dash to install a switch.

For tailgating, you could run a small TV, portable stereo, blender or maybe a mini-fridge on 400W.

 

absolutely nothing, has never been used

 

Had the truck for 6 months. First use today driving around town, second cell phone battery charging. My BlackBerry Storm 2 has turned into a battery hog.