Issues with a Generac 6854 and my 2023 Lightning’s Pro Power

[sluser123]

Hello!

I am having some issues with my 2023 F-150 Lightning Lariat (511A) and a Generac Home Link model 6854… I had the Generac installed by an electrician, and I’m running into issues with the Lightning detecting a GFCI fault when switching from the truck back to the grid… here is what is happening:

The F-150 Lightning will power the circuits on the Generac just fine, but only when the main 200A breaker on my load center is shut off…

As soon as I try and go from my truck to the grid, I get a notification that a “ground fault has been detected” and shortly after, I got an alert on the screen that “Pro Power Onboard is currently unavailable” and I can’t turn on pro power at all… The amber light on the outlet in the cab blinks, and none of the eleven outlets are working.

Every time I turn the truck on, my app sends me a notification that “Pro Power is Unavailable” and to “use SYNC to reset the system”. Upon looking at the SYNC screen (sync 4A), I cannot find a means to reset it, and every time I try to turn on the Pro Power, it shuts off less than a second after.

Headed to the dealer tomorrow to see what’s going on, but I hope I don’t have to shut off the main panel’s breaker every time I want to use the system… Thank you in advance to everyone!

First image: Pro Power Error

Second image: Pro Power working before it faulted out

Third image: Generac 6854 open (while electrician was present during install)

Fourth image: Generac 6854 and my main load panel (during install)

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[chl]

It's a known issue with the GNERAC, I have the same thing happen, so did another poster and a guy in a YouTube video.

I noticed it when I was testing the system - if the Util power is present at the GENERAC, the Lightning will get a voltage pulse when switching. When the Util power is off, no problem switching.

And it happens when the power is restored and the GENERAC is switched back.

Of course it doesn't matter that the PPOB turns off when the Util power is back because you don;t need the PPOB anymore.

As near as we can tell, the solenoid seems to produce a pulse when switched if there is Utility power present. It should be squelched by the circuitry, but it isn't.

Not a problem when the Utility power is off, no pulse.

If you want to see the solenoid switching circuit, here it is:

In this video at the end, it happens when he switches back to utility from the truck PPOB:



So bottom line it is nothing to worry about, but you could always manually turn off the PPOB and then switch back to utility, but then you wouldn't have a 'smooth' transition in the house.

BTW, it does not trip my gas generator when switching, only with the Lightning.

 

[sluser123]

Only issue, and I should have mentioned this, is when I reset the PPOB, the truck made a clunk and now it’s in the “pro power unavailable” mode and none of the outlets work… visiting dealer tomorrow… thanks

 

[chl]

Only issue, and I should have mentioned this, is when I reset the PPOB, the truck made a clunk and now it’s in the “pro power unavailable” mode and none of the outlets work… visiting dealer tomorrow… thanks

I just noticed in your picture, you don't have the PPOB/truck connected to the GEN terminals.

This is how it should look:

 

[chl]

Switched power terminals: Utility at the top, generator/PPOB at the bottom above the output terminals that got to the breakers (those three are pre-wired by GENERAC).

 

[sluser123]

Yes, just checked in those photos were from before he had ran the wiring to the power inlet box… I took this photo while my electrician stepped out to go grab the wire… my apologies on that… I will see if I can get a better photo…

 

[chl]

So are you saying that even after you disconnect the Lightning PPOB generator cable, the PPOB won't work anymore after that fault?

Or is it that while still attached, you can't use PPOB?

I think your electrician may have miswired the GENERAC in the case of the latter and that just needs all the wiring to be checked. Specifically that the PPOB and the Utility neutrals are separated, that the circuit neutrals are the ones that correspond to the emergency circuit hots and not mistake has been made, like maybe using the wrong branch circuit neutral (that happened to me when I had a bunch of neutrals in the service panel that were hard to separately trace).

If it is the former, I have no clue.

 

[sluser123]

Yeah, pro power has not worked since I attempted to power the Generac…

 

[chl]

The ground wires between the truck and the house and the service panel, usually green wires should all be electrically attached.

If there is a mistaken neutral, then it will create a ground fault.

You could check them one by one like this:

Turn all the branch circuit breakers in the GENRAC off, then with both the truck and the utility powered, turn them on one by one, IF there is a fault, you found your miswired branch circuit.

 

[chl]

Yeah, pro power has not worked since I attempted to power the Generac…

Bummer.

You pressed the reset button breakers at the truck outlets I assume?

 

[chl]

The pulse from switching I measured was no more than about 10V on the generator lines.

I wouldn't think that'd be enough to fry the PPOB. It didn't hurt my system and I tried it several times to see what was going on.

 

[sluser123]

Bummer.

You pressed the reset button breakers at the truck outlets I assume?

Yes, I pressed reset on the outlets and there was no button in the screen to reset it...

 

[chl]

Yes, I pressed reset on the outlets and there was no button in the screen to reset it...

OK, that's too bad.

May just be a fuse somewhere between the HVB and the inverters?
But to do that, I'd suspect there would have to have been an serious error in the wiring of the GENERAC that would have happened before the switching pulse.

Keep us posted when you find out what happened to the PPOB.

It is odd that you don't have a reset button on the screen, but to reset supposedly you can just use the physical reset buttons or use the screen button.

I just read in a search that when you do the reset, have the truck when ON or in the ACC mode.

Another suggestion was turn the truck off and wait a while, then turn it back on, but I guess by now you did that.

Then there was this:

"If the fault persists, you may need to check for software updates or contact a dealer, as some owners have reported requiring software flashes for recurring Pro Power errors."

This seems to be for an ICE version when just pressing the "Test" button" omg:
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“2021 F-150 Pro Power Onboard detected a ground fault. Reset the system using the SYNC screen.” Start getting this message today and it won’t go away. Searched online and it looks a recall issue. Anyone has seen a similar issue? Going to check with dealer tomorrow.

Very frustrated and disappointed to see this consider mine is a new vehicle:
SSM 50270 - 2021 F-150 - Pro Power Onboard Turned Off - Ground Fault
Detected Displayed After Performing The Pro Power Onboard Test Function

Some 2021 F-150 vehicles with ProPower Onboard may exhibit a message in the touchscreen
stating Pro Power Onboard Turned Off – Ground Fault Detected, after performing the Pro Power
Onboard test function. This is a normal response after performing the test and full system function may be restored after pressing the on-screen RESET button. Inform customers that engineering is currently working on a solution for this condition and will be released via an over the air (OTA) software update expected in April of 2022. The software will update automatically if Vehicle Connectivity is turned ON. Inform the customer that durability is not affected and they can continue to drive the vehicle. Contact the customer in May of 2022 to determine if they received the update. If the customer needs assistance, schedule a follow-up appointment. Monitor OASIS for updates.
APPLICABLE VEHICLES
2021 TRUCK: FD P702N F150
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Another post on the FB group had this issue:

"All my fuses where not seated all the way in. From the factory. Unbelievable...."
"Update. Truck needs a new converter. Looks like it was junk from day one ugh. "

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Yours seems to be the first reported time this happened due to the GENERAC pulse when switching with a Lightning truck.

Good luck!

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