ProPower and engine running full time for RV use or any use

[dannko58]

I haven't hooked up my RV to ProPower yet, but I was playing with the generator and it says my engine will run full time, is this correct? Because I read many articles on powering up your RV and everyone said the engine started as needed just to replenish the lithium battery. I don't want my truck running full time. Any actual users of this can chime in? Did they change something on the newer trucks coming out? Thanks

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[Bandito]

I believe that it's related to the overall current draw on the system. If you exceed a certain threshold, then the ICE will run to supply the necessary power.

 

[Sentinel1201]

Engine will not run full time, defeats the point of having a lithium battery to draw from. Engine will run every once in a while to charge up that battery.

I run a 15k BTU overhead RV AC, tire warmers, microwave, fans, battery tenders etc trackside from the 7.2 pro power. Engine kicks on every 20-30 minutes for a minute or two and then shuts off.

 

[Shooter56]

Did a long weekend in the cool weather last month, so without AC, but with tank heater on all night, the engine kicked on about 4-5 times per hour for about a minute or so each time. Remember to shut off lights, climate control, and even the display in the truck. Saves on the lithium battery and therefore, engine run time.

Engine idle uses about 1 gal per hour, so if the engine is only running 7 minutes an hour, I calculated I used about .10 gals per hour at night and less during the day without tank heater and AC. Taking into consideration that I didn’t have the trailer plugged in for a good part of the day. I probably used less than 4 gals during the three day trip.

And because it’s so quiet the boondocking experience is significantly enhanced without a noisy generator.

Game changer indeed.

 

[dannko58]

I believe that it's related to the overall current draw on the system. If you exceed a certain threshold, then the ICE will run to supply the necessary power.

well that's what I thought also, but it stumped me when I turned it on to test it with a fan and it said engine will run full time. I didn't leave it on long so never got to see.

 

[F-150 Prius]

Did a long weekend in the cool weather last month, so without AC, but with tank heater on all night, the engine kicked on about 4-5 times per hour for about a minute or so each time. Remember to shut off lights, climate control, and even the display in the truck. Saves on the lithium battery and therefore, engine run time.

Engine idle uses about 1 gal per hour, so if the engine is only running 7 minutes an hour, I calculated I used about .10 gals per hour at night and less during the day without tank heater and AC. Taking into consideration that I didn’t have the trailer plugged in for a good part of the day. I probably used less than 4 gals during the three day trip.

And because it’s so quiet the boondocking experience is significantly enhanced without a noisy generator.

Game changer indeed.

Google says 30 hours. I can't imagine the campsite that would burn 7.2kW continuously let alone hour after hour. I guess in a blizzard a giant triple axle 5th wheel with three AC units, four slide outs, a large family taking continuous hot showers, and cooking Thanksgiving dinner …
In my experience, the engine is off "most of the time" … in "eco" idle mode, it comes on and charges the battery quickly then it's off for long periods (30 minutes or more.)
A generator burns 1 gallon per hour and a generator doesn't have a storage battery. I've slept in the cabin during winter in falling snow. I'm guessing the engine was on for 5 minutes per 30 minutes. After about 6 hours, the tank wasn't down 6 gallons (of a 30 gallon tank, that's 20% …. which would have been significant on the gauge) … and 6 gallons would drop the range by 120 miles … I took before/after photos of the dash at least a couple of times, but I can't find them now to check my facts.
As noted, the luxury is the near silence. Even sleeping in the cab, it wobbles the suspension but it doesn't wake me.
https://camperreport.com/2021-f150-ford/

 

[imnuts]

Which ProPower/engine do you have? If you don't have a Powerboost, the engine will run full time to run the system.

 

[dannko58]

Which ProPower/engine do you have? If you don't have a Powerboost, the engine will run full time to run the system.

Powerboost 7.2kw

 

[EricR]

"On" is not equal to "Running".

The engine needs to be "on" all of the time to use generator mode. But as we know, our powerboost trucks can be on and yet the engine not running.

 

[dannko58]

"On" is not equal to "Running".

The engine needs to be "on" all of the time to use generator mode. But as we know, our powerboost trucks can be on and yet the engine not running.

SORRY let me correct myself, it said engine running

 

[ptricky]

I believe that it's related to the overall current draw on the system. If you exceed a certain threshold, then the ICE will run to supply the necessary power.

