120V AC outlet won't charge laptop

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NyackRob79

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Well, there I was, counting on my $83k truck to be able to charge my MacBook Pro. Second row has a 120 volt AC outlet good for 150w. My laptop charger only draws 87w. Sadly, this looks like another inflated "feature" used to market a vehicle without actually being of any use. For whatever reason, the green LED on the outlet starts blinking, and my laptop charger just won't charge. Should be as simple as plug-and-play. Go figure. A brief search online reveals similar issues with F-150 owners. Some recommend testing the truck's 120v port with ohm meters, etc. I honestly don't see why a simple 150 watt AC outlet can't provide simple AC power. No fuss, no muss.


Just bummed out. Thanks for reading.
 
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gordonf238 said:
Well, there I was, counting on my $83k truck to be able to charge my MacBook Pro. Second row has a 120 volt AC outlet good for 150w. My laptop charger only draws 87w. Sadly, this looks like another inflated "feature" used to market a vehicle without actually being of any use. For whatever reason, the green LED on the outlet starts blinking, and my laptop charger just won't charge. Should be as simple as plug-and-play. Go figure. A brief search online reveals similar issues with F-150 owners. Some recommend testing the truck's 120v port with ohm meters, etc. I honestly don't see why a simple 150 watt AC outlet can't provide simple AC power. No fuss, no muss.


Just bummed out. Thanks for reading.
Click to expand...
From what I understand the F150 has a 400W inverter which is different than the 150W one we get in the expy/navi. Try some other electronics in that plug and see what results you get. I’d want mine to work as advertised so there may be a warranty claim in your future.
 
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It won’t power up a PS4 Pro either. I was disappointed as well.
 
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I’ve used mine once to inflate my friends inflatable mattress while camping and that’s it... I wish I would have looked at the wattage of that thing to see how much it requires. I think l grab some random items and just see what it can and can’t do.
 
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It could be busted? Isnt it still under warranty?

I think those inverters dont put out a nice sine wave like your house ac does. They might output a square wave thats not sufficient for the apple charger. Not sure.

Kind of ironic. Car battery DC power converted to AC power to power a charger that outputs DC power to charge the battery.
 
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Ours charges our MacBook Pro Just fine. We use it all the time. We used it to power our Roku 4 and Nintendo Switch on a trip a few weeks ago without issue as well. Might want to have it checked out.
 
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Bow512 said:
Ours charges our MacBook Pro Just fine. We use it all the time. We used it to power our Roku 4 and Nintendo Switch on a trip a few weeks ago without issue as well. Might want to have it checked out.
Click to expand...

Is yours the 15 or 13 inch model?? I guess the 15 uses a more demanding charger!
 
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NyackRob79

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Bow512 said:
Ours charges our MacBook Pro Just fine. We use it all the time. We used it to power our Roku 4 and Nintendo Switch on a trip a few weeks ago without issue as well. Might want to have it checked out.
Click to expand...

That’s quite interesting.

I know sensitive electronics like TVs require pure sine wave AC current. I doubt this AC port puts out pure sine wave. Probably just a square sine wave, which should be fine for any power adapter that only converts the voltage back to DC (like a laptop charger).

I agree that it’s grossly inefficient to go from car battery’a DC to AC only to go back to DC again. It is what it is.

I may have it checked out at the dealership on the next visit. For now I just ended up getting a $70 cigarette-lighter socket adapter for the laptop from amazon.

Still bummed.
 
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Ours seems to work fine. As with the OP, I’m charging a MacBook Pro. I did find a short extension cord was useful as the 85w wall wart didn’t look like it wanted to stay plugged in. Now the ww lays on the floor next to the laptop and is fully charged by our next stop.

The blinking charge light on the MB makes me think the inverter is faulty.
 
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Anyone upgraded the port to higher wattage? I know my Dell Precision charger pulls 300W and would love to be able to charge in the truck. i have to use another inverter plugged into the cigarette lighter to get what we need. Would love to replace the module if possible.
 
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OGBobbyJohnson said:
Anyone upgraded the port to higher wattage? I know my Dell Precision charger pulls 300W and would love to be able to charge in the truck. i have to use another inverter plugged into the cigarette lighter to get what we need. Would love to replace the module if possible.
Click to expand...

Post pics when you do the swap.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/OEM-NEW-15...ear-110V-Volt-400W-Power-Outlet-/253572051226

Not sure if this is the right part but you would need to replace the inverter/converter module as well as the plug. https://www.ebay.com/itm/2015-2016-...302543?hash=item443aebb74f:g:F7UAAOSwBFVbjCt0

Good luck!
 
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I'd be curious to know if the wire gauge going to the plug is any thicker on the 400w optioned trucks. I know the wires going to the plug on my 17 are only about 18 ga.
 
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We use our 2013 Expee Max 's ac outlet and it pumps air mattresses etc . Plus charges cordless drill s etc . But the flap cover is exposing the insert for the ac power to being hit . I had to re-install mine after it was knocked out . fothco
 
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Soliyou said:
Is yours the 15 or 13 inch model?? I guess the 15 uses a more demanding charger!
Click to expand...

Sorry to just now see this. Ours is the 13 inch so maybe that’s it. It also charges my HP Envy 13 inch laptop without issue as well. I don’t know what the wattage on it is but I guess we just got lucky.
 
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