Powerboost ProPower, good boy. Powered house after wind storm

[jbrinker]

I don't have anything set up yet hardwired, but when we lost power in the windstorm a couple weeks back, I flipped off our main breaker, and backfed through my dedicated 20A RV circuit outside the garage (just one phase, so half the main panel) and was able to power our fridge, living room (TV/Lights), boiler, bathroom, and a few other things. (Yes, I KNOW, electricians please do not crucify me, and yes I had to break the ground where I plugged into the receptacle)

I ran another 12ga extension cord to the truck on the B side to run the microwave and rotated with other high power loads (wife's hair dryer, etc) when needed. Peak draw for the "half a house" was only 850watts for all the "essentials". We let it run all night, and for just about 24 hours of use we used less than 1/8 tank of gas.

Once I get a transfer switch set up, I should be able to weather any storm for any length of time easily with this truck. Could probably even run the electric stove (probably not the oven) if I were careful with other loads. Electrician comes out in 2 weeks.

Edit: Sure do wish they would put the pro power back into the Ford app!!!

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[Henfield]

PB and battery backed Solar will gradually replace back up home power generators that many, me included installed.

 

[HammaMan]

The upshot of the generator on our trucks being bonded is that it "cannot" share the neutral circuit with the neutral coming into your house from the utility.

It can share the neutral, it's the ground coming from the truck that goes discontinuous. If you don't connect the neutral you will end up with a fraction of the 240v that's normally split into 120/120 into something that could like like 10v/230v frying a whole bunch of devices in short order.

3 and 4 phase ATS are now super cheap. This is rated for 63a, perfect for a 60a subpanel.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/395031864011

Whereas something like this can switch the whole panel
https://www.ebay.com/itm/396288151313

 

[tsigwing]

It can share the neutral, it's the ground coming from the truck that goes discontinuous. If you don't connect the neutral you will end up with a fraction of the 240v that's normally split into 120/120 into something that could like like 10v/230v frying a whole bunch of devices in short order.

3 and 4 phase ATS are now super cheap. This is rated for 63a, perfect for a 60a subpanel.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/395031864011

Whereas something like this can switch the whole panel
https://www.ebay.com/itm/396288151313

UL Listed?

 

[Hullguy]

PB and battery backed Solar will gradually replace back up home power generators that many, me included installed.

They will, but the cost differential between a generator and the batteries is still so large a generator is still the most cost effective way to go

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