Looking at Solar: questions

[sdingeldein]

Hi, I've started looking at solar installation at my house. Everyone quotes me putting in two Tesla batteries with the solar panels and other items. The batteries are expensive. I hate the idea of having my lightning and not using the truck to power things since it is equivalent, I'm told, to about 7 Tesla batteries. In NC, however, Duke Energy has a 9,000 payment to allow them to suck off the batteries periodically.

I'm wondering if the same deal exists for the truck? When I bought the Ford charger Duke Energy gave me $1200 with the idea that if set up, the could use energy as needed.

I know the Sun Run system sucks (too bad) and am afraid of putting that in and integrating it with the solar set up. Any updates on how the status of SunRun installations are these days?

How about using a transfer switch with a system that has one Tesla battery (that gets the $9000 and $52/month from Duke Energy). Can there be a mix where the system uses both the Tesla battery and the car battery (via transfer) at the same time?

Thanks in advance.

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[hturnerfamily]

I think you're going to find that this 'option' you mention, to use the truck's battery, or to charge the truck's battery via solar, is not only an investment in a massive amount of solar, but also not an 'easy' integration, as a permanent-mount battery system would be... many of us have priced and calculated the requirements for solar charging of a huge LIGHTNING battery pack, and may have come to the conclusion that it just does not make feasible, or financial, 'cents'... if you will.

now, if you live totally off grid, then you have no other options other than to try to design 'some' method of charging - although, even then, it's an uphill battle.

 

[Tfarrell73]

There is no V2G vehicle to grid option for the Lightning. Fords software is proprietary and there aren't any 3rd party systems that can function with the lightnings battery. Fords own HIS barely works for most people

 

[RickLightning]

There is no V2G vehicle to grid option for the Lightning. Fords software is proprietary and there aren't any 3rd party systems that can function with the lightnings battery. Fords own HIS barely works for most people

Yet. Ford is testing V2G with several utilities.

 

[sdingeldein]

Yet. Ford is testing V2G with several utilities.

Do we know which utilities? Duke Energy?

 

[Maquis]

Duke pays you to be able to use your power during times of peak demand. Since you can’t guarantee the truck will be home and connected when that occurs, they don’t (currently) include vehicles in such a program. At least that’s my understanding.

 

[watchdoc]

Powerwall 3 is really the best way to go if you are grid tied. The Duke battery deal is a good one. Lightning is really only useful during an outage at this point. Tesla Powershare will be a better option when its more widely available. Contact Jesse with NCsolarnow. Their quotes and service were some of the best I got.

 

[RickLightning]

Do we know which utilities? Duke Energy?

A Google search shows you. And yes, Duke is one.

https://news.duke-energy.com/releas...rucks-can-serve-as-a-grid-resource-in-florida

Also, PG&E in California. I think there are 1 or 2 others.

 

[Hammick]

I'll give you an example of charging a Lariat ER with just solar. Our offgrid place has 6.2kw of solar panels. This is in South/Central Montana with great sun exposure. I charge the truck at 8 amps (240v) when our solar batteries get above 90%. When our batteries get to 100% I might charge the truck at 16 amps for maybe an hour. 16 amps is the max charge I can do with our setup.

We usually arrive at our place with the truck between 30% - 50% SOC. Takes a few days before we are up to 80%. In the winter probably four or five days. Bought an older Grand Cherokee to leave up there as having a Lightning offgrid isn't practical unless you have massive amount of solar and stacked inverters. The closest fast charger is over an hour away.

 

[tearitupsports]

Hi, I've started looking at solar installation at my house. Everyone quotes me putting in two Tesla batteries with the solar panels and other items. The batteries are expensive. I hate the idea of having my lightning and not using the truck to power things since it is equivalent, I'm told, to about 7 Tesla batteries. In NC, however, Duke Energy has a 9,000 payment to allow them to suck off the batteries periodically.

I'm wondering if the same deal exists for the truck? When I bought the Ford charger Duke Energy gave me $1200 with the idea that if set up, the could use energy as needed.

I know the Sun Run system sucks (too bad) and am afraid of putting that in and integrating it with the solar set up. Any updates on how the status of SunRun installations are these days?

How about using a transfer switch with a system that has one Tesla battery (that gets the $9000 and $52/month from Duke Energy). Can there be a mix where the system uses both the Tesla battery and the car battery (via transfer) at the same time?

Thanks in advance.

The sunrun HIS backup equipment (made by Delta) is great. Sunrun themselves suck.
Also the truck modem and CSP suck which is why the Delta equipment gets a bad rap.

 

[Wattsgas]

I have the Tesla Powerwalls and Solar at one of my homes. It has worked flawlessly for the past 4 years. The combination of solar and the powerwalls powered my home in Washington State for 5 days during a winter outage a few years back. My other home has the Ford Home Integration System. My Lightning has only powered my home 3 times out of approximately 20 outages. It is not a system that you can rely on. On the multiple times I have spoken to Ford they have told me that there is a known problem and they are working on a solution. Plus if you factor in that the Ford Lightning is the only vehicle that works with the system you can pretty much figure that it isn't worth the investment. A generator plug with a shutoff is the best option for powering a house with the Lightning. My Tesla Powerwall investment was worth it. My Ford HIS has been a total waste of money. Hoping that someday it works, hopefully before I move on from the Lightning.

