Waiting for Lightning - Installed Interlock

[Greased Lightning! ⚡️]

It’s happening, the Lightning is real so have to prepare. 5/16 blend date. Today installed an interlock kit (inlet, breaker, panel interlock). About $200 in parts. Installed the EVSE for the Mach E a year and a half ago.

Canopy and felt bed liner might be next. All-weather tires and leveling/lift kit are on the wish list.

 

[Stlww18]

My understanding is a traditional interlock does not work with the Lightning. You need a transfer switch that allows a floating neutral

 

[Greased Lightning! ⚡️]

I guess I’ll confirm when I get mine. But pretty sure lots of others are using interlocks with their hybrid f-150s.

 

[MickeyAO]

I guess I’ll confirm when I get mine. But pretty sure lots of others are using interlocks with their hybrid f-150s.

And lots of people had problems with ground faults with their hybrid F-150s until they got a bonded neutral added to the interlock.

 

[pstansel]

Yeah no... that's not going to work man Tons of threads already on this, you need something to lift the neutral like a Generac 6852 or 6854.

 

[Greased Lightning! ⚡️]

Yeah no... that's not going to work man Tons of threads already on this, you need something to lift the neutral like a Generac 6852 or 6854.

Doh! Hmmm that also doesn’t look bad, certainly cheaper than the Sunrun setup. Will have to think about it though since on average we have one or two outages a year less than 30 min each.

 

[pstansel]

Yes agreed very much cheaper! I got mine online for less than $400 delivered and have a buddy who's licensed and can do the install. So yes much cheaper than the 12k plus for the Sunrun HIS install

 

[jefro]

Why this 100A went from $127 a year ago to almost $200 I can't say.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-100-...ency-Power-Transfer-Switch-TC10323R/100171587

Is that panel the entire home?

 

[Hamtech]

I guess I’ll confirm when I get mine. But pretty sure lots of others are using interlocks with their hybrid f-150s.

This video shows why a interlock will not work. I should note the follow up video TFL truck did to get the interlock to work is highly advised against. The same issue encountered with the powerboost will be encounter with the Lightning.

https://tfltruck.com/2021/08/video-...se-with-a-pickup-truck-maybe-its-complicated/

 

[adoublee]

This video shows why a interlock will not work. I should note the follow up video TFL truck did to get the interlock to work is highly advised against. The same issue encountered with the powerboost will be encounter with the Lightning.

https://tfltruck.com/2021/08/video-...se-with-a-pickup-truck-maybe-its-complicated/

It does work at protecting linemen (linepeople?) From getting a shock, just not at allowing the Lightning to feed power in (without lifting N-G bond at least).

 

[Kev12345]

Generac homelink is the cheapest option I’ve found. Like others have said, panel neutral needs to be unbonded from earth ground for the lightning to work on your house. No interlock.

 

[Greased Lightning! ⚡️]

Well, to be fair it’s not apple to apples functionality to compare the 2 solutions.

One had potentially the ability to do power arbitrage and switch to battery automatically when power is lost , the other not so much. 10 years from now you may want to sell it for something else or putting it to work for power arbitrage after the batter has degraded to only 120kWh, then the home integration system is a no brainer.

Absolutely. I looked into the HIS and determined it would only work for me if I lived in a state with variable rates possibility to feed back into the grid. I had also thought about solar but power in WA is so cheap that solar has a really long ROI. In the end only an interlock, and now transfer switch, make sense for me. Cheers to the people that can make money off their trucks.

Sponsored