Installing a Home Integration System for Intelligent Backup Power (without SunRun)

[hifixenthusiast]

I purchased the F150 solely because of the Home Integration System. I preferred the Rivian, but went with the Lightning because of the home backup ability. So I'm feeling pretty stupid right now. Ford needs to solve this problem!

I am in the exact same position. My HIS was all setup and working with the FordPass application. However, my FCSP developed an issue with the Wifi module. Ford replaced it under warranty (within 2 days) and then I reconfigured it and the HIS. After talking with my assigned SunRun and Ford Customer care representatives, I was referred back to going through the re-registration process with SunRun again. Unfortunately, the system hasn't re-registered and synced with the Ford Pass app, so I am back to having a red "x" on step 2.

Now to compound the situation, my Lightning was just towed into the dealership as the result of a High-Voltage Battery warning and a Powertrain Malfunction / Reduced Power error. Fortunately Ford notified me about a week ago regarding Recall 23H01 (prior to any malfunctions) and has already shipped the new High-Voltage Battery module to my preferred dealership (hasn't arrived yet). I couldn't imagine driving the Lightning and it having this issue occur while the vehicle was moving. I have experienced this with a 2018 BMW i3 and it was extremely scary, as I ended up in the middle of an intersection staring at oncoming traffic. During this conversation, I was also notified that the HIS software update was intended for release in June, but now was delayed until July. I was also informed this should solve the issued I had experienced thus far with the HIS.

Where not perfect, the Rivian R1T is looking really good right now. Knowing what I know now, I would have put the $9k towards a Tesla Powerwall or Enphase battery instead of buying the HIS. I have been dealing with the HIS not working as intended now since December 2022. Like most contributors I have gotten the system to work, but it has never been consistently reliable nor something I would trust to be ready for an outage.

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[Jim Lewis]

am personally skeptical that a software change can solve what feels to me like a hardware and Wi-Fi technology issue, in terms of isolating the truck’s communication with it’s charging system from local systems in adjacent townhomes.

From looking at the troubleshooting info on the Sunrun field website, I'm not sure it's a Wi-Fi issue per see unless just the density of Wi-Fi signals in an area is swamping out BT communication.

In slide 2 of Troubleshooting: Issues Commissioning the BDi Inverter, the slide says:

The following items must be completed prior to trying a Backup Power Transfer

• All conductors and communication wires must be landed in the proper terminals. Use the proper wiring diagram via the Sunrun Field Installation Website
• Connecting the Charge Station Pro (CSP) to the customer’s wifi is recommended, but not required. If wifi is not connected, the CSP will not be able to receive Over the Air Updates (OTA)

It sounds like Wi-Fi connectivity for the FCSP is mainly needed for OTA updates.

Then the fun part, which many of you may have already seen before, is in slides 6 and 7 of the article Troubleshooting: Issues Performing a Backup Power Transfer , the following lunacy is pointed out:

Potential Reason

1	Truck uses bluetooth to communicate between Ford Charge Station Pro
2	Bluetooth module mounted on rear wall behind the passenger seat
3	Walls, large electronics, trees, and other environmental items can cause interference and weaken the signal

Note the BT module in the truck appears to be on the RIGHT rear side of the truck, whereas since the charging port is on the LEFT side of the truck, the left side of the truck is likely to be positioned closer to the BDI(!). So in slide 7, they actually recommend "parallel parking" your truck with the right side of your truck closest to the garage opening (and the rear right passenger door left open?), and the tape measure shows only a 79-inch gap between the open truck door and the BDI(!). And you're going to do this when the wind is gusting 80 mph and the rain is coming in torrents and it's lights off in the house?

Other than the FCSP overheating, BT communication is the only possible troubleshooting issue to be addressed relative to performing a backup power transfer. Perhaps the slide show is only an early ALPHA draft of troubleshooting in the lab and doesn't reflect any recent real-world experience with the system.

 

[PungoteagueDave]

From looking at the troubleshooting info on the Sunrun field website, I'm not sure it's a Wi-Fi issue per see unless just the density of Wi-Fi signals in an area is swamping out BT communication.

In slide 2 of Troubleshooting: Issues Commissioning the BDi Inverter, the slide says:



It sounds like Wi-Fi connectivity for the FCSP is mainly needed for OTA updates.

