Charging home battery backup system using F150 lightning

[boandabby]

I recently installed two inverters and two LFP batteries in the garage for a home power backup system, and I hope to save on utility costs by using batteries (time of use feature). In 2024, we lost power for 4-5 days in the humid summer in Texas.

Please see the attached picture for my setup. The All-in-one inverter can charge the batteries (at night) and also convert battery power to AC output to power my house.
The battery capacity is about 32 kwh in total. I am afraid that it will not be enough if we lose power for a few days. So I am wondering whether I can charge the two batteries using my f150 lightning (~130 kwh).
The 48 v battery charger is on sale at Amazon: Amazon.com: ECO-WORTHY Upgraded (Version 2) 48V 60A Lithium Battery Charger, Adjustable Voltage & Current, CAN BMS Communication, Generator Plug, Smart Fast Charger for Server Rack LiFePO4 Battery: Patio, Lawn & Garden

I am thinking of adding battery cables between this charger and the bus bars, which are connected to the inverters and batteries. I hear the bonded neutral issues, f150 lightning cannot be connected to my load panel directly. I hope this will provide a feasible solution. Are there safety concerns that I should pay attention to?

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[Mustang11s]

I don’t see why you can’t do it. I am running a Ecoflow delta pro ultra with 24Kwh of batteries with a little over 5Kw of solar. I use the in/out port on the inverter with a 30amp cord to charge my system with the Lightning when my solar can’t keep up. I get free charging at work.

 

[tearitupsports]

You should be able to use the EG4 Chargeverter as long as your batteries are 48V. You would need a way to parallel the chargeverter on to the 48V DC bus.

 

[RLXXI]

I run an RV shore power cable from the trucks 240v outlet to the generator port on my EG4 12000xp. Works great to charge my batteries, I have a home solar setup using mostly ecoworthy stuff, trackers, panels, batteries.

In order to bypass the trucks built in neutral bond, do NOT connect the ground lead from the truck, only the 2 lines and neutral are used. Yes it's NEC compliant regardless what any arm chair electrician tells you.

1 (one) neutral bond is required at the 1st disconnect which is your homes main panel, the truck DOES NOT have a true ground. All of your homes ground circuit protection remains intact and your truck won't shock you when connected.

The big black cable on the floor is that shore power cable.

 

[mparz00]

Keep in mind you're looking at approx. 25% additional loss with the AC - DC - AC in and out of the battery pack...

 

[SunPowered]

Thanks boandabby for the reference to the Eco-Worthy 52v charger sale! Been eyeing this charger as a far less expensive alternate to the (higher capacity but far more costly) EG4 ChargeVerter and thanks to your reference, just pulled the trigger on the Eco-Worthy. Sadly am not a pro electrician so cannot directly answer your original question, but I am on a very similar path. I'm running (5) 52v rack batteries, an EG4 6000XP all in one inverter, about 4.5 Kw of solar panels and a non-electronic diesel generator back-up for emergencies. This charger will filter the generator's non-electronic output to make it safe. My system is not grid tied, separated from the mains by a manual transfer switch box. This thread is super useful for the topic of how to get the added benefits from the giant Lightning battery bank/ ProPower.. RLXXI How dd you run the RV cable inside? Is it perhaps under a garage door, or might you have created an outlet to pass through an exterior wall? Thanks to all and happy Thanksgiving.

 

[SunPowered]

I would add to this thread, for anyone interested in Solar and the related components - storage batteries, inverters, chargers, etc., the Inflation Reduction Act provided tax advantages that have been made available for these were recently undone/ terminated, and are all set to sunset at the end of this year. So current Black Friday sales and December '25 are what remains of the most cost effective window. Beginning 2026,, the tax breaks are history. (And tariff drama may yet drive costs up further.)

 

[RLXXI]

(And tariff drama may yet drive costs up further.)

That's not how tariffs work. Best analogy I've heard is this, Think of back in the day when traders would come ashore looking to sell their goods. When they reach the shore a gate keeper says to them, "If you want to sell your goods in our market, you must pay an entry fee" Think of paying for a booth at a crafts fair or similar. You pay that entrance fee and your now allowed in that market, do you raise your prices to make up that entry fee? Common sense says you don't if you want to compete with other booths selling the same or similar.

That's how tariffs work.

 

[RLXXI]

How dd you run the RV cable inside? Is it perhaps under a garage door, or might you have created an outlet to pass through an exterior wall? Thanks to all and happy Thanksgiving.

Ran it to the corner of my garage door, there's a weather strip on the bottom with enough flex to allow the door to close.

This is the cable I use. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085H8XN5Z?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1 I loped off the female end and wired it directly to the inverter.

 

[boandabby]

I don’t see why you can’t do it. I am running a Ecoflow delta pro ultra with 24Kwh of batteries with a little over 5Kw of solar. I use the in/out port on the inverter with a 30amp cord to charge my system with the Lightning when my solar can’t keep up. I get free charging at work.

I got free electricity at night in Texas.
I was looking for ecoflow system too but it was too expensive.
I guess you do not need an ecoworthy or eg4 chargeverter.

When you are charging your batteries from the lightning, you cannot power your house. How did you handle that?

 

[boandabby]

You should be able to use the EG4 Chargeverter as long as your batteries are 48V. You would need a way to parallel the chargeverter on to the 48V DC bus.

Yes. My batteries are 48V. What do you mean by paralleling the chargeverter? Do I need two chargeverters?

My batteries are parallel. I thought I just needed to connect the positive of the chargeverter to the positive busbar and the negative to the negative busbar and I can charge the two batteries in parallel.

 

[Mustang11s]

Yes I can. The Ecoflow does pass through power. Plug in the truck with the inverter running the house. I set the charging rate to 4,800 watts and it charges the ecoflow and runs the house via a generac transfer switch. The Ecoflow is plugged into the house with the transfer switch. So it is seamless and I never have to shut it down.

 

[boandabby]

I run an RV shore power cable from the trucks 240v outlet to the generator port on my EG4 12000xp. Works great to charge my batteries, I have a home solar setup using mostly ecoworthy stuff, trackers, panels, batteries.

In order to bypass the trucks built in neutral bond, do NOT connect the ground lead from the truck, only the 2 lines and neutral are used. Yes it's NEC compliant regardless what any arm chair electrician tells you.

1 (one) neutral bond is required at the 1st disconnect which is your homes main panel, the truck DOES NOT have a true ground. All of your homes ground circuit protection remains intact and your truck won't shock you when connected.

The big black cable on the floor is that shore power cable.

Thanks for your detailed information. I wish my SRNE ASP inverters provided a generator port.

 

[boandabby]

I would add to this thread, for anyone interested in Solar and the related components - storage batteries, inverters, chargers, etc., the Inflation Reduction Act provided tax advantages that have been made available for these were recently undone/ terminated, and are all set to sunset at the end of this year. So current Black Friday sales and December '25 are what remains of the most cost effective window. Beginning 2026,, the tax breaks are history. (And tariff drama may yet drive costs up further.)

Yes. It is well worth installing a battery backup or solar by the end of this year, particularly in areas where the grid is unstable.

 

[boandabby]

Keep in mind you're looking at approx. 25% additional loss with the AC - DC - AC in and out of the battery pack...

Yes. That is true.
I will not connect my truck to the system only when the power outage lasts for more than 1-2 days. My current system with 32 kwh is good for 1-2 days with reduced energy consumption.

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