Home integration system

[RiqRod]

Good morning! I’m interested in getting the Home Integration System to use my CSP, do I have to get it from Sunrun or can I get what I need from Enphase that already installed the solar panels in my house? I have been struggling trying to get the Sunrun system and I want to get it done ASAP. Please advise!

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[RickLightning]

Good morning! I’m interested in getting the Home Integration System to use my CSP, do I have to get it from Sunrun or can I get what I need from Enphase that already installed the solar panels in my house? I have been struggling trying to get the Sunrun system and I want to get it done ASAP. Please advise!

I believe only SunRun sells the HIS hardware. You may also want to read about the success, or lack thereof, in getting an HIS system to work automatically as designed.

 

[Zprime29]

Please please please do your due diligence in researching the HIS. Very few people are able to use it with any amount of success. I originally planned on acquiring it myself, but quickly decided not to after the troubles of the early adopters. It's unfortunate, I would have accepted the con of being locked into Ford/the Lightning for back up had it been reliable.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Moved this thread to node: V2H / Back-Up Power For Home

Please READ the threads related to the Home Integration system!

 

[Runaway Tractor]

I won't beat around the bush like others who are being too nice .

The HIS is defunct garbage that does not and never has worked properly due to numerous communication design flaws between the FCSP and truck. Not only that, Ford provides no support and has been lying about "software updates" to fix it for two years now. Sun Run gave up and walked away since the malfunctions were not their problem. Siemens, manufacturer of the FCSP does not provide support since they OEM'd it for Ford. DO NOT BUY THE HIS.

Instead, the thing to do is install a typical 30 amp generator inlet to your main panel, or to a subpanel, and use the Pro Power onboard to power that in an emergency.

 

[RiqRod]

Please please please do your due diligence in researching the HIS. Very few people are able to use it with any amount of success. I originally planned on acquiring it myself, but quickly decided not to after the troubles of the early adopters. It's unfortunate, I would have accepted the con of being locked into Ford/the Lightning for back up had it been reliable.

Did you do any system? It doesn’t make sense for me to spend money on Tesla wall batteries since we have the truck! I know enphase has a system but not sure is compatible to our charger.

I won't beat around the bush like others who are being too nice .

The HIS is defunct garbage that does not and never has worked properly due to numerous communication design flaws between the FCSP and truck. Not only that, Ford provides no support and has been lying about "software updates" to fix it for two years now. Sun Run gave up and walked away since the malfunctions were not their problem. Siemens, manufacturer of the FCSP does not provide support since they OEM'd it for Ford. DO NOT BUY THE HIS.

Instead, the thing to do is install a typical 30 amp generator inlet to your main panel, or to a subpanel, and use the Pro Power onboard to power that in an emergency.

SAY LESS!!!!! Thanks for the heads up!!!! Is there any other system I can use to take advantage of my solar panels and my CPS?

 

[Maquis]

Did you do any system? It doesn’t make sense for me to spend money on Tesla wall batteries since we have the truck! I know enphase has a system but not sure is compatible to our charger.

SAY LESS!!!!! Thanks for the heads up!!!! Is there any other system I can use to take advantage of my solar panels and my CPS?

No. The CSP/Lightning combo will not function with any other system at this time.

 

[tearitupsports]

There are other systems that you can use with your truck, but not necessarily the Charge Station Pro.
For what its worth, the Ford/Sunrun system does work and is supported, but it is not necessarily for the faint of heart to do so, and does work better for the DIY electrical inclined. I would not recommend even trying it at all if you would have to 100% rely on others to troubleshoot the issues it will have. It also relies on having newest firmware in the truck, which can be a huge issue in of itself.

That being said if you want to buy a small home battery and also augment with your truck, the PointGuard and Franklin systems have working generator inputs that can work with your ProPower onboard if you have it. They work well with AC coupled existing solar as well.
I believe SolArk also has a generator input as well. I am not sure if EG4 would have the support.


PointGuard does actually have a V2X charger that can be purchased with or instead of the battery, but you would no longer need your Charge Station Pro, so it is extra investment. So far they are the only ones on the market with a true V2H solution other than the Delta system used by Ford and GM.

I have both the PointGuard and the Ford HIS/Sunrun system. I have a PointGuard with truck writeup on a separate topic. It is similar to others with their Generator inputs, but this works seamlessly and can use your solar power even off grid with the truck like the Ford system does.

 

[SunPowered]

Suggest watching YouTube videos about using the EG4 Charge-verter to route output from the 240v Pro-Power port into the home. This requires a smart all in one inverter, some 48v batteries, and a house input through a transfer switch, or to the main panel with a panel lock out. (This is to totally separate for safety the mains from inserted power.) This opens up the possibility not only of using the truck as energy storage but also of using sun to charge and power both home and Lightning in a power down situation. Which of course means adding panels, but those need not be hard mounted. They can be tossed out into available sunny space, and with such a system, can also be used to offset grid power consumption/ reduce regular utility costs at any time.

