Toyota Sienna Forum - siennachat.com banner
Cancel

Aftermarket or dealer installed 1500w outlet?

11476 Views 14 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  BillyTanglewood, 
T
Is there a way to get the 1500w outlet on an LE? The current way of paying $10,000+ for a $300 accessory is not an option I like. Thank you.
Reply
Save
Like
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
F
Many contractor work trucks have serious 120v power outlets. They do this two way:

1) A powerful inverter. Take 13.5v from an existing 150 amp or higher alternator, chop it to create a form of AC, transformer it to 120v, smooth it out a bit, and you have 1500 watts or so after the losses.

I have an 800 watt continuous, 1200 watt surge unit that I bought many years ago for a misadventure that works OK. It does have a fan and needs ventilation, but could probably be mounted under a seat with a heavy duty power feed to the battery and output cords to a convenience outlet. I'm sure an accessibility or shop that caters to work truck mods could do this kind of installation. The efficiency of small blocky inverters have come a long way since I bought mine.

2) A more serious gen-set belt driven 120v alternator (or better yet, a DC generator with an inverter). Some of these deliver several kilowatts, but I don't know if they could fit on a transverse mounted engine. They work great on your roofing contractors Ford F-250.
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 1
circus
fibber2 said:
I have an 800 watt continuous, 1200 watt surge unit
Click to expand...
I had a 1200 w modified sine wave inverter on my old 1990 Nissan. Worked great. But I question the traditional method of using an inverter on a hybrid. Does a hybrid even have an alternator?
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 1
F
That's a good point. I'm still not thinking in terms of 100% hybrid. So scrap that last analysis.....

Hybrids have a high voltage battery pack to run the traction motor/generator. And they still do have a 12 v starter motor for the gasoline engine, and a mass of 12 volt motors, electronics, bulbs, etc., along with a 12 v starter battery. But I don't believe that there's a 12 v alternator. It's probably done from the hybrid power system. No real need for duplicity.

Soooo, I guess the 1500 watt, 120 v convenience outlet isn't limited to being powered by the lowly 12 v battery anymore. It's a whole lot easier to generate that kind of power from the 288 volt (?) side.

The downside for the consumer: is the aftermarket willing to splice into the Hybrid electrical system to replicate factory features?
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 2
D
TheTruthHurts said:
Is there a way to get the 1500w outlet on an LE? The current way of paying $10,000+ for a $300 accessory is not an option I like. Thank you.
Click to expand...
Im very comfortable with 12V wiring having built a few solar setups, inverters, etc.

I personally wouldn't touch the high voltage stuff but looks like its easy enough to plug in if you have the inverter, wiring harness, switch, etc.

DC-AC Inverters | Toyota Industries Corporation

豊田自動織機のカーエレクトロニクス事業では、ハイブリッド自動車向けの最大出力1500WのACインバーター、補機バッテリーの直流を交流に変換する400W、100WのACインバーターを開発・製造しています。
www.toyota-industries.com

What do you need an inverter for, how often and how much power? I carried a 2k watt sine wave and it was very cumbersome if you included heavy gauge wiring. It's nearly max airline carry on size.

You can do an inverter, wiring, Anderson plugs for $400-$600 for 2000 watts depending on inverter.
Reply
Save
Like
A
Depending on the use case, could a Goal Zero type portable power station work? The 1500w version runs about $2k and has the benefit of being portable (move between vehicles or closer to where power is needed). They can connect to the vans 12v to recharge or even add a solar panel.

www.goalzero.com

Portable Power Stations from the Goal Zero Yeti Line

Goal Zero's award-winning line of portable power stations gives you power at the push of a button, a fumeless solar storage battery, and backup generator options. Get a portable power station that is quiet, fumeless, and portable so you can use it for anything and everything, including home...
www.goalzero.com www.goalzero.com
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 1
B
The 4 DC to AC power inverters Toyota manufactures, including the new 1500W DC-AC Inverter.

DC-AC Inverters | Toyota Industries Corporation

豊田自動織機のカーエレクトロニクス事業では、ハイブリッド自動車向けの最大出力1500WのACインバーター、補機バッテリーの直流を交流に変換する400W、100WのACインバーターを開発・製造しています。
www.toyota-industries.com
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 1
T
BillyTanglewood said:
The 4 DC to AC power inverters Toyota manufactures, including the new 1500W DC-AC Inverter.

DC-AC Inverters | Toyota Industries Corporation

豊田自動織機のカーエレクトロニクス事業では、ハイブリッド自動車向けの最大出力1500WのACインバーター、補機バッテリーの直流を交流に変換する400W、100WのACインバーターを開発・製造しています。
www.toyota-industries.com
Click to expand...
Great.
What is the cost of that 1500w Toyota inverter and how to install it?
Reply
Save
Like
B
TheTruthHurts said:
Is there a way to get the 1500w outlet on an LE? The current way of paying $10,000+ for a $300 accessory is not an option I like. Thank you.
Click to expand...

I feel exactly the same way. In fact I want one of the new Hybrid Siennas with the 1500W AC, but in a stripped down, even a cargo Van format so I can build it out as a camper. Because the Toyota Climate control system runs off electric and is not a belt driven system and uses about 1/2 a gallon a night, and supplying power also uses about 1/2 a gallon a night, it is the perfect storm for a self contained camper system. In the heat or the cold, it would keep you comfortable affordably. And when your home power goes out, you can run power all day for around a gallon of gas, which is a lot better than most portable generators.
Maybe if enough people write to Toyota, they will allow special orders of cargo van configurations for camper builds.

