[Lightning84]

Trying to figure out all the details to get my new 11.4 Kwh SolarEdge home solar system to fully use the Lightning’s battery backup to run when the grid is down.

 

[ChasingCoral]

The good news is you should already have some of the equipment you need.

I recommend you stay with two YouTube videos:
Tom Mologhney's 15 Questions about Intelligent Backup Power:

Intelligent backup power

Some good information from the state of charge YouTube channel on the intelligent backup power. They also calmed some of my concerns about connecting up the charge station pro and service requirements. Maybe it is useful to some of you.

www.lightningowners.com

Cliff notes here: Intelligent backup power
and
InsideEVs Special Edition, Q&A with Ford about Intelligent Backup Power:

Intelligent backup power

Some good information from the state of charge YouTube channel on the intelligent backup power. They also calmed some of my concerns about connecting up the charge station pro and service requirements. Maybe it is useful to some of you.

www.lightningowners.com

 

[PatrickC]

You need to buy the Home Integration Kit from SunRun. It includes an inverter, which I assume is a grid-forming inverter. In theory, once your PV inverters see the “grid” (240V and 60 Hz) power from the SunRun inverter, they should automatically start outputting power again. But, it is all theoretical until we have the specs on the SunRun kit.

 

[Lightning84]

The good news is you should already have some of the equipment you need.

I recommend you stay with two YouTube videos:
Tom Mologhney's 15 Questions about Intelligent Backup Power:

Intelligent backup power

Some good information from the state of charge YouTube channel on the intelligent backup power. They also calmed some of my concerns about connecting up the charge station pro and service requirements. Maybe it is useful to some of you.

www.lightningowners.com

Cliff notes here: Intelligent backup power
and
InsideEVs Special Edition, Q&A with Ford about Intelligent Backup Power:

Intelligent backup power

Some good information from the state of charge YouTube channel on the intelligent backup power. They also calmed some of my concerns about connecting up the charge station pro and service requirements. Maybe it is useful to some of you.

www.lightningowners.com

 

[Lightning84]

Thanks was extremely useful - these are the people that know and they openly shared where we are now and where Ford is going with home integration. Home solar is the future and the Lightning is the vehicle that’s going to make practical EV happen. My system is going to pay back in less than 5 years so it’s now even just a good investment.

 

[Lightning84]

You need to buy the Home Integration Kit from SunRun. It includes an inverter, which I assume is a grid-forming inverter. In theory, once your PV inverters see the “grid” (240V and 60 Hz) power from the SunRun inverter, they should automatically start outputting power again. But, it is all theoretical until we have the specs on the SunRun kit.

Patrick thanks I don’t want to buy another inverter just to feed power back to the house when I already have an 11.4 Kwh SolarEdge inverter and can DC couple a battery into my solar system. Can just plug into the 30 amp 240 v bed plug and run the house and don’t need auto-transfer. I think SolarEdge will come up with a more efficient integration with the Lightning as it looks like a $10k solution with SunRun. I also want to capture clipped power during the peak solar times and want to run my solar system when the grid is down and could just spend the $10k o batteries. Don’t need the solution in place in July when my Lightning may arrive.

 

[Okchamali]

When I got my solar installed last year an automatic switch was installed to control the power to my home. The grid goes down and it disconnects from the grid so my solar or battery power isn’t sending power back to the grid only to my home or to my batteries.
I haven’t looked at the SunRun integration but it also probably includes the smart switch to do the same thing. Can’t have power feeding back into the grid when it’s down.

 

[PatrickC]

When I got my solar installed last year an automatic switch was installed to control the power to my home. The grid goes down and it disconnects from the grid so my solar or battery power isn’t sending power back to the grid only to my home or to my batteries.
I haven’t looked at the SunRun integration but it also probably includes the smart switch to do the same thing. Can’t have power feeding back into the grid when it’s down.

It does include a transfer switch.

 

[Okchamali]

SunRun’s integration kit is more of an option rather than a need for someone that has a solar system installed already. The kit would be an easy option provided by a preferred installer for someone that doesn’t have solar installed.

 

[PatrickC]

SunRun’s integration kit is more of an option rather than a need.

It depends. If you want the direct integration between the Ford Pro station and the truck for exported power, it is required. If you are ok with using the 7.2 kW outlet on the truck and treating it like a backup genset, then you don’t need the SunRun kit. The kit is only for integrating the power export via the charging station.

 

[Okchamali]

I’m not going to use it for backup power but that’s great to know! I was talking to my solar installer and he didn’t see the need for the kit since I’m already running a combiner and switch for my current setup. What does the home integration kit include?

 

[taxmanhog]

What does the home integration kit include?

No specifics have been published yet, but speculation indicates:

High voltage DC circuit from the Ford Charger Pro to the Inverter, (very little discussion about this but I would expect it's needed to isolate from the AC/240 volt circuit)

DC/AC 120/240v at 10kwh inverter

Small capacity DC battery pack.

Optional, Solar PV roof panels

Load Side Transfer switch to service selected critical loads.

