7.2KW ProPower for Off-Grid Cabin

[OT66]

Hello,

I've been loooking around the forums and see some discussion about powering a home with the ProPower, the need for a transfer switch, etc. I have an off grid cabin with a solar system and am wondering if there are some cheaper/easier options for me since I'm not connected to the grid? I have a 30A 240V plug that I typically plug into a generator to charge my solar batteries/run the cabin. It faults immediately when I plug into my ProPower.

I've read that I can remove the ground from my cable that goes truck to the solar inverter inside the cabin but not safe. I appreciate any comments/help with this. Thanks.

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[UGADawg96]

You answered your own questions. Get a transfer switch. Unless you live for risk & yolo.

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

 

[OT66]

You answered your own questions. Get a transfer switch. Unless you live for risk & yolo.

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

LOL, was hoping to find a solution I hadn't yet come across. I have very little understanding of most of this. The transfer switches I'm seeing are ones where you wire in certain breakers from your panel that you want to use during power outage. The 7.2KW will easily power everything inside my cabin, so can I get a switch that will just transfer the entire panel to be charged by my ProPower when I'm not using solar? If so, would you mind linking me to it? Thanks!

 

[Harry Dangler]

I am not that savvy with all the electrical stuff but my understanding is the transfer switch was only needed to keep a back flow of electricity from the grid so you don't electrocute some working down the line somewhere. There's another thread on here about the breaker popping when they tried to use a skill saw of a miter saw and it talked about a floating ground or neutral or something like that

 

[Tosh]

My experience:

If you want to use 240v 30amp you should install the transfer switch. I have one in the house - all of the breakers are behind it but I can't actually switch all of them on when using Propower (no airconditioner, no dryer, etc.) That's more load than the truck can handle.

If you want to use 120v 30amp, as if you were powering an RV, just get the appropriate dog bone adapter for the 3 blade RV 30amp plug. You will see 1 of 2 banks in Propower is under load, and the other is not (in my case bank B is active using this connection).

If you encounter a ground fault in Propower then you will probably need to have a neutral bonding adapter, which is common with RV's powered by portable generators. I did not encounter that problem with my Escape RV powered by my truck.

 

[hcforde]

Check these out, your answer may be here (possible ground fault loop)

 

[Hullguy]

Buy and install the correct transfer switch. Why try and cheap out on something so important?

 

[RickBullotta]

LOL, was hoping to find a solution I hadn't yet come across. I have very little understanding of most of this. The transfer switches I'm seeing are ones where you wire in certain breakers from your panel that you want to use during power outage. The 7.2KW will easily power everything inside my cabin, so can I get a switch that will just transfer the entire panel to be charged by my ProPower when I'm not using solar? If so, would you mind linking me to it? Thanks!

Any competent electrician can get you set up properly for this. Don't DIY it if you "have very little understanding of most of this".

 

[Snakebitten]

The fact that you are NOT connected to the grid is unique compared to most folks that are attempting to use ProPower as a backup.

I'm sure there are options that are unique as well. Who designed and installed your off-grid cabin electrical system? Surely they have the expertise to know what your options are?

 

[Chili]

You need the transfer switch because without it you are feeding power from two places, your solar inverter and your truck. The switch would be to decide which of the two is sending power. If you didn't have a switch and got it to "work" you would have all sorts of issues like which ground has the least resistance because that's where all the power is going.

 

[jeffcrum]

What you want to do should absolutely work. There is something setup wrong (or can be done differently).

No grid power ... nothing too transfer ... no transfer switche needed.

 

[glockcopbob]

I am assuming the " It faults immediately when I plug into my ProPower." is a Ground Fault?

Your solar system has two grounds, the DC and the AC.

One of those is interfering with the Ground Fault system in the truck. I am going to assume that you will need to lift the neutral to ground bond off the inverter (the AC System - don't lift the DC side as it can have power 24/7. either from the solar panels or back feed from the inverter.). you may also need to isolate (open the breaker) to the solar inverter. Solar inverters draw power in the evening from the AC side. something internal could cause the trucks system to read it as a GF. your dealing with semiconductors in the inverter and they can cause problems with sensitive measurement equipment.

The best and safest way is to install the transfer switch that has separate breakers for the loads you want to back feed. If you feel comfortable to install a breaker in your existing panel, then you can install this type of transfer switch. You simply remove the wire from a breaker and then wire nut it to a wire from the transfer switch. the transfer switch provides another wire to place back into the breaker.

The only other safe way is to install a manual disconnect style transfer switch before the main panel. I assume that you have a single phase (two hots and a neutral) power, so you can use a three pole manual transfer switch and wire the hots and the neutral to there own poles. this will open the neutral when you swap between power sources.

This is an example but you need a 3pole (probably comes rated for 480V or 600V).

https://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-200-...ency-Power-Transfer-Switch-TC10324R/100150463

 

[Yves]

If you could share some pictures or diagrams of your configuration may be you could get some options. I have to agree with @Hullguy get the proper equipment and don't cheap out and I also agree with @Snakebitten whomever installed your solution might be able to help you. Tell them your generator (F-150) has bonded neutral and GFI. For standard electrical installation the neutral has to be isolated from the service provider and your F-150. But please don't go with the option of cutting the ground between the truck and the plug at the house......

 

[Snakebitten]

If you could share some pictures or diagrams of your configuration may be you could get some options. I have to agree with @Hullguy get the proper equipment and don't cheap out and I also agree with @Snakebitten whomever installed your solution might be able to help you. Tell them your generator (F-150) has bonded neutral and GFI. For standard electrical installation the neutral has to be isolated from the service provider and your F-150. But please don't go with the option of cutting the ground between the truck and the plug at the house......

I might have said something that left the wrong impression but I'm a RV full-timer so I've never had an issue with either Powerboost that I've owned. They both have performed as advertised.

I've even ran one 30 Amp RV and another 50A RV (adapted to 30A) simultaneously during a power outage. That burned a little more gas per hour during the day (2-Air conditioners), but worked like a charm.

 

[Yves]

I might have said something that left the wrong impression but I'm a RV full-timer so I've never had an issue with either Powerboost that I've owned. They both have performed as advertised.

I've even ran one 30 Amp RV and another 50A RV (adapted to 30A) simultaneously during a power outage. That burned a little more gas per hour during the day (2-Air conditioners), but worked like a charm.

Not at all. I think there is a little something in his solar configuration that cause the problem with the 7.2KW. As you stated probaly the provider of his solar system might be able to help him. I had a proper panel installed for my house and I run most of my electrical except for oven/dryer and few plugs. I love my 7.2kw and the truck that came with it

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