Charge Station Pro and Home Integration System self-install

[Wombat]

Brief update:
I’ll take pics of my wiring tomorrow.

I’m having difficulty configuring the E4_BDI. It very much feels like a beta or an alpha for this process.

The installation guide has QR codes for what seems to be a third party app on iOS or Android. The iOS version of “M Professional” is asking for an activation code, and there doesn’t seem to be any links to acquire this. The Android version, after borrowing my daughter’s phone, did get the inverter connected to my Wi-Fi. But thats as far as I’ve gone.

When I cut power to the home, after a few minutes, the power came on for a few seconds then shut off.

Currently scratching my head.

Any help would be appreciated.

And yes I’m using the house panel not a critical load panel. Shouldn’t make a difference if the load doesn’t exceed 30 amps.

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[PiMatrix]

Brief update:
I’ll take pics of my wiring tomorrow.

I’m having difficulty configuring the E4_BDI. It very much feels like a beta or an alpha for this process.

The installation guide has QR codes for what seems to be a third party app on iOS or Android. The iOS version of “M Professional” is asking for an activation code, and there doesn’t seem to be any links to acquire this. The Android version, after borrowing my daughter’s phone, did get the inverter connected to my Wi-Fi. But thats as far as I’ve gone.

When I cut power to the home, after a few minutes, the power came on for a few seconds then shut off.

Currently scratching my head.

Any help would be appreciated.

And yes I’m using the house panel not a critical load panel. Shouldn’t make a difference if the load doesn’t exceed 30 amps.

Just a few random thoughts....

I remember reading something about HIS feature having to be software activated by dealer. Was this done by dealer during auto prep?

"Intelligent Backup Power software activation is included with the purchase of the extended-range F-150 Lightning battery or can be bought as a one-time purchase for the standard-range battery here."

17:29 What equipment do you need to use Ford Intelligent Backup Power?
The dealership will have to activate Intelligent Backup Power on the vehicle.
Need Home Integration System: Includes transfer switch, inverter, and Dark Star battery (needed to power Home Integration System until Intelligent Backup Power is activated).

I assume you've cut loads on main panel to be below 40A (9600watt) for testing. Is there any error codes shown when power shuts off? You have the dark start battery installed? Since you are feeding the backup power to the main panel, there is no pathway when the backup power turns on that makes WHB grid sense circuit that the grid turned back on? Not sure how you have it wired so reason I ask.

Congrats on getting this far!

On a side note, I test drove a Platinum Lightning today for the first time! Super cool...drives like a comfortable race car but the functionality of a truck. My previous car was a ML63AMG and this car easily blows away that. We had a few scary moments when my shorter wife said if she couldn't reach the pedals we should cancel order. I offered to build a rack to fix that issue if needed . The dealer offered platform shoes. Fortunately the seats are very adjustable. Had two people stop us to ask questions about the Lightning when we stopped to change drivers at a Shell station so people are curious.

I did ask the dealer about the HIS activation and they said they have their service guy look into how this is done. Our blend date is 29th so maybe end of Sept delivery and we can test our HIS install.

 

[PiMatrix]

Try 6532 for the code. I did not see this thread earlier. Do you want the full install documents?

The Home Intelligent Backup is what has to be activated by software by Ford atleast for SR trucks. The HIS and FCSP can do direct DC charging from a PV array according to the documentation. There is also some other capability on the boards that are not talked about. The dark battery is soley there to keep the BDI powered when there is no grid power, the battery bank aka our truck is what provides backup power and can get recharged through solar. This is the purpose for the DC to DC inverter to provide stable DC.

Hi Tofan, your code 6532 worked to activate the IOS app. Thank you!

I believe I posted the "quick installer guides" that came boxed with the HIS at the start of this thread. The links to the full manuals are broken on Delta-amerias.com. If you have the "full install documents" it would be wonderful if you could PDF and post them here for other DIYers and their electricians. Out of curiosity, where did you find them? IS there one for WHB, BDI inverter, and Dark Start battery?

You would think these are top secret nuclear documents by how hard they are to obtain for the end users. Oh, wait...maybe not a good analogy.

 

[Wombat]

 

[Wombat]

The AGF-AE-D/200 meter has a flashing yellow for the RUN. This is a communication failure.
I have good continuity on the coms.

 

[world2steven]

Brief update:
I’m having difficulty configuring the E4_BDI. It very much feels like a beta or an alpha for this process.

Any help would be appreciated.

And yes I’m using the house panel not a critical load panel. Shouldn’t make a difference if the load doesn’t exceed 30 amps.

Can't provide any help, only a question: Do I need to have a Charge Station Pro (CSP) installed in order to use HIS? I already have a 50A charger - and no requirement for overnight charging. Using the CSP at 80A will require an expensive upgrade to a 300A distribution panel.

 

[Maquis]

Can't provide any help, only a question: Do I need to have a Charge Station Pro (CSP) installed in order to use HIS? I already have a 50A charger - and no requirement for overnight charging. Using the CSP at 80A will require an expensive upgrade to a 300A distribution panel.

You can derate the FCSP to 40A via the internal hardware switch and use it on your 50A circuit.

ETA: derating the charging current does not impact the ability to use the backup power.

