F-150 Hybrid to Power House

[Chris Martinez]

I’m new to this group and recently had a transfer switch installed for backup power from the Hybrid F-150.

The Truck gave us a fault - My electrician disconnected the ground in the Transfer Switch box to get the truck generator to work.

Is this safe - I’m an accountant and don’t comprehend this process entirely.
I just want to make sure that in the event we lose power and I use the Truck generator and transfer switch we are safe!!

Sponsored

 

[Ajzride]

Read this thread, it's long, but it is pretty much every question you could ask on this topic answered.

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/installed-transfer-switch-in-house.1267/

 

[AutonomousHybridF150]

If you check your connections, you are probably losing power to ground somewhere. I had the exact same issue with an older home, and once we investigated, we realized that we were getting 60 volts on the ground leg somehow.

Same as you, disconnect the ground and it worked. This really isn’t safe though, because there is actually an electrical issue that could cause a problem.

 

[xtraman122]

Like already mentioned, there's a HUGE thread on this already. Long story short, no typical interlock or transfer switch will work properly with the truck for powering a home due to it having its own neutral bond. When that's hooked up to your home wiring, which has its own neutral bond, you end up with a ground fault detected by your truck because there are two places where the neutral is bonded to ground (Which is a no-no for household wiring). You can either A) Disconnect the ground like your electrician did, which isn't quite kosher and opens the door for the potential of a short at the truck, or B) get a special transfer switch on a subpanel that switches your neutrals over as well, disconnecting the circuits being powered by the truck from the ground-neutral bond in your panel so the only bond is the one in the truck.

 

[Chris Martinez]

Like already mentioned, there's a HUGE thread on this already. Long story short, no typical interlock or transfer switch will work properly with the truck for powering a home due to it having its own neutral bond. When that's hooked up to your home wiring, which has its own neutral bond, you end up with a ground fault detected by your truck because there are two places where the neutral is bonded to ground (Which is a no-no for household wiring). You can either A) Disconnect the ground like your electrician did, which isn't quite kosher and opens the door for the potential of a short at the truck, or B) get a special transfer switch on a subpanel that switches your neutrals over as well, disconnecting the circuits being powered by the truck from the ground-neutral bond in your panel so the only bond is the one in the truck.

Thank you for the detailed response - so what my electrician did is save correct?!

 

[n8dgr8]

I can’t comment whether or not this is safe with your truck. The GFI in the truck offers extra protection and the ground is technically connected via the neutral wire.

Selling your truck, buying a cheap generator, and reusing this transfer switch is unsafe. I hope the electrician wrote a warning on the transfer switch. In a rainy situation the cheap generator is not grounded and does not have GFI. You might get a shock or worse if your wet hand touches a wet generator and your feet are wet too…

 

[n8dgr8]

Thank you for the detailed response - so what my electrician did is save correct?!

It is not per code…

 

[Chris Martinez]

I can’t comment whether or not this is safe with your truck. The GFI in the truck offers extra protection and the ground is technically connected via the neutral wire.

Selling your truck, buying a cheap generator, and reusing this transfer switch is unsafe. I hope the electrician wrote a warning on the transfer switch. In a rainy situation the cheap generator is not grounded and does not have GFI. You might get a shock or worse if your wet hand touches a wet generator and your feet are wet too…

Thank you, this is helpful! So it sounds like it’s safe as long as I only use the Truck as the generator - and not some mobile one.

 

[xtraman122]

Thank you for the detailed response - so what my electrician did is save correct?!

Technically, no. The situations where something could go wrong are somewhat limited, and a few things would need to go wrong, but if they do, it could also be deadly, so you really shouldn't be taking chances. If anyone inspected it, it would fail, as others have said, it's technically not to code.

 

[Chris Martinez]

It is not per code…

How would I make it code then - do I need another electrician to come take another look?

 

[jesaf00]

How would I make it code then - do I need another electrician to come take another look?

What transfer switch are you using? Did they move both the hot and neutral?

 

[Chris Martinez]

Technically, no. The situations where something could go wrong are somewhat limited, and a few things would need to go wrong, but if they do, it could also be deadly, so you really shouldn't be taking chances. If anyone inspected it, it would fail, as others have said, it's technically not to code.

Apologies for my ignorance - numbers are my profession, how do you make it up to code or “SAFE”

I can call another electrician - thanks for the info!

 

[Chris Martinez]

What transfer switch are you using? Did they move both the hot and neutral?

Below is the transfer switch - excuse my ignorance, I know something with the ground in the transfer switch box was done to get it the Truck generator to work.

https://www.amazon.com/Reliance-Con...scsubtag=[artid|10048.a.35152752[src|[ch|[lt|

 

[Ajzride]

To make it safe and to code you need a different transfer switch, and a different electrician who understands why you need it.

 

[Chris Martinez]

To make it safe and to code you need a different transfer switch, and a different electrician who understands why you need it.

Did you install a transfer switch, can you recommend one?

Sponsored