Then the fun part, which many of you may have already seen before, is in slides 6 and 7 of the article Troubleshooting: Issues Performing a Backup Power Transfer , the following lunacy is pointed out:

Potential Reason

1	Truck uses bluetooth to communicate between Ford Charge Station Pro
2	Bluetooth module mounted on rear wall behind the passenger seat
3	Walls, large electronics, trees, and other environmental items can cause interference and weaken the signal

Note the BT module in the truck appears to be on the RIGHT rear side of the truck, whereas since the charging port is on the LEFT side of the truck, the left side of the truck is likely to be positioned closer to the BDI(!). So in slide 7, they actually recommend "parallel parking" your truck with the right side of your truck closest to the garage opening (and the rear right passenger door left open?), and the tape measure shows only a 79-inch gap between the open truck door and the BDI(!). And you're going to do this when the wind is gusting 80 mph and the rain is coming in torrents and it's lights off in the house?

Other than the FCSP overheating, BT communication is the only possible troubleshooting issue to be addressed relative to performing a backup power transfer. Perhaps the slide show is only an early ALPHA draft of troubleshooting in the lab and doesn't reflect any recent real-world experience with the system.

I do not believe this is correct. As I posted elsewhere, Ford engineers in charge of the HIS program came to my home, along with the head of installations at SunRun. After establishing that everything was installed correctly (upon completing a full-reinstall), and getting both of the apps working, and the truck fully updated (required a visit from Ford engineering to my local dealership and two days work), they speculated that Wi-Fi interference from adjacent townhomes in the community was the cause of the inability to initiate a generator session, and the interruptions that occurred in the few instances that one did begin. They specifically told me that the truck requires a direct Wi-Fi connection to the charger in order to start and maintain a session - that there is no communication through the direct wiring in the charger. We did not discuss Bluetooth except with respect to PAAK, which had stopped working but they were able to fix while there (OTA update)

This was further confirmed when the engineers identified the brand and model of every Wi-Fi router in my neighbors’ homes. They went back to the house mock-up at the Dearborn labs, purchased each of those network devices, installed them and were able to replicate the issue. I have this directly from the head of Ford’s HIS engineering program. Again, I have no direct knowledge about the Wi-Fi vs Bluetooth question you identify, but this is what Ford’s people told me and the empirical evidence points at Wi-Fi. It certainly is the direction they are taking at this time (interference from adjacent mesh networks/routers).

There’s a lot of bad info out there about where responsibility lies for the design and integration process, with fingers pointing at SunRun. They are purely an installation modality, and provide basic architecture from existing tech to Ford, and they provide billing services for the installation. Ford’s engineers did everything else from a design perspective, and do the programming. They retain ultimate design and modification/update responsibility - and in my case, made all decisions related to finances and resolution. It still isn’t solved, but it is clear that they are on it and it is a priority.

My view is that some critical decisions were made early on that tie the Ford engineer’s hands, going back to the fast-track roll-out to beat the market, and the resulting need to stay with legacy modular software updates and the Sync system. Farley recently announced they are taking a fresh-sheet approach to software and systems design the next generation EV models, likely due to the lessons learned here, so the few of us with first-gen HIS are likely to be orphaned.

 

[Major Dawg]

As I noted in my previous post above, on June 14, the backup worked 2x running. However, on 6/27/23 and today, 6/29, multiple attempts to get the backup to work failed. The FCSP lights would turn green, and the Intelligent Backup screen in the truck would say, "Preparing to transfer backup power..." ( or something like that), but the charging port lights would never turn green, and the truck would never provide power to the inverter.

The installer (ETW Energy for Sunrun) called a "Ford specialist." The specialist said there is a known issue to be fixed by an OTA update, but the most recent word from their engineering department is that the OTA update will not be released until the end of JULY(!). Since the HIS backup worked 2x for me in mid-June, I'm wondering if any of the several OTA updates I've received for my truck since then screwed things up.

The installer had a hard time believing the HIS wasn't working with Lightnings. He said they installed and activated a system that also had solar panels on Monday (6/26), and the backup transferred as soon as they killed power from the grid.

Thanks for the update, Ford really needs to higher more software quality engineers to test these systems and document them more thoroughly. I hope this update will once and for all resolve the issue.