 

[ChasingCoral]

It depends. If you want the direct integration between the Ford Pro station and the truck for exported power, it is required. If you are ok with using the 7.2 kW outlet on the truck and treating it like a backup genset, then you don’t need the SunRun kit. The kit is only for integrating the power export via the charging station.

If you don't already have solar, the Home Integration System is required. Folks who already have solar may be able to tap into their existing inverter. However, that will really depend on the inverter they already have installed.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Patrick thanks I don’t want to buy another inverter just to feed power back to the house when I already have an 11.4 Kwh SolarEdge inverter and can DC couple a battery into my solar system. Can just plug into the 30 amp 240 v bed plug and run the house and don’t need auto-transfer. I think SolarEdge will come up with a more efficient integration with the Lightning as it looks like a $10k solution with SunRun. I also want to capture clipped power during the peak solar times and want to run my solar system when the grid is down and could just spend the $10k o batteries. Don’t need the solution in place in July when my Lightning may arrive.

One question is whether you already have any battery system installed. A battery system is required to have your solar run your home during the day as it is needed to produce the sine wave for the AC power. However, that doesn't require a large battery.

Also, the videos talk about the "Dark Star Battery" that is part of the home integration system. It (or other battery backup) is required to energize the system during automatic switchover. I just don't know if that battery will run the home for more than a few minutes.

 

[PatrickC]

It all depends on what’s in that kit and how much signaling needs to be passed between the inverter and the charge station. But we’re all guessing until we see the kit and installation requirements.

 

[Lightning84]

Thanks was extremely useful - these are the people that know and they openly shared where we are now and where Ford is going with home integration. Home solar is the future and the Lightning is the vehicle that’s going to make practical EV happen. My system is going to pay back in less than 5 years so it’s now even just a good investment.

One question is whether you already have any battery system installed. A battery system is required to have your solar run your home during the day as it is needed to produce the sine wave for the AC power. However, that doesn't require a large battery.

Also, the videos talk about the "Dark Star Battery" that is part of the home integration system. It (or other battery backup) is required to energize the system during automatic switchover. I just don't know if that battery will run the home for more than a few minutes.

I currently don’t have a battery and can’t run if the grid is down. My plan was to use the Lightning battery if it can be done with minimal cost. Otherwise I could just buy a smaller battery to allow operation with my solar during an outage but I make 11.4 Kwh during the peak hours on sunny days and only use about 1 Kwh so don’t see how a small battery could store enough energy to run with the grid down.

 

[PatrickC]

I currently don’t have a battery and can’t run if the grid is down. My plan was to use the Lightning battery if it can be done with minimal cost. Otherwise I could just buy a smaller battery to allow operation with my solar during an outage but I make 11.4 Kwh during the peak hours on sunny days and only use about 1 Kwh so don’t see how a small battery could store enough energy to run with the grid down.

I think the cheapest solution (but not automatic and probably not entirely code compliant) is to install a genset receptacle for the 7.2kW outlet from the truck. When the grid goes down, you would go out to the main panel and turn off the main breaker. Then plug in the 7.2kW cord to you genset receptacle. That should present what looks like a grid to your PV inverters and they should start trying to export power. Because you can charge the truck while using the Pro Power outlet, you should be able to stash your extra PV generation in the truck battery.
The one hiccup I could see is that I don’t know how your PV inverters would react if the “grid” (I.e. the truck and house) couldn’t absorb the full 11kW being produced. I assume the apparent impedance would increase and look like the grid was gone again.

 

[Lightning84]

I think the cheapest solution (but not automatic and probably not entirely code compliant) is to install a genset receptacle for the 7.2kW outlet from the truck. When the grid goes down, you would go out to the main panel and turn off the main breaker. Then plug in the 7.2kW cord to you genset receptacle. That should present what looks like a grid to your PV inverters and they should start trying to export power. Because you can charge the truck while using the Pro Power outlet, you should be able to stash your extra PV generation in the truck battery.
The one hiccup I could see is that I don’t know how your PV inverters would react if the “grid” (I.e. the truck and house) couldn’t absorb the full 11kW being produced. I assume the apparent impedance would increase and look like the grid was gone again.

Patrick thanks that sounds like a practical solution that needs to be checked out. Eventually I believe SolarEdge and others will develop ways to DC couple the solar inverter with the Lightning house feed which would eliminate the second inverter and be more efficient but expect this will not be available by this summer. we have net metering in PA for now so there is no big incentive for load shifting but expect this could change in the future.

 

[Okchamali]

In my setup, each solar panel has its own microinverter and uses a combiner for the panels and the battery backup and that then goes to my home. I also noticed SunRun updating their contact info for installations:

 

[taxmanhog]

In my setup, each solar panel has its own microinverter and uses a combiner for the panels and the battery backup and that then goes to my home. I also noticed SunRun updating their contact info for installations:

View attachment 1691

This would not work for me, one of the FAQ's was that it had to be with in 8 weeks of a delivery date.
Did anyone succeed inputting this request?