Jeep Wrangler 4xe Powerbox Lets You Run Your Home Heating During a Power Outage

The 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle has been setting records for plug-in vehicles in America. It is the top-selling electrified off-roader, and it is also the top-selling PHEV. The Wrangler 4xe makes no sacrifices when it comes to its primary mission as a rough and ready off-road SUV, and it has the same torque as the V8-powered Wrangler. However, it is the Powerbox that may be our favorite feature.

The Wrangler 4xe’s Powerbox is standard across all (4xe) trims for 2024. This device provides 3,600 watts of power from the Wrangler’s powertrain and 17.3 kWh high-voltage battery. The Powerbox can deliver its 3.6kW of power via four 115-volt sockets. That means if you have an oil or gas furnace, as most homes north of the Mason-Dixon line do, you can heat your home during a power outage.

Related Topic: Jeep Wrangler 4xe Plug-in Hybrid Uses Heating System That Doesn’t Rely On Gas Engine

For those who are not up to date on their ohms, watts, and volts, we can tell you that this setup will run any 115-volt, 15-amp circuit. The most power drawn from such circuits is around 1,800 watts. So, the Powerbox could power two maxed-out 115-volt circuits. However, most circuits operate well below their maximum power capability. Typical 115-volt portable generators output 2,000 watts, significantly less than this Powerbox’s capability.

We tested the Powerbox using a 1,500-watt space heater. Although they are small in size, space heaters are one of the biggest energy gluttons one can operate on 115-volt power. 

So how could one operate their home’s heating system using the Powerbox exactly? The first step is to add a Line-Off-Generator transfer switch. Your electrician can do this for you. Your heating system must operate on 115-volt power for this to work, and most oil burners and gas furnaces do. This switch ensures that you can isolate the power you are putting into the oil or gas burner from the utility line power system. That is necessary for safety. The switches cost around $125, and my electrician charged me just $150 to install it. 

The only other step is to plug the Powerbox into the car and the Powerbox into the input switch. You then switch from Line power to Generator, and the furnace is enabled. If your home or cabin has a propane heater, perhaps one from Rinnai or another brand, the chances are it is also a 115-volt unit. I own one in a cabin, and I could plug it directly into the Powerbox since it is not hardwired to my panel; rather, it just plugs into a 115-volt receptacle. 

Home gas, oil, or propane heating systems don’t use electrical energy to produce the heat. The heat is from the fuel. The electricity powers the igniter system and runs low-power pumps and fans. 

You may be wondering about heat pumps and electric baseboard heating. These systems generally use 230-volt power, and the heat is either directly or indirectly created from the electricity. So, you probably could not use the Powerbox to power up these systems. 

In addition to running the oil, gas, or propane heating system, the Powerbox’s three other outlets can power your internet modem, your refrigerator, a microwave, and just about anything you can plug into a 115-volt outlet. Folks who have frequent power outages know that the most important thing to power during a one to three-day power outage is your heating system. Everything else is just creature comforts to get you through the temporary inconvenience. 

I’ve owned a whole house 230-volt generator system in the past and will never go back to one. Aside from being very expensive, keeping the generator in working order and storing and managing fresh fuel is a hassle. The Wrangler 4xe offers a nearly cost-free way to ensure that your home can be heated during a storm that takes your power away temporarily. Camping, powering a remote cabin, and many more applications jump to mind. 
 

Images by John Goreham.

John Goreham is an experienced New England Motor Press Association member and expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. In addition to his eleven years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can follow John on Twitter, and connect with him at Linkedin.