Charging Lightning from a generator

[jwrezz]

OP, you can use a propane generator and spare yourself the gasoline troubles. Propane does not go bad like gasoline will. Also the expensive ethanol free gas claims to be pretty long lasting. I have found a generator with an inverter to be more reliable in powering the Ford mobile charger.

Don't dual/tri fuel generators produce their max wattage on gasoline, and less for propane, and even less for natural gas?

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[jwrezz]

The big one I have is rated for 18k on propane, 17k on NG.

Does it run on gasoline too? If it does I'd bet it's closer to a 20k generator. I know gasoline has more power density than propane, and propane is higher than NG.

 

[GarrettBlake]

My generator runs pretty infrequently so any gasoline would probably go bad. I don't want to need my generator and not be able to start it because gas went bad. Propane does not go bad. Yes, propane delivers slightly less power, but the power delivery from a gas generator with bad gas is zero.

 

[Maquis]

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.

Good bet that would work.

Yes, it works. Addressed in several other threads.

 

[K6CCC]

my inverter generator only outputs 8750 peak 7200 constant. The ford adapter can take 32, but if the generator can't give it, the evse will take what it can get.

Your math is off. The Ford Mobile Charge Cord that comes with the Lightning will take 30 (not 32), so 30 x 240 V is 7.2KW - which is within the limit for your generator. If the MCC attempts to draw more than the generator can deliver, most likely the voltage will drop which will result in less power. That's not a good way to regulate the power draw. Also, if the generator is capable of 8750 watts it will attempt to deliver up to that much and most likely will overheat or just fail after a while.

 

[NW Ontario Ford Lightning]

I did a test - the moble charger that came with the truck using the 2P-50A plug adapter charged the truck at 7.5kW per the truck charging display.
I put a meter on the power source , it was 241 Volts, 32 Amps which is 7.7kW but the truck will see a bit less after losses, so it makes sense.

 

[Mikerson]

One thing to keep in mind if you do the 240v with 120v dongle is to make sure any extension cord you use is beefy enough. 2.8kw will generate more heat in the cord and plugs than 1.4kw.

I don’t disagree with having a beefy cord, but heating is based on current, not power (Joule’s Law). 11 A at 120 V produces the same heat as 11A at 240 V. This is precisely the reason why we want higher voltage circuits…higher power without the extra current (more heat). For a given wire of course.

 

[Maquis]

I did a test - the moble charger that came with the truck using the 2P-50A plug adapter charged the truck at 7.5kW per the truck charging display.
I put a meter on the power source , it was 241 Volts, 32 Amps which is 7.7kW but the truck will see a bit less after losses, so it makes sense.

Does your 240V dongle have a yellow band on it? I’m guessing no, or it would be limited to 30A.

 

[NW Ontario Ford Lightning]

Does your 240V dongle have a yellow band on it? I’m guessing no, or it would be limited to 30A.

No, it is just a black cord like the 120 dongle - I didn't realize there were different ones.

 

[PJnc284]

martin has a video showing the difference.

 

[Maquis]

No, it is just a black cord like the 120 dongle - I didn't realize there were different ones.

For some period of time Ford supplied a dongle with a yellow band which told the EVSE to limit the charge to 30A. That allowed the use of the EVSE with ProPower Onboard without an overcurrent fault.

 

[NW Ontario Ford Lightning]

I see,
My 2024 XLT SR doesn't have the 240-30A pro-power so perhaps Ford didn't worry about these models needing to limit to 30A, since they can't supply that power anyway.

 

[NW Ontario Ford Lightning]

I put the truck destination charger connected to a 10k generator - took a pic for anyone interested.
View attachment IMG_7588.pdf Using the generator display and checking with a meter the output is a bit higher at 33A 241v.
after running this for half an hour I checked all the cords and plugs - all cool to the touch.

 

[fhteagle]

Charging Lightning now from a Troy built "5000 running watt" open frame, non inverter generator. The EVSE I'm going through is limited to 16A, which should be capable of ~3.6kW. However, the truck has backed itself down to ~2.4kW, I assume due to the dirty power/ periodic voltage sag when it has a poor combustion event a couple of times a minute.

 

[flyct]

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.

We Charged our Lightning at a FPL Mobile charger right after Hurricane Milton. We evacuated to our inland Rural cabin and FPL set up the mobile charging trailer in Okeechobee. We charged on the way home. All gas stations were out of gas. It was strange that having an EV eliminated the 1/2 mile long lines at the few gas stations that had gas. Picture below is us charging at the FPL mobile trailer.

Right now our remote cabin has been without power for 7 hours now due to a tree falling on a power pole.

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