GenerLink Transfer Switch Compatible With 240V Pro Power Onboard Outlet -- Ford Announcement

[lightningwill]

Its a nice implementation, but for the price, since you need to plug it in your bed.. and be CLOSE to the meter., its not all that convenient. Might as well has a regular generator switch, which doesnt need to be that close, and hit the switch + plug the plug (vs just plug the plug) IMO.

What i'd love is one that uses the car's charging port and.. thats it. I know emporia is claiming they have one coming since forever, and i've no idea if its real lol.

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[Alec313H]

Waste of time and money. A simple generator inlet box and interlock kit is all you need. Leave the ground disconnected inside the inlet box, so the ground fault protection doesn't trip on the truck because of the bonded neutral.

"Plugging a generator-style outlet directly into a home panel can trip a truck's built-in safety sensors, cutting power unexpectedly."

^ This is nonsense, accommodating to the lowest common denominator. I've powered my whole house numerous times, for hours or days on end. Approved by my buddy who is a master electrician. You just want to make sure you leave a note on the inlet box saying that if someone plans to use this with a regular generator, to connect the ground inside.

Or you could go with the Ford/Generlink option and not worry about your warranty being voided when something goes wrong

 

[21st Century Truck]

Or you could go with the Ford/Generlink option and not worry about your warranty being voided when something goes wrong

...and which warranty would that be?

 

[Nolander]

Interesting indeed; there must be a means to ensure the solar system doesn't try to feed power into the truck's inverter, tripping a breaker if you're lucky and damaging something if not.

My home has a non-battery solar array with microinverters and a utility-supplied transfer switch that looks very similar to the GenerLink. When we connect the truck, we turn off the solar system with a big manual switch. A more sophisticated solar system which can run off-grid would need a dedicated generator input; perhaps the experts on the forum can explain how that would work. Probably a bit pricey, but the ability to run long-term off-grid seems awfully nice.

Same here

 

[chl]

So the Lightning comes out in 2022, and it takes Ford 4 years to announce this...and it's after they cancel the Lightning ... and the new truck will have a built in V2H system that likely would not be compatible with this...

Some issues I can see which have been discuss before probably:

Need utility approval for this meter install
Could overload the PPOB 240V 30A and trip the PPOB unless there are some breakers are turned off
More expensive than a GENERAC 6853 transfer switch for example ($400) which would not risk an overload if installed correctly.
With the GENERAC transfer switch, no "spaghetti" just one generator extension cable to the PPOB

Also 20ft of GENERLOK cable is not going to be enough to reach the meter at my house for example where the meter is in the backyard and the driveway in the front of the house.

 

[flyct]

I've been using a custom cable I built back in 2005 after Hurricane Wilma to power my house for 2 weeks when we lost power. It is a Length of 10-3 SOOW cable. I could not find a 4 wire SOOW cable in stock anywhere after the hurricane. At the time wired the SOOW wires to the 2 hots and neutral and ran a separate length of THHN ground wire to the ground terminals. When I got my Lightning, I just removed the length of THHN ground wire and have been using that cable multiple times to power our remote cabin when we lose power.

At current house I have a 50 amp generator inlet with a Generator Interlock Bypass kit on the panel. I keep the custom cable in the truck along with a. L14-30P to SS2-50R Generator Adapter

I also have a Standard unmodified generator cable that is stored with my gas generator if I need to use it.

The generator inlet has all 4 wires connected.

 

[WhiteLightningGeorgeJones]

I've got a Lightning and a house with grid-attached, no-battery-storage solar. I am working with a very knowledgeable electrician as we try to decide between a "traditional" generator hookup and this GenerLink Kit.

I called GenerLink and they said their product would work for me, so long as I pull the lever to cutoff the solar array before switching over. They also do sell their "Ford Connector" cable by itself, so I could buy/utilize that regardless of which solution we choose.

I am tempted by the modular, packaged GenerLink kit, as it seems a bit cleaner (no new holes in house or additional wiring in basement, no DIY cable, reversible) and does not seem much more expensive considering the overall cost of labor and materials.

I am grateful for all the discussion and information on this forum, as we decide between back-up power options. Thanks to everyone for sharing all this background.

 

[Wendy]

I'm wondering too if Ford just cut the ground, as @bmwhitetx suggested and @21st Century Truck made with his 'whip'.