 

[MaintGrl]

Honestly, I personally would not Take Dukes' offer. I'd want my power for me, NOT to benefit them. I have a 8kw solar system w/2 - 13 kWh SunVault batteries. My average daily power usage for the house is about 20 kWh. In a power failure . .that would leave 6 kWh for my XLT SR lightning. Right now with winter starting my daily power production has been cut in half. I'm in PG&E country, and I try to use them as little as possible. so far since April, my meter is 4000kwh back from when my solar started. My system has a ATS which is VERY convenient, we don't have poser failures for long or often, but when it happens, unless your really paying attention, you'd never know you were on battery b/u.
This is my second system on my home, the first paid itself off in 7 years, and had another 10 years of free power. I paid out of pocket, DO NOT LEASE. It was the best investment I made x 2

 

[chrislightningnc]

Hi, I've started looking at solar installation at my house. Everyone quotes me putting in two Tesla batteries with the solar panels and other items. The batteries are expensive. I hate the idea of having my lightning and not using the truck to power things since it is equivalent, I'm told, to about 7 Tesla batteries. In NC, however, Duke Energy has a 9,000 payment to allow them to suck off the batteries periodically.

I'm wondering if the same deal exists for the truck? When I bought the Ford charger Duke Energy gave me $1200 with the idea that if set up, the could use energy as needed.

I know the Sun Run system sucks (too bad) and am afraid of putting that in and integrating it with the solar set up. Any updates on how the status of SunRun installations are these days?

How about using a transfer switch with a system that has one Tesla battery (that gets the $9000 and $52/month from Duke Energy). Can there be a mix where the system uses both the Tesla battery and the car battery (via transfer) at the same time?

Thanks in advance.

I'm in Raleigh, considering the same. What is the ROM on your quotes? What size system are they recommending?

 

[Nikos]

Hi, I've started looking at solar installation at my house. Everyone quotes me putting in two Tesla batteries with the solar panels and other items. The batteries are expensive. I hate the idea of having my lightning and not using the truck to power things since it is equivalent, I'm told, to about 7 Tesla batteries. In NC, however, Duke Energy has a 9,000 payment to allow them to suck off the batteries periodically.

I'm wondering if the same deal exists for the truck? When I bought the Ford charger Duke Energy gave me $1200 with the idea that if set up, the could use energy as needed.

I know the Sun Run system sucks (too bad) and am afraid of putting that in and integrating it with the solar set up. Any updates on how the status of SunRun installations are these days?

How about using a transfer switch with a system that has one Tesla battery (that gets the $9000 and $52/month from Duke Energy). Can there be a mix where the system uses both the Tesla battery and the car battery (via transfer) at the same time?

Thanks in advance.

I have solar at my place in Upstate SC. My utility company is Duke Energy. I have installed an Enphase Battery Storage system also at my place.
I use the Ford Power Pro charger, BUT, the power back capability is not working.
Hurricane Helene put my solar, battery storage and my Lightning to test.
My storage batteries worked for two days until they were drained to 0.
I had put fail safes for the batteries. Didn’t work. The sun was out, but couldn’t utilize that energy. My truck saved all my perishables from my refrigerators. Extension cords from the back of the truck was the best alternative. I made it thru without power for a week.
I have tried from the truck to power back my home many times but I got the same warnings that I need a Grid switch. I have one but not the one Ford has authorized thru SunRun.
When I engage with Enphase their engineering team assures me that they working on with Ford. Proprietary technology is their issue and the obstacles that they face integrating the Lightning into their system.
Duke Energy has given me credits gallore but they are only time limited. I used to get monthly credits for charging off peak but that only lasted 36 months. I don’t know what is available in NC. Solar interconnection agreements with Duke Energy should be followed by the contract. So far I am happy with Duke Energy and the incentives/credits that I have received.
As you have read already, storage batteries are helpful to power your home on an every day basis when the sun goes down. On my system I use the energy I store to power my home in the evenings. Charging my truck is basically futile. Giving to Duke 50% of your battery storage here in the SE is again futile. It might work in CA where are thousands of batteries plugged in to the grid but here(SE), it is cost prohibitive. Do your research, talk to Duke Energy before you make any substantial investments.
Good luck.

 

[sdingeldein]

I have solar at my place in Upstate SC. My utility company is Duke Energy. I have installed an Enphase Battery Storage system also at my place.
I use the Ford Power Pro charger, BUT, the power back capability is not working.
Hurricane Helene put my solar, battery storage and my Lightning to test.
My storage batteries worked for two days until they were drained to 0.
I had put fail safes for the batteries. Didn’t work. The sun was out, but couldn’t utilize that energy. My truck saved all my perishables from my refrigerators. Extension cords from the back of the truck was the best alternative. I made it thru without power for a week.
I have tried from the truck to power back my home many times but I got the same warnings that I need a Grid switch. I have one but not the one Ford has authorized thru SunRun.
When I engage with Enphase their engineering team assures me that they working on with Ford. Proprietary technology is their issue and the obstacles that they face integrating the Lightning into their system.
Duke Energy has given me credits gallore but they are only time limited. I used to get monthly credits for charging off peak but that only lasted 36 months. I don’t know what is available in NC. Solar interconnection agreements with Duke Energy should be followed by the contract. So far I am happy with Duke Energy and the incentives/credits that I have received.
As you have read already, storage batteries are helpful to power your home on an every day basis when the sun goes down. On my system I use the energy I store to power my home in the evenings. Charging my truck is basically futile. Giving to Duke 50% of your battery storage here in the SE is again futile. It might work in CA where are thousands of batteries plugged in to the grid but here(SE), it is cost prohibitive. Do your research, talk to Duke Energy before you make any substantial investments.
Good luck.

Thank you. I think my next step is to talk to Duke Energy. The installers I've gotten quotes from are recommended by Duke Energy.

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