V2L power wash

[slmorgan42]

Hey
Just thinking about washing the car and the fact I have no power near by for the power washer. Has anyone else been using their car to run their power washer?

 

[stevie211]

Tried using the car to power mine but its too much for it and it won't run.

 

[Roger001]

The issue is going to be the start-stop nature of a jet wash. Every time it starts up, the power draw on the motor will be many times the rating of the motor. If the car's built in DC to AC inverter is well built it should shut down due to this overloading.

 

[Ian Key]

High pressure water with over spray near electrical connections

 

[DevonMG4]

Been using V2L for a circular saw away from the house. Boiled a kettle with it long time ago

 

[slmorgan42]

A little update. I finally got round to giving the car a power wash from V2L worked a treat. Obviously didn’t direct the water straight at the charge port. It got no more water near it than it would have from light rain.

 

[Everest]

I'm surprised it worked, but it will all depend on the power of the washer motor and its inrush current. Would be good to let us know what model jet was you were successful with.

I'm also a bit puzzled as to what situations you can get water supply to your jet wash with a hose, but not power via an extension cable - but that's diverging from the thread

 

[T1 Terry]

I guess it depends which resistor is used in the V2L, the 470 ohm resistor would allow plenty of current for the motor start up. where the 2k ohm resistor would not ...

T1 Terry

 

[slmorgan42]

Good question as to situation.
I live in a London flat so cannot get the car close to run a power cable easily but I have a garage out back of the block. No power there but there is a tap for gardening.

Below are the V2L and washer used. The washer is smallish.

V2L

VOBOR V2L Adapter, 3.5KW 16A Adapter from Vehicle to Load, Vehicle to Load V2L Discharger UK Plug only Compatible with MG4 MG5 MG ZS MG MARVEL R: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

Shop VOBOR V2L Adapter, 3.5KW 16A Adapter from Vehicle to Load, Vehicle to Load V2L Discharger UK Plug only Compatible with MG4 MG5 MG ZS MG MARVEL R. Free delivery and returns on eligible orders.

amzn.eu

Pressure Washer

https://www.diy.com/departments/bosch-aquatak-corded-pressure-washer-1-3kw-3600ha7f01/3165140935692_BQ.prd

 

[Everest]

OK - that makes sense as you have a V2L adapter that can deliver more power than the official MG one, being 16A vs. the official 10A output, combined with a relatively low power washer. But it works .

 

[siteguru]

My V2L adapter (actually an adapter and cable terminated with a weather-sealed double socket) will support up to 3kW ... I bought it off @Jester27 when he was returning his MG4, and he'd tested the output rating.

 

[slmorgan42]

OK - that makes sense as you have a V2L adapter that can deliver more power than the official MG one, being 16A vs. the official 10A output, combined with a relatively low power washer. But it works .

I was overly worried it wasn't going to work and worst case blow a fuse or something in the car. With this is mind I waited until I had dropped the wife and daughter off at the airport and I had a week to sort out the car if there was an issue lol

If I did it before and couldn't get her to airport at 04:00 I would have been in the dog house. LOL probably sleeping there.

 

[Everest]

Worst case should be that the car's V2L inverter just shuts down and you need to reduce the load and restart V2L output. But, best to play safe, I agree

The other concern that just crossed my mind was earthing and RCD protection, but I checked and that pressure washer (and I suspect most pressure washers) is doubly insulated, so will be wired without earth connection anyway.

All we need now is a nice picture of your extra-shiny MG4

 

[slmorgan42]

Worst case should be that the car's V2L inverter just shuts down and you need to reduce the load and restart V2L output. But, best to play safe, I agree

The other concern that just crossed my mind was earthing and RCD protection, but I checked and that pressure washer (and I suspect most pressure washers) is doubly insulated, so will be wired without earth connection anyway.

All we need now is a nice picture of your extra-shiny MG4

LOL well in typical English spirit the second I was done it started raining. Then next day was covered in pollen again.

But I do have a front picture as at the time I added black bumper front spoiler vent trims to match the black MG bag.

 

[Rolfe]

At a camp site last year I had a 3 kw electric kettle and the pump to inflate my airbed running at the same time and the car didn't miss a beat. I don't suppose the pump takes much but the draw would have been over 3 kW.

 

[Everest]

I don't suppose the pump takes much but the draw would have been over 3 kw.

That's good you were able to run a regular kettle on the V2L output.

Unlikely to be 3kW though, as a kettle is a resistive load and the MG only supplies about 218V on its V2L output, IIRC.

Hence... as V=IR and P=VI, a 3000W kettle (which are commonly rated 3000W at 240V (despite our UK 'nominal' voltage being 230V)) will have an impedance of around 19.2Ohms. At 218V a load with resistive impedance of 19.2 Ohms will draw just 2475W. That's still above the MG's rated 2.2kW output, though

 

[wattmatters]

That's still above the MG's rated 2.2kW output, though

The car's on-board inverter is capable of triple that output. MG do not supply a rating for the V2L, it is not listed in their specifications.

How much it will actually supply is a function of the V2L adapter used (which tells the car what upper power limit to use) and the load applied.