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Pro Power Onboard

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Old Sep 25, 2023 | 04:50 PM
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Pro Power Onboard

Does anyone know what amount of fuel the pro power generator requires to work? I tried it the other day when truck was nearly empty and it wouldn't start. I was planning on using the bed outlet to power my fuel transfer pump.

Thanks!

DA
 
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Old Sep 25, 2023 | 05:20 PM
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I believe the vehicle engine has to be running.

 
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Old Sep 25, 2023 | 05:27 PM
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Originally Posted by 1olddogtwo
I believe the vehicle engine has to be running.
Yeah it was running. But the pro power onboard would not start because I didn't have enough fuel in the stock tank. I want to know where that cutoff is so I can use it to power my fuel transfer pump...is it a 1/4 tank, 1/8???

Thanks,

DA
 
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Old Sep 25, 2023 | 06:03 PM
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The owner’s manual has some information on this, but not much.
 
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Old Sep 25, 2023 | 08:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Devil's Advocate
Yeah it was running. But the pro power onboard would not start because I didn't have enough fuel in the stock tank. I want to know where that cutoff is so I can use it to power my fuel transfer pump...is it a 1/4 tank, 1/8???

Thanks,

DA
I can only go on the past, E- series, RV chassis have auxiliary fuel ports (not that this applies in this situation) that have been set to 1/4 tank.

This was to prevent, for example a onboard generator from sucking the tank dry.
 
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Old Sep 26, 2023 | 06:32 AM
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Pro Power Onboard is not a generator, it's a 2000w inverter that is powered by one of the alternators (24v - 150amp), that's why the engine has to be running.
Maybe there's a minimum fuel level required to be able to turn the inverter on?
 
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Old Sep 26, 2023 | 07:18 AM
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Originally Posted by dburby08
Pro Power Onboard is not a generator, it's a 2000w inverter that is powered by one of the alternators (24v - 150amp), that's why the engine has to be running.
Maybe there's a minimum fuel level required to be able to turn the inverter on?
Yes
There appears to be a minimum amount of fuel required to turn the inverter on...my question is what is that minimum amount? I suppose I'll have to try and turn it on at varying amounts of fuel to find out.

DA
 
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Old Sep 26, 2023 | 08:02 AM
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Originally Posted by Devil's Advocate
Yes
There appears to be a minimum amount of fuel required to turn the inverter on...my question is what is that minimum amount? I suppose I'll have to try and turn it on at varying amounts of fuel to find out.

DA
I found the following in the owner's manual:
Note: When the outlet is switched on and the vehicle is in park (P) the engine turns off 30 minutes after the low fuel warning is displayed. After the vehicle is turned off, generator mode only operates while driving or until the vehicle is refueled.

 
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Old Sep 26, 2023 | 08:05 AM
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Originally Posted by shawnee1
I found the following in the owner's manual:
Note: When the outlet is switched on and the vehicle is in park (P) the engine turns off 30 minutes after the low fuel warning is displayed. After the vehicle is turned off, generator mode only operates while driving or until the vehicle is refueled.
Ok, thanks. My low fuel warning was on when I tried to use it...

DA
 
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Old Sep 26, 2023 | 08:06 AM
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I hate most nanny features in vehicles these days. Does the engine idle higher while the "PP" is supplying power?
 
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Old Sep 26, 2023 | 01:19 PM
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So what I did instead is I bought 30 feet of 2 AWG cable, a 200 amp breaker with interrupt protection, and an inverter of my choice from Harbor Freight. Wired directly from a battery to the circuit breaker, then to the inverter. All the wiring is nicely hidden, and I mounted the inverter under the back seat but I could have put it anywhere. I now have power anytime and anywhere I want it, engine off or on. Obviously if I'm using it for a long period of time I have to run the engine to keep the battery charge up. But I don't have to fool with any of the vehicle BCM nannies killing my ability to use it.
 
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Old Sep 26, 2023 | 02:39 PM
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Originally Posted by WXboy
So what I did instead is I bought 30 feet of 2 AWG cable, a 200 amp breaker with interrupt protection, and an inverter of my choice from Harbor Freight. Wired directly from a battery to the circuit breaker, then to the inverter. All the wiring is nicely hidden, and I mounted the inverter under the back seat but I could have put it anywhere. I now have power anytime and anywhere I want it, engine off or on. Obviously if I'm using it for a long period of time I have to run the engine to keep the battery charge up. But I don't have to fool with any of the vehicle BCM nannies killing my ability to use it.
Pics of job? What was your total cost? Thanks.
 
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Old Sep 26, 2023 | 07:58 PM
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Originally Posted by MrMBell_11
Pics of job? What was your total cost? Thanks.
Here is when I installed it in my Ram but when I traded the Ram for this Ford I just moved it over to the F-250 exactly as you see here. Total cost? I don't remember. Probably $150ish? Maybe $200 tops? Obviously that depends on how much power you want your inverter to provide. The more watts the more money.

 
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Old Oct 29, 2025 | 01:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Travhale
Does the engine idle higher while the "PP" is supplying power?
Not in the "Regular" (400w) mode. It does in "Generator Mode", about 1200 RPM by default. It may go higher if there is a large load, haven't had opportunity to try that.
 
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Old Nov 6, 2025 | 07:15 AM
  #15  
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Just started working with the Pro Power feature. Does the vehicle always have to be running to us an outlet inside the truck? Trying to use an old laptop (coincidentally for forescan) and I have to run the vehicle to get the interior outlet to work? That laptop would take DAYS to drain both those huge AGM batteries. Am I missing something here?
 
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