A quirk of the issue seems to be that the section in the connected feature in the connectivity screen disappear after the system powers the house for a few minutes and then stops for no apparent reason.

It would have been nice to have failures reporting into a portal where engineers can gain insight into the issues customers are facing.

Come on Ford you can do this!

 

[PungoteagueDave]

Thanks for the update, Ford really needs to higher more software quality engineers to test these systems and document them more thoroughly. I hope this update will once and for all resolve the issue.

A quirk of the issue seems to be that the section in the connected feature in the connectivity screen disappear after the system powers the house for a few minutes and then stops for no apparent reason.

It would have been nice to have failures reporting into a portal where engineers can gain insight into the issues customers are facing.

Come on Ford you can do this!

Holding our collective breath… again, I’m not convinced that it can be fixed via software. Hopeful, but there are hardware limitations here, and so many handshakes… underling issues may be fundamental/inherent to the design. I am impressed with the senior people who own this task at both Ford and SunRun, but they inherited a mess.

 

[Kman]

Agreed, but the practical reality is that even when/if operational, the Ford/SunRun HIS is proprietary and will work only with Ford products, and none of the other (many) vehicles that are being released now that have generic bidirectional charging. I understand why Ford went first from a marketing perspective as it was a significant differentiator, but they had to create their own, in hindsight overly-complicated system that has no standard.

I have no issue with the system being proprietary to Ford, SO LONG AS IT WORKS!
Having a backup power system rely on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth communication, especially when they are hardwired to each other, is just a bonehead design. Sure the truck, charger and backup system can have their own Wi-Fi to get OTA updates, but should not be reliant on wireless communication between each other in order to function. This is a backup system after all.
Hurricane season is here and its already an active season. I hope Ford gets this fix out sooner rather than later.

 

[Jim Lewis]

they speculated that Wi-Fi interference from adjacent townhomes in the community was the cause of the inability to initiate a generator session, and the interruptions that occurred in the few instances that one did begin. They specifically told me that the truck requires a direct Wi-Fi connection to the charger in order to start and maintain a session - that there is no communication through the direct wiring in the charger. We did not discuss Bluetooth except with respect to PAAK, which had stopped working but they were able to fix while there (OTA update)

I guess if the "high-level engineers" are the same folks who put the BT module on the right rear of the passenger compartment and the charging port (and proximity to the FCSP) on the left front of the vehicle, it's probably not wise to trust their knowledge and judgment of "little details" that might get lost in the weeds. And here we are on the forum dissing numerous things about the off-the-shelf technology Ford used on its first EV truck, so our crowd reaction perhaps best summarizes the overall trust we want to put in Ford about "getting things right."

Wi-Fi can interfere with BT communication and vice-versa, as well as the obvious interference between the same protocols if too much Wi-Fi or too much BT is in the same place.

Bold Italic Large Text Emphasis mine in the following quote:

The Problem

To communicate between your devices, Bluetooth sends signals over a 2.4GHz radio frequency. This becomes problematic when other nearby devices are also using that frequency. Wi-Fi is perhaps the biggest and most problematic example, as are other Bluetooth receivers and devices, which can interfere with one another. That said, even microwaves can cause Bluetooth interference with your devices. So can Direct Satellite Service (DSS), 2.4GHz and 5GHz phones, wireless speakers, external monitors, baby monitors, and really any wireless device that uses Bluetooth technology.

Source: How To Stop Bluetooth Interference From Messing With Other Devices (goldtouch.com)

I used to go to Gold's Gym before the pandemic, and every other person there seemed to have Apple AirPods in their ears. My BT wireless headphones would typically go south from the density of BT signals in the air. So, it's quite possible that the density of Wi-Fi in your Florida residence is so intense that it messes up both Wi-Fi and BT communication. And from the Sunrun field guide I cited above, we already know that the BT module in the Lightning has a relatively weak signal, and they mention "electronics" in the troubleshooting as a problem source.

Regarding whether the Sunrun description of Intelligent Backup using BT thru the FCSP is in error, perhaps you did not do the pairing yourself in the system setup. I did, and it's a BT pairing where both the FCSP app and the sync screen display a pairing code, which you must confirm on both phone and truck screens. The setup of Intelligent Backup via the truck does not ask for your router or extender SSID nor for the router password at any point in the Intelligent Backup setup. Intelligent Backup is not available until you do the BT pairing.

