Request: A concise answer to how to connect Pro Power to a generator inlet

[Henry Ford]

While everyone who has posted is trying to provide good & safe info, please understand this is now obsolete information.

the new meter collars with generator input provide the functionality you want.

Is this available outside of California?

 

[Grumpy2]

Does PGE provide you insurance coverage if the meter base somehow fries the inverters in the Truck?

 

[flyct]

Does PGE provide you insurance coverage if the meter base somehow fries the inverters in the Truck?

Boy you are Grumpy.

 

[Howard_Scott_Warshaw]

ProPower has GFCI protection which will trip if neutral touches ground at any point other than the frame of the truck. There's no getting around that fact.

The answer is here, if you read between the lines. The N and G conductors should never "see" each other.

Lots of folks will state that you're creating a hazard by wiring the system in a particular way but my theory is, if you don't have an existing fault in the house, you're not going to be inducing one using this method.

 

[Amps]

So wait just to clarify, you're back feeding power into the nema 14-50 receptacle you normally use to charge?

A 50A (30A) suicide cord? What could go wrong? /s

 

[intensifi]

Is this available outside of California?

Originally I found this company:

https://www.generlink.com/

When I inquired with them, they told me they could not ship one to me as my utility would not allow them. Fast forward a couple of months and PG&E is offering them directly at no cost.


I should have bought a lottery ticket that day!

 

[intensifi]

Does PGE provide you insurance coverage if the meter base somehow fries the inverters in the Truck?

As the collar provides no power, there is not a mechanism for the meter collar itself to do any damage. When utility power returns, the collar switches back to utility mode. The generator is disconnected automatically.

In the event of a Lightning strike (no pun intended) on the house that jumps to the house wiring, the ground connection in the meter panel is still in place to provide protection. If you live in an area where lightning strikes are common, you can add multiple grounding rods and interconnect them to create a ground field. Of course increase the size of your grounding wires to accommodate the largest wire your meter panel lugs and the grounding rod interconnect will allow.

 

[TaxmanHog]

A 50A (30A) suicide cord? What could go wrong? /s

The other end of that cord could have a female fitting that plugs into a generator input

 

[Howard S]

Here is some cold water on the subject. Look down the list for the Ford F-150 which should be similar to the lightning and they say this collar will not work. Love the idea of a simple meter collar.
https://www.generlink.com/files/137310232.pdf

 

[intensifi]

Backup power transfer meter manual:
https://www.pge.com/assets/pge/docs...er-transfer-meter-manual.pdf.coredownload.pdf

Max 30Amps or 7.2kW load (matches the pro power bed outlet 240Vac available) so one would need to drop excessive loads like hard start air conditioning, etc.
I would think solar systems would need to be dropped as well as the truck may not be able to take in power if fully charged.

Great way to go by saving much higher costs of a separate panel and wiring. Especially if PG&E will provide and install for free!

Yes one should turn off the breakers for automatic high consumption devices.

The instructions also state solar systems must be disconnected via the associated switch. I am trying to work with Enphase to support this meter collar generator input when one of their System Controllers is installed. Wish me luck!

 

[intensifi]

Here is some cold water on the subject. Look down the list for the Ford F-150 which should be similar to the lightning and they say this collar will not work. Love the idea of a simple meter collar.
https://www.generlink.com/files/137310232.pdf

The Lightning has been verified to work with the PG&E variant.

 

[Newton]

Isn't PG&E that company that went bankrupt because they were found liable for causing the California wildfires?

Other than that it seems like a good idea, but I can't see that it has UL approval from their brochure. They say it follows various UL standards and their own testing, but that is not the same. If they set a bunch more houses on fire they will just declare bankruptcy again. I would have a long talk with my insurance company, if homeowner's insurance still exists in California.

I would certainly not install it without approval from my electric company. It might be the next big thing and it does sound good but I have been around long enough to see many good ideas bite people in the rear over time.

 

[Howard S]

How did you get that info? I wonder if LADWP will allow this installation down here? Who actually installs the collar?

 

[luebri]

As others have stated.... explain the issue with the truck GFCI and conventional transfer switch / interlock to your electrician and get their recommendation.

Whatever they do decide, I highly recommend doing a 50a generator inlet (similar to link below) instead of a 30a. You can use your Pro Power onboard (via appropriate 50a to 30a cord or dongle) or a larger rated portable generator if you want more power than pro power onboard can supply or if down the road you have a different EV that can supply that much power.

https://www.amazon.com/Reliance-Con...DmOxBHZ_gIuzljh0_s9eOV4pNfwaAlRaEALw_wcB&th=1

 

[Newton]

Yes one should turn off the breakers for automatic high consumption devices.

The instructions also state solar systems must be disconnected via the associated switch. I am trying to work with Enphase to support this meter collar generator input when one of their System Controllers is installed. Wish me luck!

Good luck, please report back.

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