I hate my Powerboost

[Snakebitten]

@Snakebitten do you recommend resetting the pcm or the pcm all adaptations along with the transmission tables?

I don't know if I would say I recommend, but I have no reservations about it.
Truth is, if your battery was dead, or if it was disconnected for any kind of procedure as benign as a stereo system install, your PCM might experience "a reset".

And often times one of the troubleshooting techniques for addressing issues with a vehicle, is to do a "kam reset", (which is "keep alive memory" reset) It is just another phrase for these tables we are discussing.

I think of it this way.....

When you buy a computer or a smartphone, the first thing you experience is what's call the "out of box" experience. It's all that routine that you go through that only is required once.
But if I was going to give the computer to one of my children, I would reset it and then they would experience the out of box routine because the computer would have its" tables" wiped.

It's a lousy comparison in some ways because the pcm doesn't require you to participate in the out of box routine. But it does have that routine itself. It experienced it the first time Ford woke it up on the assembly line.
It experienced it everytime its firmware was upgraded. (which is fairly often on this new OTA platform design) And as I mentioned earlier, it can and will experience it if/when it experiences a 12V disruption of more than a few minutes.

I actually find it appealing to think that I can easily, almost effortlessly, wipe the slate clean and let the truck be digitally born again, so to speak.

I assure you that I'm just an amateur at all this though. So please don't think otherwise. The real experts will have rolled their eyes a few times at this post I'm sure.

Afterall, there's data in the pcm (or some module) that doesn't "reset" regardless of what happens. (mileage for example) So my analogy(s) are not accurate.

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[jesaf00]

I don't know if I would say I recommend, but I have no reservations about it.
Truth is, if your battery was dead, or if it was disconnected for any kind of procedure as benign as a stereo system install, your PCM might experience "a reset".

And often times one of the troubleshooting techniques for addressing issues with a vehicle, is to do a "kam reset", (which is "keep alive memory" reset) It is just another phrase for these tables we are discussing.

I think of it this way.....

When you buy a computer or a smartphone, the first thing you experience is what's call the "out of box" experience. It's all that routine that you go through that only is required once.
But if I was going to give the computer to one of my children, I would reset it and then they would experience the out of box routine because the computer would have its" tables" wiped.

It's a lousy comparison in some ways because the pcm doesn't require you to participate in the out of box routine. But it does have that routine itself. It experienced it the first time Ford woke it up on the assembly line.
It experienced it everytime its firmware was upgraded. (which is fairly often on this new OTA platform design) And as I mentioned earlier, it can and will experience it if/when it experiences a 12V disruption of more than a few minutes.

I actually find it appealing to think that I can easily, almost effortlessly, wipe the slate clean and let the truck be digitally born again, so to speak.

I assure you that I'm just an amateur at all this though. So please don't think otherwise. The real experts will have rolled their eyes a few times at this post I'm sure.

Afterall, there's data in the pcm (or some module) that doesn't "reset" regardless of what happens. (mileage for example) So my analogy(s) are not accurate.

Still much appreciated. Do you know the difference between the PCM and PCM all adaptations? Would I do both or one over the other?

 

[Snakebitten]

I would ask a Forscan guru, which I am not, what the difference is between those two choices of reset options.
Although it's fair to say one choice implies MORE reset, if you will, than the other.

If your desire to reset at all is for a specific result, and the lessor reset does not result in what you were seeking, then nothing stops you from repeating the task a second time and choosing the other option?

I don't think there is any harm done the vehicle. The only negative I can think of is that the first few miles can be a bit crude compared to what a really nicely driving vehicle had already settled in as.

 

[oneinch]

You do know you are in the minority of house with needs of 20 KW.

i didn't have a clue. Everybody doesn't need 20 kWh? Who knew?

You do know .... most are not buying a PB just for running their house.

I didn't know anybody bought a Powerboost just for powering their house.

You do know .... It's a package with many pluses that can be put to use.

This i did know and it's a big part of why I bought one.

I don't get your point.

 

[Vin]

I agree with the OP. I hate his Powerboost, too.

Along with the OP's Powerboost, I also hate the "I hate my Powerboost" thread now, too.

 

[FrankThompson]

To•mah•toe to•may•toe. Yes, you did take my words out of context. Within the context of my words, a party trick is a fair description when comparing the little 7.2 kWh generator to a 20 kWh generator to power a house; as I did. Let's not forget when my power goes out I sit in the dark for 10 seconds and my lights come back on without lifting a finger. It is a great party trick to power you're house with your truck. Quite useful if you otherwise would be without power. Out in the boonies it is the bees knees.

