Hurricane Milton on the way... anyone powering fridge / house with your Rivian?

[Marsha TaylorKlovstad]

Anyone use there Rivian to keep the frig going during Helene.

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[SPITmadFIRE]

I'm confident lots of folks used their Rivians or other EVs to power essentials. Are you asking how best to do it, or just has anyone done it?

 

[Marsha TaylorKlovstad]

I'm confident lots of folks used their Rivians or other EVs to power essentials. Are you asking how best to do it, or just has anyone done it?

Well both is good. Our generator died
Last year and I really only need the frig when the power goes. I know I could run extension cords to the garage.

 

[mudito]

I know I could run extension cords to the garage.

That's probably the only way to do it nowadays.

 

[SPITmadFIRE]

There's three main things to consider here:

• The vehicle can output 1500W max (way more than you need for a fridge)
• Using the AC outlets on the vehicle will use a decent amount of battery over the course of a few days, and they must be turned on to work (more on that below).
• Choose the right extension cord to use. This usually means making sure it's rated for the right amount of power.

Most fridges don't run 24/7, they only turn on to cool everything down when the temperature inside increases a few degrees. When they do run, they usually draw a few hundred watts (200-400 watts). Your vehicle can handle this no problem, but you want to make sure you're using the right extension cord or you can create a fire hazard. For a 400W fridge you want an extension cord that's rated for at least 5A constant. To handle the vehicle's max of 1500W you need a 15A extension, but that's not important if you're only trying to run the fridge.

To turn on your AC outlets, you'll need to go into the vehicle's Energy app. On the screen you'll see "Outlets" and the option to set them to auto or a timer. You want to use the timer option; auto will not work when the vehicle is off. Just remember to keep the timer running if you need it for more time than expected.

 

[SPITmadFIRE]

Keep in mind, extension cords are ONLY rated for their specific length. If you connect two extension cords together, no matter how high their ratings, you can create a fire hazard. The longer the distance, the more heat is generated; you should only ever use one extension cord that's rated for the correct amount of power.

Make sure you keep an eye on the vehicle's battery while you're powering an appliance. I like to check every few hours to make sure it's not dropping faster than expected. There's a lot of overhead when keeping those outlets on, so if nothing is plugged in don't keep the timer running!

Best of luck, and stay safe!

 

[Marsha TaylorKlovstad]

Keep in mind, extension cords are ONLY rated for their specific length. If you connect two extension cords together, no matter how high their ratings, you can create a fire hazard. The longer the distance, the more heat is generated; you should only ever use one extension cord that's rated for the correct amount of power.

Make sure you keep an eye on the vehicle's battery while you're powering an appliance. I like to check every few hours to make sure it's not dropping faster than expected. There's a lot of overhead when keeping those outlets on, so if nothing is plugged in don't keep the timer running!

Best of luck, and stay safe!

Thank you

 

[SPITmadFIRE]

Thank you

Of course! If you have any questions about the extension cord you have or anything else, let us know!

 

[Cycliste]

If only there was a way to fuel up your vehicle at home before bugging out for a hurricane

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weat...-milton-could-cause-even-more-trouble/1701346

 

[SPITmadFIRE]

If only there was a way to fuel up your vehicle at home before bugging out for a hurricane

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weat...-milton-could-cause-even-more-trouble/1701346

I think all of us here know the benefits of electric over gas; this was mostly a thread asking for help and how-to run essentials off the vehicle safely.

 

[docwhiz]

Keep in mind, extension cords are ONLY rated for their specific length. If you connect two extension cords together, no matter how high their ratings, you can create a fire hazard. The longer the distance, the more heat is generated; you should only ever use one extension cord that's rated for the correct amount of power.

Make sure you keep an eye on the vehicle's battery while you're powering an appliance. I like to check every few hours to make sure it's not dropping faster than expected. There's a lot of overhead when keeping those outlets on, so if nothing is plugged in don't keep the timer running!

Best of luck, and stay safe!

Most extension cords are 14 gauge which is marginal for the 1500W the outlets can provide.
Get a 12 gauge cord and only the length you need.

 

[JohnDecaf]

Hi All!

I'm here in Western NC and powered two freezers, a fridge, an ice maker, and my natural gas water heater for 5 days using my Rivian! It literally saved my bacon! I was using about 6-8% per day powering all those. The consumption was higher at first while the freezers were running continuously to freeze back up.

I was also able to drive over to a neighbors and power his deep freezer for 12 hours to save his food long enough for the power to come back.

1600w won't power your AC or Heating devices, but it can cover a lot of other things in the home. +1 on using properly rated extension cords.

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