80A circuit question

[Pilot2022]

I was planning to install a 50A circuit to install standby generator in cases of power failure. With ford's 80A circuit potentially being able to power the house, I am thinking of just using one circuit that can power the house either from the truck or the generator.

Typically, a generator feeds a breaker that has to be turned on with an interlock kit. How does the backfeed of Ford's 80A circuit work? Is it going into some automated transfer switch which will automatically switch to the 80A for power if utility cuts out?

Since exact date of truck is TBD, should I just run the 80A circuit to connect with the generator for now (it might be an overkill)...

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[sotek2345]

I was planning to install a 50A circuit to install standby generator in cases of power failure. With ford's 80A circuit potentially being able to power the house, I am thinking of just using one circuit that can power the house either from the truck or the generator.

Typically, a generator feeds a breaker that has to be turned on with an interlock kit. How does the backfeed of Ford's 80A circuit work? Is it going into some automated transfer switch which will automatically switch to the 80A for power if utility cuts out?

Since exact date of truck is TBD, should I just run the 80A circuit to connect with the generator for now (it might be an overkill)...

We haven't gotten any details on how the whole home power backup will work. We know you need the 80A EVSE from Ford (which is a 100A circuit), as well as some other equipment - definitely a transfer switch and potentially an inverter as well.

I am in a similar situation in that I need to get an EVSE installed now as my wife has a Mach-e or order with a build date in late October. My plan is to run a 100A circuit to the location for now and just install a lower power unit as a placeholder until I get my Lightning. Some rework will be needed, but at least the wiring run won't have to be redone.

 

[adoublee]

Keep in mind that if you ever expect the truck discharge into the the utility grid for time of use savings or demand charge savings on your electric bill, the utility will probably require the circuit go through a exterior disconnect switch they can access and visually verify the position of. This will not be a truck feature day 1 but they are talking about it for the future. Also hard to plan for, but you might consider when routing the 100A circuit.

 

[Pilot2022]

Thanks. I think for now I will ask electrician to run a 100A circuit to the garage and will hook up the generator to it. Will make changes when/if Lightning gets delivered...

 

[Brian Head Yankee]

Good plan. You can always feed 50 amps thru 100 amp wires but you can't feed 100 amps thru 50 amp wires.

 

[Sbdavis1]

Good plan. You can always feed 50 amps thru 100 amp wires but you can't feed 100 amps thru 50 amp wires.

You can do it at least one time.

 

[Pilot2022]

By the way, are EV chargers universal like regular battery chargers or are there any main differences that one needs to consider?

 

[shutterbug]

By the way, are EV chargers universal like regular battery chargers or are there any main differences that one needs to consider?

Most are the same, except how much power they deliver and whether they are "smart" or not. If you're going to have multiple EVs, you may look into ones that can share the circuit.

 

[Pilot2022]

Most are the same, except how much power they deliver and whether they are "smart" or not. If you're going to have multiple EVs, you may look into ones that can share the circuit.

Good call. I can see that being the norm in many homes. After the latest run-up in stock and real estate markets, some homes in our neighborhood have competed switched over to the EVs. Too many look alike cars

 

[sotek2345]

Most are the same, except how much power they deliver and whether they are "smart" or not. If you're going to have multiple EVs, you may look into ones that can share the circuit.

Since my wife is getting an EV as well (Mach-e), I considered a dual EVSE but I don't want to give up the home power backup from the Lightning. I just made sure we will both have enough range to charge every other day comfortably so we can trade.

 

[metroshot]

Since details on the Ford 80A charger & home circuit connection is up in the air, and the wait times for the special installer may take awhile, I currently use a L2 (240V 20A) J1772 EVSE charger for my Honda Clarity, does anyone know how long the charge time will take for the standard range F150 Lightning ??

 

[shutterbug]

Since details on the Ford 80A charger & home circuit connection is up in the air, and the wait times for the special installer may take awhile, I currently use a L2 (240V 20A) J1772 EVSE charger for my Honda Clarity, does anyone know how long the charge time will take for the standard range F150 Lightning ??

Since Ford said that it's 32A mobile charger will give you 14 mile per hour of charging, my guess is that 20A charger will give about 9 miles per hour.

 

[pstansel]

Very curious about this as well in reverse. Curious if the F150 could power through a standard generator hookup for a portable generator which my house already has.

 

[SteffanG]

Very curious about this as well in reverse. Curious if the F150 could power through a standard generator hookup for a portable generator which my house already has.

Don't see why you couldn't use a hookup like that. It wouldn't be through the back-up power function though (that requires a likely expensive inverter) and would be through using the 30A locking receptacle in the bed of the truck which requires you to manually connect the wire and limits it to 7.2kW max.
With the generator hookup on the house, make sure it is a male plug on the wall as a double male extension cord is extremely dangerous and goes against every electrical code. Said plug should also be through a manual transfer switch that cuts power from the main breaker as well (manually turning off the main breaker is against electrical code, though many people do it). Without the manual transfer switch, you are risking the lives of any linesman that could be working on the line should you forget to turn off the main breaker.

 

[pstansel]

Don't see why you couldn't use a hookup like that. It wouldn't be through the back-up power function though (that requires a likely expensive inverter) and would be through using the 30A locking receptacle in the bed of the truck which requires you to manually connect the wire and limits it to 7.2kW max.
With the generator hookup on the house, make sure it is a male plug on the wall as a double male extension cord is extremely dangerous and goes against every electrical code. Said plug should also be through a manual transfer switch that cuts power from the main breaker as well (manually turning off the main breaker is against electrical code, though many people do it).

Yeah no suicide cord here, and it's a manual transfer switch already. Properly wired to code. Thanks I was overlooking the 30A, that will meet my needs nicely.

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