Easy way to safely access backup power for home and free (for some PG&E customers)

[ThatGuy10]

I am in Holiday Shores. And have Southwestern Electric COOP.

Oh ok I am in Hamel. I drive the blue lightning. I have Ameren. Keep me updated if you figure what you’re going to do.

Sponsored

 

[Iroc34a]

Oh ok I am in Hamel. I drive the blue lightning. I have Ameren. Keep me updated if you figure what you’re going to do.

Ok. Cool. I actually have seen you driving . Think it was Bethalto one day. Nice looking truck

 

[pppcory]

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OK, here's the back up power cable supplied by PG&E....it has a standard twist-loc plug for connecting to the Lightning and, what I assume is a standard generator input connector on the other end. Yes, there are four conductors at each end of the cable....L,N,L, and ground. I checked continuity through the cable for each conductor and found that YES, as was speculated by some, the ground conductor DOES NOT PASS THROUGH THE CABLE FROM THE LIGHTNING TO THE METER CONNECTOR. There is actually just L-N-L making the connection....no ground! And yes, as this connects right to the meter, upstream from your main breaker and panel, no ground is required.This must be why it's working with no GFIC tripping problems. It just works!​

Is there a safety issue? The truck circuitry is still protected by its built in GFIC and the house is presumably protected by its own circuitry. The truck maintains its own ground as does the house. Is an ungrounded cable an issue when both ends have their own (though different) grounds? Hmmmm.​

I'm guessing that PG&E, being a large electric utility, has thoroughly looked at this. I'm just pleased that it works and is a great and easy solution to what I thought was going to be a difficult problem. Thank you PG&E.​

Thanks @dmd3home for this find!
This a big deal for those that don’t have access to the PG&E program.
Perhaps users of the GenerLink could accomplish the same thing by modifying the plug end of cable that attaches to the transfer switch. It appears to be a clamp and screw style plug end vs a molded plug that can’t be opened. Simply disconnecting the ground in the connector would maintain ground throughout the cable with the exception of the last inch at the pin.
I’m considering the purchase of the GenerLink but would love to hear confirmation by a few others that continuity doesn’t exist on the ground pin of the PG&E cable to be sure it isn’t coincidence.
Has anyone else that is able to transfer power from their Lightning with the Tesco/PG&E BPTM, tested the PG&E cable for ground pin continuity?

Thanks!

 

[Zaptor]

Oh ok I am in Hamel. I drive the blue lightning. I have Ameren. Keep me updated if you figure what you’re going to do.

This truck looks great with the paint matched grill accents and blacked out bar, and the stripes work really well too IMO. Nice job.
Cheers
Zap