Charging Lightning from a generator

[K6CCC]

Do you EVER expect to need to charge your truck from a generator? If so, make sure it will work - especially with inverter based generators.

Although I don't really ever expect to need to charge my Lightning from my Honda 2.2 KW generator, I confirmed today that it does work - slowly. I have a Honda portable generator that was primarily bought for emergency power at home (years before buying my Lightning). As we very seldom have commercial power failures here, one of my regular tasks is to drain the old gas from the generator and gas cans, buy new gas and run the generator under load for a while. I do this every few months. I have used various items to load up the generator - some of which make use of the power, and some just waste it. Did my periodic generator test run today and figured I would plug the truck into it via the mobile charge cord. At least that way i would not be wasting the generator power. That would also confirm that there was no interaction between the inverter in the generator and the MCC - which can be picky about the power that it gets. So after starting the Honda and letting it warm up a bit I plugged in the MCC and it was all happy. Then plugged in the truck, and both the MCC and the truck were showing the charge. Of course when charging from 120 volts, it is pathetically SLOW, but it did work. Let the generator run powering the truck for an hour and picked up a whole whopping 1%. Not something I really expect to need to use for charging, but at least I know it works...

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[FloridaMan655321]

I'm in hurricane land, but the nice thing is that FPL (local electric company) goes out with a portable charger whenever there is a hurricane, so I use my truck for a house backup with the plans of using FPL to charge the truck if there still isn't power to my house after a few days.

To confirm OP's post, yes you can charge your truck with a small generator. It will be slow, but it will work. Just realize it might not be the best plan unless you really think you'll be isolated for many weeks.

 

[Perry]

Are there any small generators that will output 240v to charge the truck more quickly?

 

[jwrezz]

Are there any small generators that will output 240v to charge the truck more quickly?

Small usually means 120v with a few (2-4) 15amp outlets, but MAYBE a 30amp camper outlet. I used my Predator inverter generator and was VERY happy with the charge rate. Showed 7.2kw on the display in the cabin.

 

[mr.Magoo]

Are there any small generators that will output 240v to charge the truck more quickly?

Guess it depends on how you define small.

Generally speaking the output of a generator is more about Watts which is the result of volts x amps, so doubling the volts to 240 would (again, Generally speaking) cut the amps in half assuming the generator is the same size. So you need to go up in size to get more umph and be able to charge faster, raising the voltage alone won't do it.

 

[Perry]

Guess it depends on how you define small.

Generally speaking the output of a generator is more about Watts which is the result of volts x amps, so doubling the volts to 240 would (again, Generally speaking) cut the amps in half assuming the generator is the same size. So you need to go up in size to get more umph and be able to charge faster, raising the voltage alone won't do it.

Thanks! I’m still new to owning an EV, so I’m still learning all this stuff.

 

[jwrezz]

Guess it depends on how you define small.

Generally speaking the output of a generator is more about Watts which is the result of volts x amps, so doubling the volts to 240 would (again, Generally speaking) cut the amps in half assuming the generator is the same size. So you need to go up in size to get more umph and be able to charge faster, raising the voltage alone won't do it.

This is kinda misleading, but you were speaking generally. 120v outlets (in the US) are capped at 20 amps, but most are 15 amps. 240v outlets can be 50 amps. So yes, a 4kw 240v split phase generator would most definitely get you more kw output to the truck than any 4kw 120v only generator, even if it had a 30 amp twist lock outlet.

 

[Deleted member 22541]

Are there any small generators that will output 240v to charge the truck more quickly?

I recently bought a DUROMAX 13000 watt trifuel gen which has the 240V receptacle - have used it on the Lightning and my sons MACH E GT for short periods - I need to get the break in hours up to 8 hrs (for 1st oil change on the generator), so will use again soon. Works like a charm - when I do this again will check the charge amps - I'm cappng my charges at 40A via FORD PASS app.

BTW this generator periodically is on sale for a great price - got mine for $1399.

 

[Robert1380]

Do you EVER expect to need to charge your truck from a generator? If so, make sure it will work - especially with inverter based generators.

Although I don't really ever expect to need to charge my Lightning from my Honda 2.2 KW generator, I confirmed today that it does work - slowly. I have a Honda portable generator that was primarily bought for emergency power at home (years before buying my Lightning). As we very seldom have commercial power failures here, one of my regular tasks is to drain the old gas from the generator and gas cans, buy new gas and run the generator under load for a while. I do this every few months. I have used various items to load up the generator - some of which make use of the power, and some just waste it. Did my periodic generator test run today and figured I would plug the truck into it via the mobile charge cord. At least that way i would not be wasting the generator power. That would also confirm that there was no interaction between the inverter in the generator and the MCC - which can be picky about the power that it gets. So after starting the Honda and letting it warm up a bit I plugged in the MCC and it was all happy. Then plugged in the truck, and both the MCC and the truck were showing the charge. Of course when charging from 120 volts, it is pathetically SLOW, but it did work. Let the generator run powering the truck for an hour and picked up a whole whopping 1%. Not something I really expect to need to use for charging, but at least I know it works...

I was wondering this myself in regard to using a gen to recharge. I guess bigger generators would create faster charging?

 

[K6CCC]

Watts is the big limitation. When using the Ford Mobile Charge Cord, you are limited to 120 volts at 12 amps (1.4 KW) or 240 volts at 30 amps (7.2 KW). There are no other choices - unless you have 2025 which DOES let you set a lower charge current. So assuming you want to charge off a 240 volt source, you MUST have a generator that can continuously supply at least 7.2 KW - which likely means at least an 8 KW generator and likely higher. Check the continuous load rating on the generator. As I recall, my 2.2 KW Honda is rated for something like 1.8 KW continuous.

 

[RocketGhost]

Watts is the big limitation. When using the Ford Mobile Charge Cord, you are limited to 120 volts at 12 amps (1.4 KW) or 240 volts at 30 amps (7.2 KW). There are no other choices - unless you have 2025 which DOES let you set a lower charge current.

There is third option. Using the 120v dongle and a 240v source (would need a plug adapter) the Ford mobile charger will charge 240v at 12a (2.8kw).

 

[Mal106]

I'm in hurricane land, but the nice thing is that FPL (local electric company) goes out with a portable charger whenever there is a hurricane, so I use my truck for a house backup with the plans of using FPL to charge the truck if there still isn't power to my house after a few days.

To confirm OP's post, yes you can charge your truck with a small generator. It will be slow, but it will work. Just realize it might not be the best plan unless you really think you'll be isolated for many weeks.

 

[Mal106]

An interesting exercise is to determine your gas mileage on the generator. Haven't done it on the Lightning yet but with my Niro PHEV my little 1500W Harbor Freight generator got 30 MPG.

 

[jwrezz]

There is third option. Using the 120v dongle and a 240v source (would need a plug adapter) the Ford mobile charger will charge 240v at 12a (2.8kw).

Shouldn't the evse tell it's got the 120v dongle and only accept a suitable source? I'm sure there are plug adapters out there just as there are suicide cords for generator inlets, but I wouldn't think it would work.

 

[richguy82]

I’ve been meaning to test my inverter generator with the Ford Mobile Connector. It has a NEMA 14-50 connection, but the running wattage is only 7200. I believe the connector only operates at 32 amps, but my gen can only manage 30.

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