I've been wondering whether to disconnect the ground in my extension cord, or in the transfer box (I have an old one, just a sub-panel that takes several of the circuits out of the main panel). But doing a

 

[Formerly]

I don't mean to be a Negative Nellie on this, but because it doesn't actually ground anything, it's the equivalent of a floating neutral being used on an interlock. Except it costs a buttload more.

 

[flyct]

........................I called GenerLink and they said their product would work for me, so long as I pull the lever to cutoff the solar array before switching over. They also do sell their "Ford Connector" cable by itself, so I could buy/utilize that regardless of which solution we choose.

Very Ineresting. Did they say what the "Ford Connector" cable would cost if purchased by itself?

Someone else said they were told $100 for the cable. It may be worth it to eliminate the potentially illegality of connecting a Ford to home using a Generator inlet kit properly installed.

Anyone want to buy one and confirm if it just eliminates the ground? anyone?

 

[WhiteLightningGeorgeJones]

--> Very Ineresting. Did they say what the "Ford Connector" cable would cost if purchased by itself?

Yes, you are correct. $100 was what they quoted.

 

[davehu]

Waste of time and money. A simple generator inlet box and interlock kit is all you need. Leave the ground disconnected inside the inlet box, so the ground fault protection doesn't trip on the truck because of the bonded neutral.

"Plugging a generator-style outlet directly into a home panel can trip a truck's built-in safety sensors, cutting power unexpectedly."

^ This is nonsense, accommodating to the lowest common denominator. I've powered my whole house numerous times, for hours or days on end. Approved by my buddy who is a master electrician. You just want to make sure you leave a note on the inlet box saying that if someone plans to use this with a regular generator, to connect the ground inside.

Exactly what I have done. I had a generator port installed when we built my house and when I got my Lightning I sold my portable generator. Our master electrician (25yrs) has specialized in whole home generators for years and did exactly what you described. Have used it half a dozen times (once a couple days ago) and it works great. I did what you did, putting a big red sticker/note in the box to reconnect the ground if using any but my Lightning.

 

[flyct]

Exactly what I have done. I had a generator port installed when we built my house and when I got my Lightning I sold my portable generator. Our master electrician (25yrs) has specialized in whole home generators for years and did exactly what you described. Have used it half a dozen times (once a couple days ago) and it works great. I did what you did, putting a big red sticker/note in the box to reconnect the ground if using any but my Lightning.

Wouldn't it be easier and safer to wire the inlet box as designed and either make a short cable with male and female ends with no ground Or buy the GenerLink Ford Adaptor cable? That way you can

my custom cable without ground was used to power my daughters house with my Lightning last year when they lost power. They have a generator inlet box and their generator wouldn’t start. I got a call at midnight from them and drove over with my Lightning. I used my custom cable plugged into their inlet and provided power to their house. She was out of town and my grandson was at the house. They are dog breaders and had 8 dogs in their garage kennel in the dark without air. I plugged my truck into their inlet and we ran mini splits in Garage/Kennel, fridges, lights and bedroom Mini splits.

 

[davehu]

Wouldn't it be easier and safer to wire the inlet box as designed and either make a short cable with male and female ends with no ground Or buy the GenerLink Ford Adaptor cable? That way you can

my custom cable without ground was used to power my daughters house with my Lightning last year when they lost power. They have a generator inlet box and their generator wouldn’t start. I got a call at midnight from them and drove over with my Lightning. I used my custom cable plugged into their inlet and provided power to their house. She was out of town and my grandson was at the house. They are dog breaders and had 8 dogs in their garage kennel in the dark without air. I plugged my truck into their inlet and we ran mini splits in Garage/Kennel, fridges, lights and bedroom Mini splits.

you are correct. As my electrician disabled the ground at the inlet box, I decided I wouldn't mess with it. But the thought has occurred to em.

 

[Maineiac12]

I am curious about this statement and the picture of the 12" cable.

"To solve that, we worked with Global Power Products to develop a 12-inch cable, the Ford Vehicle Connector, that ensures electricity has one connection between the vehicle and the home.
It's a small component with an outsized job, helping keep the system reliable and simple for our customers.

They make it sound like it was some grand electrical engineering feat. But I wonder if they simply disconnected the ground. Or is there some embedded electronic device that prevents the truck's GFCI from tripping while preserving ground.

If so, it would be nice for all the interlock folks if they could just order the 12" cable.

You can just order the cable!

Here is the link: https://shopgenerlink.com/products/ford-vehicle-connector

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