Lightning = Mobile Power Wall

[VictorM]

is there anything keeping me from using the truck’s 131 kWh battery as a mobile power wall?

the idea is, while connected, use the truck to power the house during peak TOU electric pricing ($0.18 from 2 to 9 pm) then switch to shore power only for super off-peak pricing ($0.055 from 11 pm to 6 am). all other time’s of day are charged at off-peak rate of $0.08.

im working with my electrician on automation of the transfer switch and would appreciate any input and ideas.

thanks

Sponsored

 

[Randall Stephens]

is there anything keeping me from using the truck’s 131 kWh battery as a mobile power wall?

the idea is, while connected, use the truck to power the house during peak TOU electric pricing ($0.18 from 2 to 9 pm) then switch to shore power only for super off-peak pricing ($0.055 from 11 pm to 6 am). all other time’s of day are charged at off-peak rate of $0.08.

im working with my electrician on automation of the transfer switch and would appreciate any input and ideas.

thanks

Nope. It’s the cheapest kWh battery backup you can get(if it works). And the best part is that it doesn’t count against the mileage limit on the battery warranty.

 

[Grumpy2]

If you search "transfer" you will find several hours of reading.

 

[cdherman]

Keep in mind that the full "Intelligent Backup Power" solution seems to be rather pricy and not super reliable. It allows access to the full DC power of the battery pack, IIRC around 80A back out into your house. There are threads of people doing self installs. I was never interested.

There are also dozens of threads about using the bed 7.2 kw 240v inverter to power "enough" of your house. 7.2 kw is certainly enough to power a lot of stuff -- just probably not your AC (compressor motor surge) or your oven....

The other problem is that the Lightning has a GFI built in. Wise, since they designed that feature as a work site use. But it wreaks havoc when plugged into the typical gen set transfer switches (that were totally safe and legal and to code for decades) since the Lightning sees the bonded neutral at the main panel as a ground fault and trips.

Indeed the Lighting is potentially a mobile 135kwh battery pack. I have made it work for about 12 hours at my families farm in western KS. It powered the water well (that was a big question -- the screen showed surges to 3100w, but it did not fault, as the 240v pump cycled), as well as a couple of freezers, HVAC heat (propane furnace, just an air handler and electronics), Fridge and a microwave. And a ton of lights, couple of computers etc. Did NOT try the range/oven/welders/240v air compressors or any other stuff that was there.

It did fine. My 80 y/o dad was impressed. Said it was most impressive thing he'd seen since they took out the icebox and installed a Servel refrigerator (google that if you need too).

Its an amazing truck. People in places with unreliable electrical service should grab one, some solar panels, a hybrid inverter, a modest few LiFePo4 batteries (for times the Lightning is away) and you can kiss the grid goodbye, or at least just use it when its cheaper than you other needs are......

 

[Runaway Tractor]

Nothing you want to do will be seamless or automatic.

• The home integration system is clunky, unreliable, and costs more than any money you'll ever save. Unless you just have bags of cash laying around with nothing better to do, I wouldn't bother with this.
  
  
• Using the 240v Pro Power outlet in the bed will work just like any other 30 amp portable generator. This will get old and annoying after the first two days. It's great for power outages and emergencies. This is not for daily use.

 

[hturnerfamily]

It would behoove Utilities to get into this game, providing an easier and more 'instant' and convenient method for homeowners to make this 'switch'.... right now, though, it is just too involved to do easily everyday...well, at least for most folks. If you are home every day and can stomach the process each time, then go for it.

I could do this, but it would require no less than at least 4-5 steps/connections, AND, at least right now, the truck also has to remain ON the whole time, so remember to disable the PowerDown timer each time!

I would also have to do all of this TWICE every day...

and,
I would have NO USE of this amazing truck DURING that WHOLE TIME>....>>>>...>>>>.....>>>>...>>>> : (

 

[Runaway Tractor]

I think until there is an industry standard universal method to pull the HVDC backwards out of a wall charger and into an industry standard solar/battery inverter, this will always be fluster cluck of proprietary things that don't work well.

 

[deltacap]

I couldn't agree more with this. I don't think Ford should run ads showing a F150L powering a house until this comes to pass.

 

[hturnerfamily]

This truck certainly CAN power a whole house, or basically ANYTHING under a 30amp 240v power requirement... but you are alluding to more of the 'logistics' of how easy/hard/expensive/aggravating it is to do that... it can, you just might not 'like' what it takes to do it.... advertisement is advertisement, that will never change.

I've done it several times. I can do it right now. What's the issue?

 

[InTheCloud]

There are also dozens of threads about using the bed 7.2 kw 240v inverter to power "enough" of your house. 7.2 kw is certainly enough to power a lot of stuff -- just probably not your AC (compressor motor surge) or your oven....

Unfortunately, these are the two appliances that see the most use in my household. Thus, not being able to use either of those will mean buying the Lightning will fall short of that use case.

What is interesting is my main panel splits off in 3- one 30A breaker for AC, one 50A breaker for EVSE, and a 125A breaker for the rest of the house subpanel. Figuring out if I can power the sub-panel would be helpful for running fans, cooking dinner, would do wonders, but that "not running the oven" thing killed that dream...

 

[Randall Stephens]

Unfortunately, these are the two appliances that see the most use in my household. Thus, not being able to use either of those will mean buying the Lightning will fall short of that use case.

What is interesting is my main panel splits off in 3- one 30A breaker for AC, one 50A breaker for EVSE, and a 125A breaker for the rest of the house subpanel. Figuring out if I can power the sub-panel would be helpful for running fans, cooking dinner, would do wonders, but that "not running the oven" thing killed that dream...

They make counter top pizza cookers…I mean, what more do you “need?”

 

[VictorM]

This truck certainly CAN power a whole house, or basically ANYTHING under a 30amp 240v power requirement... but you are alluding to more of the 'logistics' of how easy/hard/expensive/aggravating it is to do that... it can, you just might not 'like' what it takes to do it.... advertisement is advertisement, that will never change.

I've done it several times. I can do it right now. What's the issue?

thank you

 

[Grumpy2]

I too have charged essentials in a house with the Truck, a terrific tool.

However, the advertisement that everyone has seen with the truck parked in front of a dark house that suddenly lights up, with only connection to the truck is the charging cord is clearly wrong, misleading, and needs to be taken out of service.

 

[Dinozero]

Unfortunately, these are the two appliances that see the most use in my household. Thus, not being able to use either of those will mean buying the Lightning will fall short of that use case.

What is interesting is my main panel splits off in 3- one 30A breaker for AC, one 50A breaker for EVSE, and a 125A breaker for the rest of the house subpanel. Figuring out if I can power the sub-panel would be helpful for running fans, cooking dinner, would do wonders, but that "not running the oven" thing killed that dream...

But the Lightning can power all that with the pricey system from SunRun. Right?

 

[hturnerfamily]

actually, with the PRO Charger and integrated HIS equipment, ALL you need is the charge 'cord', as they show, attached to the truck's charge port...

so what you are seeing in the 'ads' is sufficient for what the HIS automated system allows for, in a utility power outage situation... what you 'don't' see, though, is the equipment, or anyone in the garage 'switching' a manual switch, if it is not installed with an automated switch.

It IS designed to do what you are expecting, but don't confuse this HIS Ford system with other advertisements from Generac and other 'whole home AUTOMATED power generators' where, yes, they do advertise a family sitting around, the lights suddenly go off, and only a second later they all come back on, as though by 'magic'... it's rarely that quick or efficient.

Of course, NONE of this will happen if the truck is NOT plugged in. Automated, or not.

Sponsored