Powering appliances during Hurricane Helena

Power was out due to the hurricane and I needed COFFEE! I moved the coffee maker to the truck and brewed a pot there. Later in the morning I ran an extension cord into the house to power the refrigerator. A Lightning sure can come in handy during a storm!

rhscnative said:

Power was out due to the hurricane and I needed COFFEE! I moved the coffee maker to the truck and brewed a pot there. Later in the morning I ran an extension cord into the house to power the refrigerator. A Lightning sure can come in handy during a storm!

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That's some serious dedication to coffee! It's awesome to see that your Lightning was there to keep you going. Stay safe out there!

I'm always impressed with taking a screenshot of the photos app vs just uploading the picture directly.
I wasn't close to the eye, but got some nice wind/rain and was under a tornado watch. Power didn't go out, but I was ready with extension cords lol.

FloridaMan655321 said:

I'm always impressed with taking a screenshot of the photos app vs just uploading the picture directly.
I wasn't close to the eye, but got some nice wind/rain and was under a tornado watch. Power didn't go out, but I was ready with extension cords lol.

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Yeah I was on hot spot because the power was off and those Apple HEIC photos are very large.

Yes! Coffee would be first for me too! Fridge, freezer, life saving devices would all need to wait. I have a slighly older Ninja. Love it. I'd also have to bring out my grinder for the beans and my milk frother.
LOL. I showed my husband and he was not amused. He drinks gross instant stuff. And I guarantee he'd ask me to figure out how to make his for him in my truck...

Oh yeah, if it's a choice between the coffee maker and Aunt Martha's Iron Lung - well she will have to wait.

Well…..folks I was in the middle of Helene in upstate SC. The Lightning, “Zeus to me”, has 115KW ready for some power. Hopefully for me I have solar power and storage battery system. Our two refrigerators/freezers are packed with neighbors perishable items. They keep bringing stuff. My batteries can handle it but the Lightning is my back up. All the talk about my truck from some crusty old ICE diehards, who have fallen flat onto their faces, that they can only now say some nice things about the my Lightning. They like the truck but cannot admit it.
My power tools are ready. I am trying to help as best I can without mentioning the capabilities of the Lightning.
I heard the HOROR stories already. No power available which means cannot pump any at the gas stations. The lines are long if you can find a station capable to do that, and the nerves are frayed. Hopefully no one pulls a gun over 10 gallons of fuel. The irony is that most of them need the gas for their generators. We all here have accepted the fact that will not have power for another week. In the meantime folks, the situation is so bad that the substations don’t have power also. Consequently every SC and DCFC station is out. The closest charging stations available are 50-60 miles away. Primitive camping existence here in Greenville SC. Asheville is flooded and in a situation that they haven’t seen anything like that other than their grandparents. Cleaning this mess is daunting to everyone up here. Some are devastated. Trees have fallen on their homes while they were sheltering from Helene. For me, I want the sun to come out and the Lightning on standby. Primitive camping existence is going to be the normal for few days but the Lightning will make life a lot easier.
Good luck to everyone who had to endure Helene wrath.
Remember the Lightning is the ultimate tool. Put it to good use.
Take care and be careful out there.

we were originally in the DIRECT path of the hurricane, and well prepared for it's impact, but when it came onshore, it turned slightly NE - leaving us close, but on the 'clean' side, where we no only did not lose a single Tall Pine, and even some of those are already dead and ready to fall, but only received 'slight' winds and gusts - nothing more than I've ever seen on many 'normal' days with no storm in sight. We were blessed, as I know Valdosta and those in that same path were not... and those left closer to the 'dirty' side.

We lost power before daylight, and I was ready with the suicide cord directly back to my
NEMA 14-50 charging outlet from the truck's 240v outlet, feeding the main panel, and turning off the main panel's 200a main breaker.
All was well for many hours until Georgia Power got to us. Yes, the coffee was delicious, and several large cups along the way, although the coffee maker stayed in the kitchen, where it belongs : )

hturnerfamily said:

we were originally in the DIRECT path of the hurricane, and well prepared for it's impact, but when it came onshore, it turned slightly NE - leaving us close, but on the 'clean' side, where we no only did not lose a single Tall Pine, and even some of those are already dead and ready to fall, but only received 'slight' winds and gusts - nothing more than I've ever seen on many 'normal' days with no storm in sight. We were blessed, as I know Valdosta and those in that same path were not... and those left closer to the 'dirty' side.