 

[Zprime29]

There are other systems that you can use with your truck, but not necessarily the Charge Station Pro.
For what its worth, the Ford/Sunrun system does work and is supported, but it is not necessarily for the faint of heart to do so, and does work better for the DIY electrical inclined. I would not recommend even trying it at all if you would have to 100% rely on others to troubleshoot the issues it will have. It also relies on having newest firmware in the truck, which can be a huge issue in of itself.

That being said if you want to buy a small home battery and also augment with your truck, the PointGuard and Franklin systems have working generator inputs that can work with your ProPower onboard if you have it. They work well with AC coupled existing solar as well.
I believe SolArk also has a generator input as well. I am not sure if EG4 would have the support.


PointGuard does actually have a V2X charger that can be purchased with or instead of the battery, but you would no longer need your Charge Station Pro, so it is extra investment. So far they are the only ones on the market with a true V2H solution other than the Delta system used by Ford and GM.

I have both the PointGuard and the Ford HIS/Sunrun system. I have a PointGuard with truck writeup on a separate topic. It is similar to others with their Generator inputs, but this works seamlessly and can use your solar power even off grid with the truck like the Ford system does.

I've got my eye on the PointGuard system. It does look very promising. Using my solar when the grid is out is a big priority for me.

@RiqRod I have not yet done anything. I'm hesitant to invest in anything in particular with so many products "coming soon". I really like Emporia products and they've been on the verge of a V2H solution for a few years now. Since I don't have many outages I'm ok waiting. I do worry about a monsoon knocking out power in the middle of summer though. I'll likely get a temporary solution setup in the near future with just a simple neutral transfer switch that feeds an emergency load panel. They are relatively cheap to get set up and will be a nice stop gap until I figure out a more permanent/all inclusive setup.

 

[Jodokk]

We just got the Franklin aPower2 with the smart generator component. The system has the capability to switch to "off grid" mode. We'll let everyone know how it goes.

 

[chl]

Good morning! I’m interested in getting the Home Integration System to use my CSP, do I have to get it from Sunrun or can I get what I need from Enphase that already installed the solar panels in my house? I have been struggling trying to get the Sunrun system and I want to get it done ASAP. Please advise!

The SUNRUN system uses a DELTA Bi-Directional Inverter for example, and it used to be possible to buy the equipment from AEE Solar (about $4,000 in hardware as I recall) for example, and use Qmerit or another qualify installer, but I haven;t checked lately because I decided not to try it given all the problems others have had with it.

This is the preferred layout of the HIS from the SunRun documents (I down loaded all the info I could - I am an EE and wanted to analyze the install out of curiousity):

So a more economical way to have home back up is to buy a manual transfer switch like the GENERAC 6853 for around $400 (Amazon: link below) and use the ProPower On Board 240V 30A outlet in the truck bed.

The $10k HIS install (or more) only gives you 10A more (2.4kW) than the 30A bed outlet (7.2kW), so hardly worth it for my situation where we only have outages rarely.

The 6853 switch works with the Lightning or any other bonded generator source - have to switch neutrals with a bonded generator or the Lightning to comply with NEC safety code and avoid the GFCI tripping in the truck due to a ground loop.

Plenty of other Lightning owners have successfully used a neutral switching transfer switch with their truck's ProPower On Board 240V bed outlet during an outage. I have mine set up and am just waiting for an outage so I don;t have to listen to my PowerMate portable gasoline standby generator chugging away in the backyard for hours.

https://www.amazon.com/Generac-6853...=1750781965&s=lawn-garden&sr=1-4&ts_id=553544

EDIT: The GENERAC comes as an 8 circuit transfer switch but can be upgraded to 10 circuits using tandem breakers in 2 slots.

 

[chl]

PS: I just read that AEE Solar is closing/closed after 45 years in business, Sunrun bought them, so not sure where you could order the HIS equipment other than from SunRun if you wanted to have your own installer.

https://www.solarpowerworldonline.c...ee-solar-to-close-after-45-years-in-business/

Here's where: https://atlanticces.com/delta-v2hv2g-bidirectional-charger/

 

[chl]

That Delta V2H/V2G bi-directional equipment is a 10kW system, so about a 40A @ 240V system at 96% efficiency. based on their specs, so equivalent to the FCSP/HIS system.

The Delta system DC charges the vehicle.

Use with the Lightnings is not specified - I messaged them with that question.

 

[MountainAlive]

Good morning! I’m interested in getting the Home Integration System to use my CSP, do I have to get it from Sunrun or can I get what I need from Enphase that already installed the solar panels in my house? I have been struggling trying to get the Sunrun system and I want to get it done ASAP. Please advise!

As others noted, I would strongly advise against using the Sunrun HIS. I have read and seen several YouTube videos of how poorly it works. Supposedly Enphase is coming out with a vehicle to home/grid charger. But it’s been promised for quite a while now and no new news on it. Last I saw was that it’s been pushed to 2026. https://enphase.com/ev-chargers/bidirectional

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