Agreed -
I *think* I saw somewhere that the engine runs full time if you are drawing more than 2.4-kW (or don't have the PowerBoost hybrid system). Anything less and the inverter & battery can keep up with the load & only cycle the engine as needed.

In any case, the RV's we have rented & used with the ProPower have had smaller AC units that would run off a 15A circuit. The engine has cycled as others have described.

 

[Oakstone]

Sorry to necro an old thread but it seems an appropriate place to ask.

I’m currently at a campsite powering my travel trailer with 2.4KW from my 22 PB.

Last night the generator worked great and came on for about 2 mins per hour. I’m not running much, just a couple of LED lights, usb outlets for charging phones and a small fan plus my CPAP off the 120v outlets.

This morning though something weird happened. It started up per usual but then the truck just kept running. The Pro Power showed like 200W of usage but it idled for 20 minsand the power flow said “Due to Battery Charging”.

I was just about to turn it all off and restart, thinking there was a glitch but decided to just tap the accelerator. The second I added a tiny bit of throttle and released, the truck went back to electric mode and is working “normally” again.

Anyone else experienced this? If that can just randomly screw up I’d be nervous of it happening when I’m asleep and then draining the fuel overnight!

 

[Snakebitten]

Sorry to necro an old thread but it seems an appropriate place to ask.

I’m currently at a campsite powering my travel trailer with 2.4KW from my 22 PB.

Last night the generator worked great and came on for about 2 mins per hour. I’m not running much, just a couple of LED lights, usb outlets for charging phones and a small fan plus my CPAP off the 120v outlets.

This morning though something weird happened. It started up per usual but then the truck just kept running. The Pro Power showed like 200W of usage but it idled for 20 minsand the power flow said “Due to Battery Charging”.

I was just about to turn it all off and restart, thinking there was a glitch but decided to just tap the accelerator. The second I added a tiny bit of throttle and released, the truck went back to electric mode and is working “normally” again.

Anyone else experienced this? If that can just randomly screw up I’d be nervous of it happening when I’m asleep and then draining the fuel overnight!

I have seen this happen a couple of times. I do not know what the "glitch" is, but there's some circumstance that can hang something up and it results in the ICE not cycling. I also noticed that the HV battery was NOT charging even though the engine was idling. Since the SOC was never going to get to 63%, the ICE was never going to turn off.


Both times I noticed, I just started over. But if it happens again, I'm going to try blipping the throttle first.

By the way, I often monitor the PIDs from inside the RV when I'm on ProPower. So I can SEE what is going on and how much draw there is. I know when the engine is going to start, and when it is going to turn off. So it's pretty noticeable when something out of the ordinary is going on.

Surprisingly the Bluetooth from my phone/tablet works pretty good from inside the RV to the trucks OBD adapter. (OBDLink)

 

[Oakstone]

Ah I should have brought my BT OBD with me! I have the USB OBD link but didn’t bring my laptop. Good thought for sure. I’ll chuck the BT one in my truck for the next trip. I carried it around in my old truck and just didn’t transfer it to the new one.

After doing the throttle tap it happened again a few cycles later. I shut down everything and restarted it. I’ll keep an eye on it now and see if it happens again after the restart.

 

[PB Humbler]

Did a long weekend in the cool weather last month, so without AC, but with tank heater on all night, the engine kicked on about 4-5 times per hour for about a minute or so each time. Remember to shut off lights, climate control, and even the display in the truck. Saves on the lithium battery and therefore, engine run time.

Engine idle uses about 1 gal per hour, so if the engine is only running 7 minutes an hour, I calculated I used about .10 gals per hour at night and less during the day without tank heater and AC. Taking into consideration that I didn’t have the trailer plugged in for a good part of the day. I probably used less than 4 gals during the three day trip.

And because it’s so quiet the boondocking experience is significantly enhanced without a noisy generator.

Game changer indeed.

With the A/C on the engine is at about .48-.52 gal/hr assuming the generator draw on the motor and the inefficiency of the engine in open loop operation and at start up probably little more used than that. Something you could do easily to get an exact number, by resetting the trip computer and then entering engineering mode which will tell you the exact amount of fuel used.

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