Finished installing my charger & generator manual transfer switch [to provide emergency power to my house using 240v 30a plug in the truck bed]

[Brotato]

I wanted to share my project I just finished that will let me use the 240v 30a plug in the truck bed to provide emergency power to my house. At the same time I ran a new line for a 48amp charger for the truck.

I also have a solar grid tie inverter (blue box) and Emporia Vue energy monitor (mess of white cables in the box). Not part of the backup system.

Happy to answer any questions!

Parts

• Reliance Controls 10-Circuit 30 Amp Manual Transfer Switch Kit
• Emporia 48a WiFi EVSE

 

[VTbuckeye]

Does your transfer switch also transfer the neutral so that neutral and ground are no longer tied together? These trucks have a bonded neutral, and will detect a ground fault and stop supplying power (appropriate on a job site, but problematic when feeding power into a properly wired house). Check out the power boost forum for more details searching for bonded neutral.

 

[Brotato]

Yes the transfer switch has a floating neutral for that exact reason. The transfer switch isolates the load from the main panel when you switch it to the generator outlet.

 

[pstansel]

Nice! Hadn't seen that transfer switch before.

 

[VTbuckeye]

Yes the transfer switch has a floating neutral for that exact reason. The transfer switch isolates the load from the main panel when you switch it to the generator outlet.

Well, then you should be good to go!

 

[beatle]

Looks good. I plan to do something similar. You may also want to replace the cable hook with one of these that lets you "plug in" your J1772 connector onto the wall:

https://www.amazon.com/DASANRAO-Portable-Connector-Electric-Organizer/dp/B09JWVNSTQ/

 

[Brotato]

Looks good. I plan to do something similar. You may also want to replace the cable hook with one of these that lets you "plug in" your J1772 connector onto the wall:

https://www.amazon.com/DASANRAO-Portable-Connector-Electric-Organizer/dp/B09JWVNSTQ/

Thanks for the link. The one that came with the charger doesn't work too well.

 

[Maquis]

Where does the white wire go in your EVSE?

 

[Brotato]

Where does the white wire go in your EVSE?

I am using that as the ground wire. No neutral needed since its only 240v

 

[Maquis]

I am using that as the ground wire. No neutral needed since its only 240v

That’s what I suspected. Technically, that‘s a code violation. But it works fine - electrons are color blind.

 

[jpepper07]

I have a solar inverter grid tie in. So when my power goes off it shuts down as to not energize the circuit. How is that handled?

I think I want to do the same thing but a 150 amp sub panel to my new garage to support the 80amp charger, some circuits, and the generator receptable.

 

[Brotato]

I have a solar inverter grid tie in. So when my power goes off it shuts down as to not energize the circuit. How is that handled?

I think I want to do the same thing but a 150 amp sub panel to my new garage to support the 80amp charger, some circuits, and the generator receptable.

The solar inverter isn't effected by the generator transfer switch since it will shut off if the main turns off. The generator transfer switch lets you completely isolate the circuits to the truck.

 

[Nick Gerteis]

Looks good!

 

[jpepper07]

The solar inverter isn't effected by the generator transfer switch since it will shut off if the main turns off. The generator transfer switch lets you completely isolate the circuits to the truck.

Okay this makes sense. I just can't quite picture how it works without a diagram or something. So I need to investigate more. I think I will do the same thing as you.

How much load can be power with the 10 circuit 30 amp? Seems very limited. keep furnace, refrigerator, and a few lights on?

 

[Brotato]

Okay this makes sense. I just can't quite picture how it works without a diagram or something. So I need to investigate more. I think I will do the same thing as you.

How much load can be power with the 10 circuit 30 amp? Seems very limited. keep furnace, refrigerator, and a few lights on?

I didnt connect any large loads such as AC, electric water heater, etc. This will only support the lowest load circuits such as fridge, lights, office, etc. From what I have seen, the Ford app will show you the load on each leg of the 240 circuit which hopefully will make it easy to manage.

Sponsored