 

[Fryballin]

And yes I’m using the house panel not a critical load panel. Shouldn’t make a difference if the load doesn’t exceed 30 amps.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the critical loads panel is necessary to “isolate” the system from the grid when the grid goes down and the Microgrid integration device (transfer switch) activates thus preventing the HIS from back feeding the grid while also allowing current from the truck to supply the ”critical loads”. How else can the transfer switch work? I am very much a lay person when it comes to electrical work but I am also doing a third party (not Sunrun) install of the HIS and currently have all the components mounted in my garage except for the “critical loads panel” and have not started any wiring process yet. Glad to see someone getting so far along with a DIY install but definitely need to know if the critical loads panel is absolutely necessary because it will be a large additional expense I don’t want to incur if not.

Also, here is a link to what Sunrun calls their “Ford EV Field Website”
https://sites.google.com/sunrun.com/sop/sops/ev-chargers/ford-ev-charger?authuser=0

its essentially a training website for installers and was very helpful, it allowed me to access some of the documents that Tofan posted in the replies above.

Again, if you don’t mind to explain how and why the critical loads panel is not necessary, I would greatly appreciate it, and also provide detail as to how you wire the system without the critical loads panel as it is located in FORD’s detailed wiring diagram I also linked between the transfer switch and the AC disconnect, which then connects to the Inverter.

 

[world2steven]

You can derate the FCSP to 40A via the internal hardware switch and use it on your 50A circuit.

ETA: derating the charging current does not impact the ability to use the backup power.

Do I need to install a FCSP at all? I don't need another charger.

 

[Maquis]

Do I need to install a FCSP at all? I don't need another charger.

The FCSP handles communication to the truck, telling it to engage the DC contactors that feed the 400V DC back to the HIS.
Your existing EVSE won’t have to extra CCS pins on the cable required to feed the DC back to the HIS.
Your best bet is not to install an additional charger, but rather replace your existing with the FCSP if you want to use the home backup system.

 

[world2steven]

The FCSP handles communication to the truck, telling it to engage the DC contactors that feed the 400V DC back to the HIS.
Your existing EVSE won’t have to extra CCS pins on the cable required to feed the DC back to the HIS.
Your best bet is not to install an additional charger, but rather replace your existing with the FCSP if you want to use the home backup system.

Thanks. What about just feeding a Sol Ark generator port from the 240V Lightning outlet while I wait for a 10kW version of the HIS?

 

[Fryballin]

The AGF-AE-D/200 meter has a flashing yellow for the RUN. This is a communication failure.
I have good continuity on the coms.

I would double check the connections I marked in the photo, I'm not familiar with what the red arrow is pointing to and in most of the documents I've seen that provide instructions on how to install this stuff as well as the training materials from SunRun, these particular communication connections were not referenced during the install process. Could be causing the error possibly.

EDIT***

So after studying some other documents in the training module, it looks like the B-A+ RS485 on the acrel meter has a factory wire that connects it to the circuit board and so that means the Yellow and red wire I have circled are the wires running to the inverter and so it seems like everything is correct in that area. Confusing when the videos in the training show RS485 B-/A+ connections going directly from the Acrel meter to the inverter. As I said in another post, we have not started the wiring process yet so I haven't look inside of the MID to see this "factory cable".

See the wiring diagram to see the reference to the "factor cable"

 

[FlasherZ]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the critical loads panel is necessary to “isolate” the system from the grid when the grid goes down and the Microgrid integration device (transfer switch) activates thus preventing the HIS from back feeding the grid while also allowing current from the truck to supply the ”critical loads”. How else can the transfer switch work? I am very much a lay person when it comes to electrical work but I am also doing a third party (not Sunrun) install of the HIS and currently have all the components mounted in my garage except for the “critical loads panel” and have not started any wiring process yet. Glad to see someone getting so far along with a DIY install but definitely need to know if the critical loads panel is absolutely necessary because it will be a large additional expense I don’t want to incur if not.

Also, here is a link to what Sunrun calls their “Ford EV Field Website”
https://sites.google.com/sunrun.com/sop/sops/ev-chargers/ford-ev-charger?authuser=0

its essentially a training website for installers and was very helpful, it allowed me to access some of the documents that Tofan posted in the replies above.

Again, if you don’t mind to explain how and why the critical loads panel is not necessary, I would greatly appreciate it, and also provide detail as to how you wire the system without the critical loads panel as it is located in FORD’s detailed wiring diagram I also linked between the transfer switch and the AC disconnect, which then connects to the Inverter.

As you noted the MID box is a disconnect that isolates the grid. You can use it with an isolated critical loads panel. Alternatively, you can effectively make your entire home's panel the critical loads panel. If the MID device is rated as service equipment, you could even land the connection from meter lugs to it, then connect your home panel to the load side of the MID device. I haven't looked at the docs to see if it is service-rated. But even if not, you can place another appropriate panel in front of your home's panel.

 

[adoublee]

The HIS and FCSP can do direct DC charging from a PV array according to the documentation.

I believe this but do you mind pointing out where you saw this in the (now more extensive) documentation? Enphase for example still requires installation of AC utility connection verification before they allow their backup system to operate independent of it (at least in the US). I'm wondering if this is the same, or if AC could be excluded entirely.

On first look through I think I saw reference to APS rapid shutdown in documentation. Have you seen detailed requirements or reference to Tigo? It seems maybe transmitter for both of these might be built into the inverter. But I have not seen what the initiation option(s) are, as would not want loss of (or total lack of) AC to trigger shutdown.

Next step for me is to figure out when and how to get the 10kW of grid-interactive DC to AC version of inverter. Looks like it is referenced in the commissioning material.

 

[Wombat]

Any thoughts on what this entails?

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