In Cab AC Outlet Plug And Play

Yeah, who wants .833 amps when you could have 3.33 amps...

 

^ lol

 

Assuming you are talking about the inverter at 12 volts it's 33.3 amp draw not 3.33 amps. At 120 volts yes its current draw would be 3.3 amps.

 

3A doesn't sound like allot but it's only an issue if you need more then that. I'm curious, if 400W/3.3A is something to be scoffed at, what AC only devices do feel are useful and/or needed the require more then 3A of AC power when you're using the truck? It's a serious question? People have all kinds of special needs and some of my work trucks had $500 inverter systems for work requirements. I get it if there's a need or a situation where it makes sense to upgrade the AC power system but if it's just because you think 3A isn't enough and want more overhead then it's a very poor decision. For me 100W didn't cut it sometimes but 400 does all the time, why wouldn't I upgrade to 400W? Then considering the mod takes 10min and costs basically nothing, someone with those needs would be stupid not to. A typical inverters waste about 10~15% of the power they consume, you can pay more and get better efficiency but that gets pricy with cabling and the price of quality units.

The smart move is to utilize DC when ever possible and only use AC when there's no other options or when replacing an essential AC device with a DC one is cost prohibitive. 400W wont even run a skill saw but nether will a 1000W inverter. Having worked in electrical power (AC and DC) for the last 40 years I know to take the time to measure what the loads I need to run consume in watts. Power banks easily fill in short term/high current AC needs and a far more cost effective especially when you consider they can be used anywhere and can double as a solar power storage system (only lacking the cells themselves) or running essential electronics in the house during an outage. High current inverters work ok when the truck is running, they'll kill a single battery quickly if they are running any kind of significant load and the motor is off. Second batteries are expensive, they weigh allot can be expensive to install and wire plus they're tied to the truck.

Electricity is all about efficiency, utilize what you got and make smart decisions with what you buy and when and how you run it, most owners don't need to be tied to a heavy dual battery system or an big inverter that's of limited use when the truck isn't running.

 

120 A/C, unless your Taco is special...

 

Update for everyone.
I’ve got some parts on order and they’ll take a few weeks to arrive in from Japan. Then I can get to building.
There’s a lot of interest in the 400 watt anytime, so I’m gonna look into including that in this upcoming set of harnesses.

One last thing, does anyone have different outlet preferences? Do you like that there are two 120V outlets? Do you like the two USB A ports? Is having USB C a benefit?

Thanks for all your help and insights,
Taco Tech

 

Mind you, I'm not buying one as I have already done my own 400W All the time.

What I liked about your chosen AC outlet was that it can cover a poorly cut hole in the plastic. A lot of people are not that patient or talented. Might include a templet for the hole and safe location.

 

Taco Tech is now ready for orders of the In Cab AC Outlet!

Features
- Household AC 120V Outlet in the cab!
- 2 AC outlets
- 2 USB Type A ports
- 1 USB Type C port
- Includes 400W anytime mod
- Ruggedized loom-wrapped to prevent wire chaffing
- PLUG AND PLAY (no splicing into your original wire harness, clean install)
- Hand-assembled in the USA

Prerequisites
- Tacoma that already has an AC inverter from the factory
- easiest way to know if the Tacoma has an AC inverter from the factory is if it has a household AC outlet in the bed

Options
There are two options.
1) harness only (cut your own hole)
2) harness pre-installed into plastic panel (no cutting required)

Attached are pictures of both the options and how the harness looks installed in the truck:

Pricing
1) In Cab AC Outlet harness only - $130
2) In Cab AC Outlet pre-installed into plastic panel - $280*

*: a $40 discount is available for good-condition original plastic panels that are mailed back

Notes
Limited quantities available.
The pre-installed option is build-to-order so has a longer lead time.

Accolades
Thank you to everyone who made posts and provided guidance on this build.
The product would not be what it is today without your input, thank you!
Taco Tech is relatively new to this industry of building and selling products.
Any and all feedback is appreciated and welcome.
Our goal is to provide you with high-quality, useful products.
If anything you received does not meet your standards, please reach out!

Note “Taco Tech” is more or a brand name and “Wisconsin Electronic Design Specialists LLC” is the name of my actual company.
Disclaimer
This In Cab AC Outlet is provided as is without any guarantees. In association with the product, Wisconsin Electronic Design Specialists LLC makes no guarantees of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to guarantees of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, of title, or of noninfringement of third party rights. Use of the product is at the user’s risk.

Warranty
This limited warranty covers defects in workmanship and materials for a period of one year from the date of first retail purchase. During the warranty period, Wisconsin Electronic Design Specialists LLC will replace or repair, at its sole discretion, any defecting In Cab AC Outlet returned by its original purchaser.
This warranty does not cover problems that result form abuse, accident, misuse, or problems with electrical power. It does not cover uses not in accordance with the user instructions. It does not cover commercial use of the product. It specifically excludes products for which Wisconsin Electronic Design Specialists has not received payment.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights which may vary from state to state (province to province in Canada). Wisconsin Electronic Design Specialists LLC responsibility for defects in material and workmanship shall be limited to repair and/or replacement as set forth in this warranty. All express and implied warranties, including but not limited, to any implied warranties and warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose are disclosed.
Wisconsin Electronic Design Specialists LLC does not accept liability for incidental or consequential damages, or for any third-party claims for damages against the retail purchaser of this product. Some states (provinces in Canada) do not allow exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so this may not apply to you.

 

You are aware there are already a few of my iterations out there being sold...

 

Here's a solution from EcoFlow (800w Alternator Charger) that will give you 800 watts of charging power. It's proprietary to EcoFlow (works with select EcoFlow power stations), but I hear it's really good from many YouTubers...

https://us.ecoflow.com/products/800...1&_sid=e6a5dc88e&_ss=r&variant=41064248836169

If links to 3rd party products are not allowed here, please remove the link to allow the post to remain in this thread. TIA.

 

Thanks for everyone’s interest, sales, and feedback. I’m working on a website to simplify the ordering process. Until I get that up and running, feel free to continue PMing me for orders.

 

Nice looking upgrade, @taco_tech. Is the USB-C a PD version?

 

it does support PD (power delivery) up to 20W (5V/3A, 9V/2.2A, 12V/1.67A) , stock. I should be able to make a custom 45W (5V/3A, 9V/3A, 12V/3A, 20V, 2.55A) one if you want more power.

 

Have you tested output on those various choices?

 

Doesn’t your computer charger make funny noises when it is plugged into the AC outlet of the truck? Mine did. It’s the crappy sine wave output of the OEM inverter doing that. It’s really only good for motors and such, not really a good thing for electronics.

I do have to say that it does work well for a blender at a beach party!

 

No, my laptop power supply does not make any noise when plugged into the truck power outlet (about the only thing I use it for), but it does not surprise me that some do. I don't have a scope to look at the inverter's output, but I think it most likely resembles a stepped square wave. A true sine wave inverter from Toyota would cost too much. My understanding is that most electronics power supplies these days are no longer analog but switch mode power supplies and in general can handle most any disgusting waveform input and keep on ticking (as in your case). There remain compatibility problems though.

 

PM'd you OP...looking to buy