If folks won't take Sunrun's or my word for it, try consulting your truck's manual. On the page numbered 222 (but actually page 226 of 662) of the 2023 owner's manual for my VIN #, here's how it describes setting up Intelligent Backup via a pairing (i.e., BT):

PAIRING A CHARGE STATION
- VEHICLES WITH: 15 INCH
SCREEN

To pair your vehicle with a charge station
pro:

1. Access the vehicle drawer on the​

touchscreen.​

2. Press SETTINGS.​

3. Press Intelligent Backup Power.​

4. Press Add Station.​

5. Follow the instructions on the center​

display screen and in the Ford Charge​

Station Pro Setup app to complete the​

pairing.​

Source: https://www.fordservicecontent.com/...htning_Owners_Manual_version_1.1_om_EN-US.pdf

 

[PungoteagueDave]

I guess if the "high-level engineers" are the same folks who put the BT module on the right rear of the passenger compartment and the charging port (and proximity to the FCSP) on the left front of the vehicle, it's probably not wise to trust their knowledge and judgment of "little details" that might get lost in the weeds. And here we are on the forum dissing numerous things about the off-the-shelf technology Ford used on its first EV truck, so our crowd reaction perhaps best summarizes the overall trust we want to put in Ford about "getting things right."

Wi-Fi can interfere with BT communication and vice-versa, as well as the obvious interference between the same protocols if too much Wi-Fi or too much BT is in the same place.

Bold Italic Large Text Emphasis mine in the following quote:



Source: How To Stop Bluetooth Interference From Messing With Other Devices (goldtouch.com)

I used to go to Gold's Gym before the pandemic, and every other person there seemed to have Apple AirPods in their ears. My BT wireless headphones would typically go south from the density of BT signals in the air. So, it's quite possible that the density of Wi-Fi in your Florida residence is so intense that it messes up both Wi-Fi and BT communication. And from the Sunrun field guide I cited above, we already know that the BT module in the Lightning has a relatively weak signal, and they mention "electronics" in the troubleshooting as a problem source.

Regarding whether the Sunrun description of Intelligent Backup using BT thru the FCSP is in error, perhaps you did not do the pairing yourself in the system setup. I did, and it's a BT pairing where both the FCSP app and the sync screen display a pairing code, which you must confirm on both phone and truck screens. The setup of Intelligent Backup via the truck does not ask for your router or extender SSID nor for the router password at any point in the Intelligent Backup setup. Intelligent Backup is not available until you do the BT pairing.

If folks won't take Sunrun's or my word for it, try consulting your truck's manual. On the page numbered 222 (but actually page 226 of 662) of the 2023 owner's manual for my VIN #, here's how it describes setting up Intelligent Backup via a pairing (i.e., BT):



Source: https://www.fordservicecontent.com/...htning_Owners_Manual_version_1.1_om_EN-US.pdf

Excellent post. I had no idea that BT uses 2.4 wireless channel… which can explain why Ford’s engineers said it is due to Wi-Fi interference (I may have mixed this up with it being a Wi-Fi comms issue between the truck and charger - you are correct that they set up my phone so I did not do that step). These are 2,700-3,000 sq ft townhouses on the ICW, and due to size, most of us have mesh networks with multiple strong access points that can reach the ends of our driveways on one side, and boat docks on the other side. We also have Wi-Fi devices galore, including fans (I have seven Hunter HomeKit-compatible fans in this home), garage door openers, security cameras, door locks, window shades, weather stations, AirPods, speakers, printers, multiple televisions and related interface boxes, and even our bicycle shifters are connected these days. On top of that we have a dozen or more active Bluetooth connections…

All of which says to me that this is likely (a) a fundamental technology issue/limitation that is outside of Ford’s control, and (b) therefore not susceptible to resolution through a software change to the truck’s firmware. I hope they prove this wrong, and the next OTA update fixes all. They exude confidence that this will occur. Whether or not they are correct, it seems to me that goes back to the original sin of kluging together the off-the-shelf pieces to gain first-mover marketing advantage and great press/pics. Ford knew all along this was a first step, with the heavy lifting for a clean-sheet design coming later, perhaps after a bidirectional generic charging standard emerges. They had two limiting factors - the legacy truck tech from the existing F-150 and the existing state of then-available wall-mounted inverters, chargers, grid switches. It is clear that they are learning as they go, saw my install as a development exercise, and I’ve been flexible and fairly friendly to the experience, knowing that was a possibility up front. Having an existing Tesla charger made this less painful for the first few months with the truck, and I am more bemused than anything as we learn more about the design details.