We lost power before daylight, and I was ready with the suicide cord directly back to my
NEMA 14-50 charging outlet from the truck's 240v outlet, feeding the main panel, and turning off the main panel's 200a main breaker.
All was well for many hours until Georgia Power got to us. Yes, the coffee was delicious, and

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What all can you power with bed outlet (240V)? I looked it up and it said it was 30 amp so I'm guessing as long as you aren't running the stove, clothes dryer or the air conditioner your are good? Is that what y'all did?

We live in a town just outside Asheville, and there is devastation surrounding us. For the past two days, the area has been cut off from the world. We were lucky that our experiences, in a neighborhood with few flowing water features, and relatively higher up, was vastly different from many of those just over the hill.
In better news ...we powered ours, and three of our neighbors' houses' fridges, freezers, device charging-stations, and CPAP machines.
We've had power for all our own necessities for nearly three days, (even ran an AC at night) and still have 45% battery.
Damn, this is a great truck, and a great ambassador to folks who may not know how ridiculously ahead of its time it is.

Jodokk said:

We live in a town just outside Asheville, and there is devastation surrounding us. For the past two days, the area has been cut off from the world. We were lucky that our experiences, in a neighborhood with few flowing water features, and relatively higher up, was vastly different from many of those just over the hill.
In better news ...we powered ours, and three of our neighbors' houses' fridges, freezers, device charging-stations, and CPAP machines.
We've had power for all our own necessities for nearly three days, (even ran an AC at night) and still have 45% battery.
Damn, this is a great truck, and a great ambassador to folks who may not know how ridiculously ahead of its time it is.

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Good on you, but these stories rile me up. People of reasonable means need to have power outage plans and stop scavenging off other people. It's no different than insurance. Be an adult.

I have to agree. They're all just a bit behind the times, but these times may be instructive, mind-changing, and life-changing.

Great job being that example for others. Glad the Lightning is caring for you, your family, and neighbors.

rhscnative said:

What all can you power with bed outlet (240V)? I looked it up and it said it was 30 amp so I'm guessing as long as you aren't running the stove, clothes dryer or the air conditioner your are good? Is that what y'all did?

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you can power anything in your home, as long as it doesn't exceed the 30amp capacity of the truck's bed outlets/rear inverter... but, honestly, most folks in a 'dire' or potentially long-term outage are not going to live like they do under 'normal' circumstances - you probably aren't going to be needing the stove and oven. You probably aren't going to 'have' to run the air conditioner system(although it can certainly do these things, if required)... even turning off electric water heating is part of conserving energy that's probably not needed, for some length of time, as 'showers' are probably secondary to other needs.

Electrical management is key, meaning being aware of what is really needed, versus the normal 'comforts' of otherwise daily life.
Most items in your home are actually low 120v powered devices - lights, fans, device chargers, and even your internet and TV. The fridge is only 120v, and only runs 'as needed'. Your freezer is the same.
Your hot tub can probably be unplugged/turned off. Your water heater can be turned off. Your air conditioner CAN be powered, as long as other usages don't combine to take it over the 30amp limit, although that's 30amps at 240v, which is like 60amps at 120v.
Your truck's center screen ProPower will let you know how you are fairing.
You can see that most of your higher-draw appliances are on 240v double-pole breakers, although many are still only 30amps. Even when you consider your 50amp appliances, like the stove and oven, this is only because it would take that much if you had ALL the eyes on, AND the OVEN, at the same time. That's very unlikely.

Otherwise, the microwave is your friend. The coffee maker is a requirement, of course : ) Instant pots, hot pots, and other 120v heat-based cookers are easy.

When Ford quotes that you might can power your home for 'up to 10 days', they are referring to this very conservative usage of power, and mainly your 120v devices and appliances. If you want to live more like a 'king', then, well, you might only go for '3 days'.(and that's ONLY if your truck is 100% charged when the lights go out)

We have a roll around portable A/C for our Florida room on humid days (yes, close the windows). During a power outage this summer, we moved it to our bedroom and ducted out a window. The Lightning ran it and all essentials.
A good night’s sleep does wonders for your outlook.
Best wishes to all in Helene’s path.