New - Anker F3800 Plus with 240v Passthrough Generator Input

[ericpullen]

Good idea, consider integrating the Anker Controller in your set up. Our set up works well because the Anker controller software modes of time of use and backup mode settings. It's a DIY system that has potential although its not a perfect solution for everone. Also check out the Anker F3800 forum group on Facebook.

Thanks, I’ve looked at that panel but it’s tough to do since I just got a full panel/service upgrade just 3 years ago. This is a manual setup, but most of the pieces are already in place. I’d love to go big with solar and fully integrated batteries with something like a EG4 Grid Boss type setup, but our power is so cheap here it’s hard to get a decent ROI on it right now.

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[chl]

I tested this over the weekend. The generator input to the F3800P works from the Lightning. I was able to charge the battery from the truck with no problems, at 240v. However, the setup originally proposed (which I really hoped would work too), does not work for a couple reasons.

• The generator to battery adapter uses the same port as the battery to house adapter, so you physically can't have the battery connected to the truck and to the house at the same time. Big bummer.
• Because the port is the same, however, you can connect the truck to the home power panel via the generator adapter. The system is designed to take the output from a generator and push it directly to the house via the HPP. However, the ground issue comes into effect here and the truck shuts it down.

So, no go. I think you could have two F3800Ps and charge one while the other is in use, then swap, but that would be inconvenient and technically you're supposed to turn off the HPP before connecting/disconnecting anything, which kills all the backup circuits. Not ideal. You may be able to charge one battery via 120v from the truck while the other is being used for backup without disconnecting anything, but depending on your load it may not charge fast enough anyway. I don't think you can charge via 120 while it is supplying to the house.

That generator inlet is likely for an un-bonded neutral generator - the Lightning is a bonded generator so it will trip the GFCI Lightning outlet due to the ground loop as you found out.

So a neutral switching transfer switch like a GENERAC 6853 (under $400 on Amazon for example) would be required for the Lightning connection.

Since most modern generators are bonded, it is surprising to see system only set up for un-bonded generators still being marketed. The bonded generator makers will explain how to un-bond the generator if required (disconnect the ground to neutral connection in the generator) but can't do that with the Lightning (as far as I know).

When powering a dwelling, there has to be a ground connection from source to dwelling per code as someone already mentioned, even if all the circuits are GFCI.

The idea behind the code is not to protect you when everything is working fine and wired correctly, it is to protect you when something fails, like a GFCI circuit or when a wire opens or shorts for example..