400 watts without solar

[Landrover]

My  GMC tow vehicle has a 400 watt plug in the rear corner of the bed.  I cant see much use for it except for plugging in a portable fridge cooler. I’m wondering,  if a solar panel can put out 1-2- 3 400watts with a charge controller can this 400watt plug be used in connection with a solar port connection and a charge controller as how a portable solar panel works? Of course the truck would have to be on and idling for the plug to work.  Just thought this would be another possibility for battery charging. 

[topgun2]

6 minutes ago, Landrover said:

can this 400watt plug be used in connection with a solar port connection and a charge controller as how a portable solar panel works?

Why not simply run the electrical cord to your shore power input (via whatever adapters you need to use to get from your truck to the 30 amp plug)?

Be aware that in places such as Yellowstone National Park, they consider this type of arrangement nothing more than using a generator (your relatively large truck engine is the generator basically) and in places where generators are prohibited this arrangement of using your truck for this purpose is also prohibited.

Bill

[bhncb]

Not sure I'm interpreting the question correctly but: Isn't what's being described just a 12 volt charge connection, in parallel with the 7-way aux circuit?  No need for the additional solar charge controller but,  with the right B2B charger, it could be more effective than the 7-way connection.

[topgun2]

33 minutes ago, bhncb said:

Not sure I'm interpreting the question correctly but: Isn't what's being described just a 12 volt charge connection, in parallel with the 7-way aux circuit? 

Well, 

I interpreted the question to mean he was referring to the "standard 400 watt 120 volt accessory plug usually located in the bed of some pickup models.

Bill

[Steph and Dud B]

400 watts AC is only 3.3 amps so you'd have to make sure the trailer's not drawing more than that - either through the trailer's converter or by whatever AC->DC rig you cobble up to go into the solar port (truck outputting 120v AC, trailer accepting only DC volts). I think the lowest bulk charge setting on the Xantrex is 5 amps. That would blow the circuit breaker in the truck.

[Jps190]

I have the same "400 watt" outlet in the back of my GMC Sierra HD.  It would not reliably run a 15 amp Victron battery charger without going into protection mode.  It is most likely a modified sine wave inverter that is really only meant for small draw items.  It will run my 65L ICECO fridge/freezer just fine but beyond that I wouldn't waste your time with it.  A small 2000 watt generator would be exponentially more efficient.

 

John