4xe power box ideas

[LJandJL]

OK so I know there's been issues with people not getting their power boxes this year, but assuming we can order them at some point in the future, what are some of the ideas people have for their use? I belive it's four 120v 30 amp outlets. Backup generator, sure. Power a cooler, sure. Any outside the box ideas (pardon the pun)?

I wheel in the northeast where the trails can can overgrown so I was thinking a small plug-in chainsaw. Basically endless power...

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[storyg]

Hi LJandL,
I think your mis-interpreting the Powerbox capability. The short answer comes right out of a STELLANTIS Media (Confidential?) document I found on the Internet -

" New for 2024, Wrangler 4xe offers Jeep 4xe Power Box, which features four 120-volt outlets with 30 amps of total output, allowing the battery pack to power external devices "


The long answer -

If we look at the picture of the Powerbox on Internet, it has 4 x 15 amp-type outlets. Since the outlets are designed to connect devices that are also with their mating connector, not designed to ever go past 15 amperes, this works out fine. Unless two of these 15 amp outlets are maxed out at 30 amps of concurrent use; Then anything else plugged into one or the other of the remaining sockets will shut the Powerbox down.

This would be the same thing that would happen inside your house or apartment if lets say, a bedroom or combination of rooms has 2 or even four wall mounted duplex (or just single) outlets that are typically all on one USA spec, branch circuit with a 15 amp circuit breaker.

Continuing with the 15 amp-specific branch circuit, you can only provide a load of 15 amperes maximum, whether the load is plugged into one, or exxagerating greatly, say, a thousand physical outlets (absolutely absurd) on that same 15 amp branch circuit -

Once 15 amperes of total, concurrent load on one or many outlets is seen at the breaker, it trips out.

One, 1,500 watt hair dryer (1500w/120v = 12.5 amps) will already nail 83% of the max available current from a spec-functional, 15 amp circuit breaker.

A whole bunch of wall warts to recharge phones or run other devices won't consume much of the 16-ish% current left before the above breaker trips. Plug in another hair driver or really, any device that adds 300 watts or more, at the same time that 1,500 watt hair dryer is turned on, BINK, the 15 amp circuit breaker will shut that branch down.

All things you may know but perhaps this is helpful for others to get a handle on what the 2024 4xe's Powerbox can provide if we make a comparison to a typical USA, 15 ampere rated home branch circuit.

A 30 amp rated outlet is entirely different looking than a 15 or even a true-20 amp type outlet. its not just the arrangement of the pins. The metal contacts are enlarged to carry higher amounts of current.

Getting back to the really cool Powerbox feature for the 2024 4xe; The spec that I've seen so far, indicates it is stated that it is capable of providing 3,600 watts (3.6kw). Using Ohms Law, we can divide watts (Power, P) by voltage (Electrical level, E) like this, to arrive at Current flow (Amperage, A): P/E=A, or in this case, 3600/120 = 30 amperes of current flow. Devices that meet US standards to plug into the smaller (Hot) pin, and the larger (Neutral) pin of these outlets that are oriented together in a vertical fashion on the Powerbox, and of course the 3rd, safety Ground pin is the design of a 15 amp maximum rated outlet in the USA.

I haven't seen where and how STELLANTIS/JEEP located either a replaceable fuse or a breaker device on the 2024 JL or JT's. This safety device will be located at the source of power, so it should be located in the JEEP-side, not out in the Powerbox-end. There could be a supplementary, thermal or manually resettable breakers in the Powerbox for each 15 amp outlet and perhaps more so, a smaller amp rated fuse on the USB outlet inside the box.

I hope that helps everyone interested in this new for 2024, 4xe feature. This is my arm chair interpretation. If I made a mistake, oops.

There must be more info from STELLANTIS/JEEP that will come in the owners manual or a supplement. Technology and even basic electrical knowledge for the people involved in selling the vehicles are not likely going to know enough to answer questions.

 

[LJandJL]

Thanks for the detailed reply. How am I misinterpreting the powerbox capability though? Seems like a cool feature with the ability to plug in small appliances while out on the trail.

Do you think it could handle a 15 amp 120v corded chainsaw with nothing else plugged in? That would be quite nifty.

 

[GrayWolf.Overland]

Finally did use it on a trip. It was only day camping, so I felt confident to leave the jackery at home.
I am emboldened by the ease of use and seeing only draw 5% battery for a whole day of use with fridge and some light charging and kitchen equipment.

I intend to leave out the jackery in an upcoming 3 day trip. Let's see how that goes.

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