Hey everyone, has anyone here used their truck to power a space heater? It’s supposed to drop into the negatives here in Georgia, and my wife is worried about the pipes freezing. I’m wondering if I can use the bed or frunk outlets to power a space heater.
I don’t have the 240V outlet on my truck. Will the regular outlets work?
If your heater works with a normal household 120V outlet, it should work just fine with the truck’s frunk outlet.
Yes, space heaters usually use about 1500 watts on the highest setting. Even without the 240V outlet, your truck should be able to handle it.
Oli said:
I’ve done it before, though it was through my pop-up trailer plugged into the 20A outlet in the bed.
All the outlets, including the ones in the cabin and frunk, are rated for 20 amps.
I’ve done it before, though it was through my pop-up trailer plugged into the 20A outlet in the bed.
Without the pro power upgrade, you effectively have a single 20A circuit. A space heater should work fine, but don’t plug in anything else at the same time.
It should work, but a space heater might not make much of a difference for freezing pipes in a house. They’re not very efficient and mostly keep you warm if you’re sitting right next to them.
Most space heaters max out at 1200 watts, so don’t spend extra on a big one—they all output similar power. For emergencies, I recommend a small propane heater. They’re great for rooms. Also, electric blankets are a great alternative. They use way less power and keep you warm directly.
@Luca
Technically, electric heaters are 100% efficient.
Val said:
@Luca
Technically, electric heaters are 100% efficient.
That’s true, but modern heat pumps can be up to 400% efficient. They’re much better for heating.
A 15A heater should work fine, but avoid using an extension cord unless it’s heavy-duty.
Zev said:
A 15A heater should work fine, but avoid using an extension cord unless it’s heavy-duty.
If you need an extension cord, go with 10 or 12 gauge.
Zev said:
A 15A heater should work fine, but avoid using an extension cord unless it’s heavy-duty.
If you need an extension cord, go with 10 or 12 gauge.
Yep, 12-gauge works perfectly.
Where in Georgia is it supposed to get that cold? I’m in Macon, and it’s only supposed to hit 21 tonight.
Alston said:
Where in Georgia is it supposed to get that cold? I’m in Macon, and it’s only supposed to hit 21 tonight.
My wife neglected to tell me it was in the negatives with the wind chill. The weather alert says as low as - 4 with the wind chill.
@Nico
Got it. We don’t usually see temps that low.
@Nico
Your pipes don’t care about wind chill. Just let a faucet farthest from the main drip a little to keep the water moving. If your house isn’t built for freezing temps, this should help a lot.
Shan said:
@Nico
Your pipes don’t care about wind chill. Just let a faucet farthest from the main drip a little to keep the water moving. If your house isn’t built for freezing temps, this should help a lot.
Good tip! My garage, where the water heater and main entrance are, hasn’t gone below 40 in years. But my wife’s from the South, so I’ll probably leave the water running just in case.
Happy wife, happy life, right?
@Nico
If your house isn’t well-insulated, wind chill can still affect how cold it feels. Also, make sure any gaps where the cord goes into the house are sealed to avoid losing heat.
You might also want to open cabinet doors near plumbing, lock any windows for a better seal, and set your faucets to drip. If this happens often, consider insulating pipes, upgrading windows, or adding foam insulation.
I’ve powered a space heater a few times. You’ll need to leave the truck on all night, though. For me, it used about 6% of the battery overnight.
I’ve done it. Most space heaters are 120V, so they should work fine.
