120V outlet on when vehicle is on?

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

I would try a different cable or maybe even one of these before leaving the inverter on all the time:

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[Surferdude]

I would try a different cable or maybe even one of these before leaving the inverter on all the time:

This OBD2 adapter only provides 10 watts to the USB outlets.

 

[downranger12]

I was only asking if the outlets can be on whenever the vehicle is operating. I am not asking them to be on 24/7. I do understand leaving it on all the time would drain the battery.

Yes I tried different cables as I first thought maybe they were defective. I tried all the USB C outlets and they all put out the same 15 watts (12W max on my meter). This is inadequate to quickly charge up many newer phones. I use a 45W phone charger which is very common nowadays (they go up to 90W+ now). 12W only keeps the phone from discharging. It does not actually charge the phone.

I don't think it's too much to ask to have the 120V outlets turn on when the vehicle is in operation or at least have an option in addition to the timer. This should be a very basic function of any vehicle. I can't recall any vehicle that would not power up the 12V cig outlets when the ignition is on. In previous vehicles I'd just use the 12v cig outlet with a tiny 60W inverter. It allowed me to charge my phone using the 45W charger. Any typical 12V cig outlet would do this but Rivian has none.

My July 22 delivery has a cigarette lighter outlet under the dash, a bit to the right of center way back. I don't know it's power
or when it is on or off.
I imagine it might be for a radar detector which I don't have. Not saying that they all have one.

 

[Surferdude]

To the charger maybe 45 watts but I'd be surprised if the phone was charging at 45 Watts. Most of them are capped at less than 10 watts of charging rate. There are some European phones that will charge at 30 and even 45 Watts and even a couple that are higher than that but these are really special phones and even if you had one at that rate they will charge completely in under 20 minutes so you shouldn't need to keep the outlet on more than that anyway.

What phone do you have?

FWIW I used one of those USB cables that displays the charging rate. Tested on a Samsung Z Fold. Charging while phone is at ~60% SOC.

All Rivian USB C ports - 10 watts
45W Samsung charger - 31 watts

So the 45W charger isn't putting out the full 45 watts but the 15 watt USB C ports are also not putting out 15 watts. Looks like both are capping at 2/3 of their max capability.

 

[strykerwsu]

Customers should have the option to have it on if they chose. It's distracting and dangerous for a driver to have to tap the screen 5 times just to turn on what is normally on in every other vehicle made. With an average 1.8- 2 miles per kWh, an inverter on standby will have virtually zero impact on range.

You do it before you drive. Inverter eats about 10 to 12 miles in 12 hours on avg.

 

[HaveBlue]

FWIW I used one of those USB cables that displays the charging rate. Tested on a Samsung Z Fold. Charging while phone is at ~60% SOC.

All Rivian USB C ports - 10 watts
45W Samsung charger - 31 watts

So the 45W charger isn't putting out the full 45 watts but the 15 watt USB C ports are also not putting out 15 watts. Looks like both are capping at 2/3 of their max capability.

The phone consumes 500ma when the screen is on. Apps like Ampere only calculate the amount going into the battery in case you are measuring that way.

It is pretty pitiful that we are sitting on over 100kwh of power and can't properly charge a cell phone like an ice vehicle can.

Maybe snap the seat belt behind you, turn on driver+ and crawl to the 3rd row so you can plug into the 12v outlet.

 

[HaveBlue]

I would try a different cable or maybe even one of these before leaving the inverter on all the time:

Where would you plug that in?

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Where would you plug that in?

OBD port under the dash. I've never used one and don't know anything about max power output (someone else mentioned it's pretty low?). Just tossing it out there as a suggestion. I'd rather use one of those than leave the inverter on all the time, imo.

Also handy for vehicles that don't have 12v outlet under the dash to get power to small dash-mountable accessories. ?

 

[HaveBlue]

OBD port under the dash. I've never used one and don't know anything about max power output (someone else mentioned it's pretty low?). Just tossing it out there as a suggestion. I'd rather use one of those than leave the inverter on all the time, imo.

Also handy for vehicles that don't have 12v outlet under the dash to get power to small dash-mountable accessories. ?

I don't believe the Rivian has an OBD port which is why I asked in case you had found one. <Edit> looks like people are saying there is one. Thanks

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