Great you have a whole house generator. That cost what? $10k at least? It cost me $750 to add pro power to my truck. It was a hell of a great party trick during Hurricane Ian while we were out of power for a week. No I didn't run my whole house, but I ran enough and with only a fraction of the fuel my neighbor used with my gas generator I loaned him.

I also appreciate that you may not have stable power. We lose power maybe once or twice a year (if that) and mostly for less than an hour. During the 16 years in my current house, I can count our power outages on my fingers and toes they are that infrequent. Only 2 of those were of significant length (5 days or more due to hurricanes). It's just not economical for me to buy a whole house generator, though I agree it's nice if you have it.

I'll note that one of those longer outages they had to cut the natural gas to the whole city meaning my whole house generator would have done nothing for me (granted I know that is super rare).

As to my truck not running my while house, i know the kids are in bed, but here is our current usage, with the ac going full blast. The truck could easily power our 2k sqft house (note we have natural gas for hot water and stove top).

I agree they buying it solely to power your house is probably a bad idea. Most likely added it because the additional cost to get it was worth it for that added utility. For me it was more than worth it for those times we may be without power due to a bad storm. And even when I pay for the transfer switch I will enjoy the thousands I saved, even if it means I have to go hook up the truck to get the house going again.

 

[Snakebitten]

My family (kids and grandkids) are rural.
So even if I was willing to bank them a whole house generator, natural gas is off the table.
Propane or diesel?
I honestly don't know what the options are on a 20KW generator.

But I guarantee you they would take it!

 

[FrankThompson]

My family (kids and grandkids) are rural.
So even if I was willing to bank them a whole house generator, natural gas is off the table.
Propane or diesel?
I honestly don't know what the options are on a 20KW generator.

But I guarantee you they would take it!

You can do it on propane. I believe you can get multi fuel options as well if you have to run it off gas when you run out of propane, but don't quote on that. I only research them right after a hurricane because it seems like a nice idea then, but ultimately doesn't make financial sense for us. We are rural(ish). Smaller town, but we live in town and not in the "country". I'm hoping to change that in the next few years (further out, more land, neighbors further away..lol).

 

[oneinch]

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Not to pick on you Frank, I'm just using your post. Too many people have gotten triggered and are still getting triggered over what I posted. I suspect many have not read this entire thread, just the last couple of pages.

In posts I said three main things; 1) I think one should not give the Powerboost a ? for powering a house., 2) It's a great party trick though. Sure, it'll supply power to a house, but it won't power a house unless you live in a home that doesn't require much power., and 3) I do believe Ford overstates it's abilities though. They don't lie or mislead really. They just inflate reality.

I think #1 is valid. #3 was meant to add some clarity to #1. #2 is why I believe #1 and #3. I think a few here are actually offended by party trick. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ . It's great that some have actually powered their homes with their truck. I have no doubt they did. The Powerboost puts out 30 amps whilst most homes are now built with at least 200 amps of power or more. If not this then at least 100 amps. Given this it is accurate to say that the Powerboost will supply power, but it won't power a house unless... Of course the Powerboost will power some houses. Other houses it will only supply power to them. If a house needs more than 30 amps the Powerboost is going to struggle. The homeowner is going to have to make concessions; such as what has to be off when other things are on, or to turn things on in a certain order. They'll need to manage their load to fit within the rather small supply of 7.2 kWh. I said nothing about RVing or powering a construction site.

I think it's time for to stop replying to my comments. My original comment was off the topic of I Hate My Powerboost. Replies to my comment(s) are even further off topic.

 

[Snakebitten]

You really can't blame folks that have purchased the Powerboost, and have now experienced the potential game changing utility it offers in their circumstances, to view your post as worthy to respond.

I wasn't offended myself. I assure you.
And given the context that you had a Powerboost but ALSO a 20KW generator, I could see where you were coming from.

Still, surely you expected the responses
We love these dang rolling powergrids!

 

[FrankThompson]

Not to pick on you Frank, I'm just using your post. Too many people have gotten triggered and are still getting triggered over what I posted. I suspect many have not read this entire thread, just the last couple of pages.

In posts I said three main things; 1) I think one should not give the Powerboost a ? for powering a house., 2) It's a great party trick though. Sure, it'll supply power to a house, but it won't power a house unless you live in a home that doesn't require much power., and 3) I do believe Ford overstates it's abilities though. They don't lie or mislead really. They just inflate reality.