But it isn't a $300 accessory, just the new hybrid vehicle inverter they build is going to be at least a $650 part I reckon. maybe more. The reason the new hybrid Sienna can provide 1500 Watts of AC is because Toyota now manufactures an AC inverter that runs right off the high voltage traction battery. They have had several inverters that provide up to 400W of AC off the 12V system, but this is new and runs at over 201? Volts. The 12V system is only speced at 100A (in the Prius anyway, think it is the same in all their hybrids) and a 1500 Watt inverter could cause serious damage if you try to run one off their 12V systems.

It would be great is we could order the new 1500 Watt traction battery inverter from Toyota as a replacement part. It would make a lot of Prius and Highlander hybrid owners that have been searching for high watts inverters that run off the traction battery happy too.
But I'm guessing being a dealer part and looking at the closest similar kind of devices on ebay and amazon, it won't be cheap. But at least we know it will properly integrate with the Toyota Hybrid electrical system.

- Billy
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
B
TheTruthHurts said:
Great.
What is the cost of that 1500w Toyota inverter and how to install it?
Click to expand...
The 1500 watt DC to AC inverter is a new 2021 Hybrid Sienna part. You cannot even find it in the spare parts search at your Dealer yet. They are not likely to want to sell it to you either, because it runs off the traction battery at voltages that can kill you.
You might be able to find a sympathetic dealer that will work out installing it for you, but truth is dealer go by the book and most places their techs leave when they have enough experience to get real pay as a mechanic.

- Billy
Reply
Save
Like
B
Sorry man - I have a lengthy post of the subject you can't see because it is awaiting moderator approval, because I tried to edit a typo triggering the system, which flagged my post as spam.
Reply
Save
Like
F
I fixed it, Billy. They've ratcheted up the spam killer in an attempt to ease the burden on the staff to do so much manual deletions. You got caught in the net.... Let me know if you have further issues.
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 1
T
BillyTanglewood said:
I feel exactly the same way. In fact I want one of the new Hybrid Siennas with the 1500W AC, but in a stripped down, even a cargo Van format so I can build it out as a camper. Because the Toyota Climate control system runs off electric and is not a belt driven system and uses about 1/2 a gallon a night, and supplying power also uses about 1/2 a gallon a night, it is the perfect storm for a self contained camper system. In the heat or the cold, it would keep you comfortable affordably. And when your home power goes out, you can run power all day for around a gallon of gas, which is a lot better than most portable generators.
Maybe if enough people write to Toyota, they will allow special orders of cargo van configurations for camper builds.

But it isn't a $300 accessory, just the new hybrid vehicle inverter they build is going to be at least a $650 part I reckon. maybe more. The reason the new hybrid Sienna can provide 1500 Watts of AC is because Toyota now manufactures an AC inverter that runs right off the high voltage traction battery. They have had several inverters that provide up to 400W of AC off the 12V system, but this is new and runs at over 201? Volts. The 12V system is only speced at 100A (in the Prius anyway, think it is the same in all their hybrids) and a 1500 Watt inverter could cause serious damage if you try to run one off their 12V systems.

It would be great is we could order the new 1500 Watt traction battery inverter from Toyota as a replacement part. It would make a lot of Prius and Highlander hybrid owners that have been searching for high watts inverters that run off the traction battery happy too.
But I'm guessing being a dealer part and looking at the closest similar kind of devices on ebay and amazon, it won't be cheap. But at least we know it will properly integrate with the Toyota Hybrid electrical system.

- Billy
Click to expand...
All of that makes sense, but I can't imagine them "only" charging $300 for the inverter upgrade if the part cost them more than $300, unless it's somehow a required part in their entertainment system. Also as these 21 Sienna's get insurance totalled second hand inverters should be available. In addition, if this inverter is in high demand and low supply, it might be a high target item for thieves. Thieves quickly become very tech savvy for removal.
Reply
Save
Like
T
I just don't see exactly what is worth the upgrade to xle, especially when you can't get awd and eight passenger. Many would be willing to pay $1000 or more for that 1500w outlet in an LE. The other option worthwhile is the digital mirror.

Those blind spot cameras that kia has should be a standard safety feature and Toyota does not even offer it.
Reply
Save
Like
B
TheTruthHurts said:
In addition, if this inverter is in high demand and low supply, it might be a high target item for thieves. Thieves quickly become very tech savvy for removal.
Click to expand...
Not likely. It is not trivial just to dissemble a Toyota Hybrid vehicle to get to the Hybrid battery. Once you are there, if you don't know what you are doing you can electrocute yourself. No one is going to be removing these inverters from a car parked on the street, you can't do it by popping the hood. You have to take apart half the vehicle just to get to the battery, then open it up...

- B
Reply
Save
Like
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Toyota Sienna Forum - siennachat.com
SiennaChat is the forum community to discuss problems, maintenance, repairs, mods, projects, specs and all things Toyota Sienna.
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
General Discussion (Gen 3) Problems, Maintenance, and Repair (Gen 2) General Discussion (Gen 4) General Discussion (Gen 2) Problems, Maintenance, and Repair (Gen 3)
Top