 

[Pitbull2o08]

SO just an update on my end in case it helps anyone else.

On the set up page of Ford Pass, i have the first 2 bubbles filled, and the last one, pairing to FCSP, it says not connected.
- This wasn't true. The FSCP app, and the truck, are all paired fine. This is a Ford Pass error.

After talking with Sun Run techs this week, they've learned that one of the tiny Comm wires was making communication not work! (ironic).

I disconnected that one Comm wire at the FCSP and at the BDI, and boom! Green lights all around and truck backs up house very well.

I can mess around and work around trying to get the FCSP in the app to pair, but I'm not going to. Sun Run is still waiting for @Ford Motor Company to send the update that increases the Bluetooth strength to the FCSP for easier pairing, which should be later this month.

Thank goodness, all done with my self-install.

 

[PungoteagueDave]

SO just an update on my end in case it helps anyone else.

On the set up page of Ford Pass, i have the first 2 bubbles filled, and the last one, pairing to FCSP, it says not connected.
- This wasn't true. The FSCP app, and the truck, are all paired fine. This is a Ford Pass error.

After talking with Sun Run techs this week, they've learned that one of the tiny Comm wires was making communication not work! (ironic).

I disconnected that one Comm wire at the FCSP and at the BDI, and boom! Green lights all around and truck backs up house very well.

I can mess around and work around trying to get the FCSP in the app to pair, but I'm not going to. Sun Run is still waiting for @Ford Motor Company to send the update that increases the Bluetooth strength to the FCSP for easier pairing, which should be later this month.

Thank goodness, all done with my self-install.

Thanks for this. What in your experience speaking with them leads you to believe the fix is an OTA "to send the update that increases the Bluetooth strength." This again seems like a hardware spec, not software - is this something a seemingly knowledgeable tech told you?

 

[Pitbull2o08]

Thanks for this. What in your experience speaking with them leads you to believe the fix is an OTA "to send the update that increases the Bluetooth strength." This again seems like a hardware spec, not software - is this something a seemingly knowledgeable tech told you?

This fix was reiterated by many agents within ford and Sunrun. So they are very much aware of the pairing issues

 

[Major Dawg]

SO just an update on my end in case it helps anyone else.

On the set up page of Ford Pass, i have the first 2 bubbles filled, and the last one, pairing to FCSP, it says not connected.
- This wasn't true. The FSCP app, and the truck, are all paired fine. This is a Ford Pass error.

After talking with Sun Run techs this week, they've learned that one of the tiny Comm wires was making communication not work! (ironic).

I disconnected that one Comm wire at the FCSP and at the BDI, and boom! Green lights all around and truck backs up house very well.

I can mess around and work around trying to get the FCSP in the app to pair, but I'm not going to. Sun Run is still waiting for @Ford Motor Company to send the update that increases the Bluetooth strength to the FCSP for easier pairing, which should be later this month.

Thank goodness, all done with my self-install.

Can you elaborate on the "one wire" that you remove and this started working?
Is this on the RS435 connector Com - A - B.

 

[Pitbull2o08]

Can you elaborate on the "one wire" that you remove and this started working?
Is this on the RS435 connector Com - A - B.

Yes it was our orange wire. I can pop open the BDI and take a pick.

 

[Aminorjourney]

Honestly, I’m starting to smell a lawsuit. This thing hasn’t worked, and everyone who has it paid a LOT for it.

 

[hifixenthusiast]

Honestly, I’m starting to smell a lawsuit. This thing hasn’t worked, and everyone who has it paid a LOT for it.

Ford’s response to my buyback request will determine my path forward. My understanding from my assigned customer relations representative is that they are processed within 5 business days. We will see how true that is…

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