Out with HIS, in with GenerLink

[NW Ontario Ford Lightning]

It requires pulling the meter. The utility will know it as soon as pull it.

unless you wait for an outage to do the pull and installation...hypothetically...

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[Charge_Rob]

The reason there are two different mounting solutions for the GenerLink is because of the different level of utility approval. You absolutely need utility approval to do the meter-mounted solution. The meter-adjacent solution may or may not need utility approval depending on your jurisdiction as it does not attach to the utility owned meter - but in all cases the work should be permitted and performed by a licensed electrician.

 

[roddiaz1]

Not if you do it during a power outage.

 

[jwrezz]

https://interlockkit.com/

 

[Tony Burgh]

https://interlockkit.com/

The interlock kit does not address the bonded neutral and gfi problem.
Also, utilities do not seem to be constrained by electric codes.

 

[jwrezz]

The interlock kit does not address the bonded neutral and gfi problem.
Also, utilities do not seem to be constrained by electric codes.

Make your own pigtail eliminating the ground conductor.
How would the utility not operating under NEC codes help or hurt this situation?

 

[Tony Burgh]

The utility can legally do things that you can’t. They can approve equipment that we can not make. They have deeper pockets and banks of lawyers if there is a problem.

 

[jwrezz]

The utility can legally do things that you can’t. They can approve equipment that we can not make. They have deeper pockets and banks of lawyers if there is a problem.

We have every right not to use them. Today is easier than ever to go fully off grid. Get some solar panels (or wind/water turbines), batteries (even our EVs), and inverter(s).

 

[jdmackes]

Yep. My utility (Pepco) won't allow the cheap/easy version yet.

Here's the email when I inquired:

Hello,​

Thank you for your interest in the Ford GenerLink Transfer Switch—a safe, reliable solution for connecting a portable generator to your home during power outages.​

​

While some utility providers have specific requirements regarding installations directly behind the meter, GenerLink offers flexible solutions to meet a variety of utility guidelines. In your area, Pepco - (MD) does not currently support meter-based installations, but we’re pleased to offer an alternative installation that works around these restrictions while still delivering the full benefits of GenerLink and your Ford Truck.​

Damn, I'm with Pepco too. I was all excited for a minute when I saw Maryland...

Edit - Actually, I take that back. While Delmarva Power is part of Pepco, evidently I can use it.

 

[mr.Magoo]

It requires pulling the meter. The utility will know it as soon as pull it.

I suppose it depends on the utility company...

Someone had to pull ours for a day because we had an issue with the mains connection on our new (to us) house.

Some genius forgot to tighten the lug on one legs (years earlier), the lug was completely carbonized from arcing and when someone poked at it with a wrench the whole thing disintegrated.

The power had to be turned off and meter pulled for safety. Our utility company may "know" but it's not like they sent a squad of power thief investigators over the next morning to make sure everything was OK.

9yrs later and I've still haven't heard or seen anything about it.

 

[Charge_Rob]

I suppose it depends on the utility company...

Someone had to pull ours for a day because we had an issue with the mains connection on our new (to us) house.

Some genius forgot to tighten the lug on one legs (years earlier), the lug was completely carbonized from arcing and when someone poked at it with a wrench the whole thing disintegrated.

The power had to be turned off and meter pulled for safety. Our utility company may "know" but it's not like they sent a squad of power thief investigators over the next morning to make sure everything was OK.

9yrs later and I've still haven't heard or seen anything about it.

This is exactly what an electrician would do to install the meter-adjacent GenerLink solution. As you said, it's work any licensed electrician should be able to do.

The reason the utility needs to approve the meter-mounted GenerLink solution is because it touches their property - their meter.

 

[Mike G]

Were you on the generlink site, on a page other than the Ford Owners page? The generlink is widely available, it's this special bundle with the ford adapter that is limited. I believe @Ford Motor Company said in a previous thread that it was a trial in just a couple of states at the time. It seems like they are slowly expanding it.

Yeah, so what happened there was I called an engineer at my utility, and she said they didn't allow anything behind the meter.

When Global Power Products reached out about that response from my utility company, they then got in contact with the guy who is the lead engineer (I guess that's what he is), and he says it is allowed, and they will install it for free.

During this time I got several emails from the folks selling these things, and it was clear they really, really wanted me to finalize my order, like right now! LOL

If I have a question at all, it's about how they deal with the bonded neutral. That's still not clear to me.

 

[Mike G]

Were you on the generlink site, on a page other than the Ford Owners page? The generlink is widely available, it's this special bundle with the ford adapter that is limited. I believe @Ford Motor Company said in a previous thread that it was a trial in just a couple of states at the time. It seems like they are slowly expanding it.

Yeah, I went to the page from the link in the post. But have found out that Alabama (at least where I live in the north) is included even though the current website doesn't really say specifically. It accepted my zip code and lists the Athens Utility Board as the provider...and that looked right to me, even though I thought they may be referring to Athens Georgia...but it turns out it was Athens, AL they were talking about as confirmed in an email I got later. They are really trying to push these things, aren't they? I got several emails from different people wanting to assure me that it will work in my area.

 

[Mike G]

So diving a bit further into this.....

There is a problem with that Generlink/Ford Owners site in that it doesn't list (apparently) all the places that the 'behind the meter' solution can be used.

I went to the Generlink site using the link in post #4 (shown as "GenerLink Hybrid Transfer Switch System") and checked for my 'utility approval' using my zip code and the name of the local power authority (which did come up). This is not the same site as the Generlink/Ford Owners site listed in the first post. This is instead a direct link to Generlink (link here).

But if I check the same thing from the Generlink/Ford Owners link, Alabama isn't even listed, so I can't go any further than that. Given the amount of email traffic I've gotten from Global Power Products assuring me that my utility has approved these devices for installation, I have to wonder why that Generlink/Ford webpage isn't getting updated.

Is there a difference in price if you buy it from the Generlink/Ford affiliated site? They want $1K if I buy it from the Generlink site itself....and since I can't progress beyond the authorization step on the Generlink/Ford site because Alabama isn't even listed.....I have no idea what they're charging from there.

Can somebody who has purchased from the Generlink/Ford Owners affiliate site let us know what the prices are?

 

[Charge_Rob]

I have to wonder why that Generlink/Ford webpage isn't getting updated.

Because the GenerLink + Ford product is in soft launch... not every state is listed yet, but they eventually will.

Can somebody who has purchased from the Generlink/Ford Owners affiliate site let us know what the prices are?

$1,099 for the GenerLink, 20' GenerLok Cable, Ford Vehicle Connector. Longer GenerLok cables add cost.

Meter-Mounted:
https://shopgenerlink.com/products/generlink-transfer-switch-ford-bundle
Meter-Adjacent:
https://shopgenerlink.com/products/generlink-meter-adjacent-solution-ford-bundle

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