So you want to connect your rooftop solar inverter AC output directly to the same circuit as the F150 AC power output? If so, don't do it. Your rooftop solar inverter is a current source (i.e. grid following) inverter that will push power back to the inverter in the F150 and likely let out the magic smoke.
Good point! So what's the solution? Perhaps a manual or automatic power transfer switch that isolates the F150L as the only source of power when it's connected?
The only generator-type backup power solution that Tesla is willing to support is via a transfer switch that completely isolates the Powerwalls and rooftop solar when the backup power source is active. So, that typically means adding a transfer switch before the loads panel with the Powerwall's and rooftop solar on the grid input side of the transfer switch and generator on the backup input side of the switch. So, the Powerwall's and solar are useless when generator power is active.
OK. You mean use the Lightning’s onboard inverter known as ProPower. Charge Station Pro is the EVSE that 1) charges the truck, and 2) interfaces with the SunRun Home Integration System.
That would probably work fine. Think about when you'd need to use the Lightning's ProPower 240v outlet as a backup generator. Probably only in a winter storm situation where your Powerwalls are exhausted and there isn't enough sunshine to recharge them.
Thanks for the clarification. Because I already have three Tesla Powerwalls backing up the house, I'm unlikely to install Ford's Home Integration System because it's duplicative, unnecessary, and very expensive, as @tommolog pointed out in his video.
That's a common use case and the main complaint I have seen is that the drained Powerwall's will not get recharged by solar even with plenty of sunshine nor the generator. So, once on generator power there is no possibility to go back to Powerwall or solar until grid power is restored which could be days or weeks.
Hmmm...my Powerwalls continue to charge via my solar array even when the grid is down for a protracted period. They didn't at first but my solar electrician was able to restore that functionality.
The operative word is "drained". During grid outages Powerwall's will shutoff power to loads when the internal battery reserve threshold is tripped then continue to periodically check to see if there is enough solar power to recharge for a couple days. If there not enough solar power then the Powerwall's internal reserve will become drained and shutoff for good until grid power returns. So, in low sunlight events (e.g. storms, wildfires, etc.) that last longer than a few days Powerwall's can be become drained.
Are there any Ford Lightning warranty issues connected with using an appropriately chosen and placed manual transfer switch in a circuit connecting the 240V power outlet to a critical loads panel?I am going to get this blessed by someone who knows what he is doing. But from what I've seen on this forum there doesn't appear to be any reason it shouldn't work. It would seem to be equivalent to just taking my inverter out of the picture and directly connecting the Lightning to a critical loads panel, which a bunch of people have already successfully accomplished.
Just got off the phone with Sol Ark. The rep said a manual transfer switch would NOT work. If I understood him correctly (I am about as far from an electrician as you can get!), the problem is that both the Sol Ark and the Lightning are neutral-bonded. The position of the switch doesn't matter because there would still be wire connectivity between both the Sol Ark 'Load' breaker and the Lightning battery.
I met with an electrician for a site survey this week as well. He was similarly pessimistic about my ability to connect my home to the Lightning using a transfer switch or double-throw safety switch. He agreed with others here that if it were possible, the transfer switch would have to be installed completely independent of my solar array, solar inverter, Tesla Powerwall batteries, and Tesla Gateway.
The Sol Ark *will* work with the Lightning on the Gen input so long as the Ground Pin is removed from the cable plug in from the truck.