I think #1 is valid. #3 was meant to add some clarity to #1. #2 is why I believe #1 and #3. I think a few here are actually offended by party trick. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ . It's great that some have actually powered their homes with their truck. I have no doubt they did. The Powerboost puts out 30 amps whilst most homes are now built with at least 200 amps of power or more. If not this then at least 100 amps. Given this it is accurate to say that the Powerboost will supply power, but it won't power a house unless... Of course the Powerboost will power some houses. Other houses it will only supply power to them. If a house needs more than 30 amps the Powerboost is going to struggle. The homeowner is going to have to make concessions; such as what has to be off when other things are on, or to turn things on in a certain order. They'll need to manage their load to fit within the rather small supply of 7.2 kWh. I said nothing about RVing or powering a construction site.

I think it's time for to stop replying to my comments. My original comment was off the topic of I Hate My Powerboost. Replies to my comment(s) are even further off topic.

1. I read the whole thread. I waited to see your subsequent replies and read how it developed

2. I think most houses could easily survive off of less than 200 amps these days. Even if not, some are willing to give up some nice to haves for some need to haves in emergencies. I think you play with semantics when you say it's "supplying power to the house, not powering a house". In my instance I know I could power my full house. I don't consider myself a small house either (power usage wise). LED lights, lower power tvs, and some of our appliances on gas means by far my biggest user is a/c. It caps out at 2-3kw when running. For this i sure as hell will give this a ? for powering my house if I needed it to. Maybe it won't do your house, but I don't live in your house.

3. The op mentioned wanting this for instances like the freezes they had in Texas. Great use for a truck like this. This to me makes this somewhat on topic.

4. Ford, as far as I know, has never advertised the powerboost as a whole house generator (they did the lightning). They did mention that during the Texas freezes they could have helped and they were right. They could have. As a matter of fact most stuff I see on it is regarding work sites, not homes. Another use of mine (though as a diyer). Same as camping, etc

5, I don't care if you pick on me, I'm not that concerned about it. It's not a party trick to me. It provided me and my family some comfort and saved all our food from going bad (as well as provided internet via the in truck wifi). I think you do disservice to the feature and those that utilize it on the way we have, but you are entitled to your opinion. It's another tool in my bag and everyone around me was amazed that we could have easily gone 2 months with our 100 gallons of gas with our limited power needs during the hurricane (some lights, fans, fridge, chargers, and the occasional kitchen appliance). That same gas would have lasted me 10 days with my generator if I was lucky. Have any of my neighbors rushed out to buy one? No, not that I know of, but it wasn't a party trick. I even offered to power neighbors fridges and freezers if they needed it, but most these days are pretty well prepared for hurricanes around here.

6. I wasn't triggered, I was just replying to your message.

7 you're right, we're too far off the other issues the OP has so I'll stop.


OP, I feel for you. My truck is amazing and it sucks that it seems you may have gotten a lemon. I know if there is a way to fix it, most likely your get the best information on these forums. These are some great and knowledgeable people who continue to amaze me with their generosity when it comes to sharing that knowledge and helping everyone out.

I only wish I knew myself how to help you, but I've been blessed with a, knock on wood, trouble free power boost

 

[mbouck3]

i didn't have a clue. Everybody doesn't need 20 kWh? Who knew?



I didn't know anybody bought a Powerboost just for powering their house.



This i did know and it's a big part of why I bought one.

I don't get your point.

Then why did you post it is just a party trick, never mind

 

[mbouck3]

I like my PB, but agree with you about the transmission. You would think from how jerky it is that it was the first time Ford was trying out this new-fangled Automatic transmission... I can't believe it is all due to the electric motor, either, given the difference in how it feels in Normal vs Eco mode. I am glad my Lightning should come in a few months, with no transmission shifting to jerk around.

That's why I wish the PB was a series hybrid and only used the motor for power generation and maybe locked ice to wheels above 60 sence in essence it is a single speed electric and coupling any lower would severely lug engine. Oh and a plug in with at least 50 miles

 

[Vin]

...My original comment was off the topic of I Hate My Powerboost. Replies to my comment(s) are even further off topic.

I just want to point out that all of my comments have been strictly ON the topic of hating the OP's Powerboost. I can't stand that thing.

 

[UGADawg96]

We installed a transfer switch and can power almost the entire house except the central HVAC unit with our PB. We may lose power once a year for an hour and every couple years due to a hurricane for a longer duration. In 15 years living in FL, we've really only lost power two times for significant period of time. Once was 24 hours and the second was 36 hours. In both those cases our biggest concerns were the two fridges, ceiling fans, and hot water. So yeah, when we lose power in these cases, we connect the truck to the house, we have a party, and the neighbors say that is a sweat trick.

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