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F-150 PowerBoost 7.2KW Generator Ground Fault when trying to Power House

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(@Jon Hartline)
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Joined: 9 months ago
Posts: 2
Topic starter  

Hi Mike,

I have a 2021 F-150 with the 7.2KW generator onboard. Despite searching the internet, speaking with a few electricians, and calling Ford, I haven’t found a solution to powering my house using the truck’s onboard generator. 

I had an electrician install a manual transfer switch on my main home service panel (200A). The house was built in 2011 and still meets current electrical code requirements. During a power outage, I attempted to connect my truck to the transfer switch. As part of the process, I turned off all of the individual breakers in my home. I then connected the truck to my house transfer switch with the proper cable and put the truck in generator mode. As soon as I attempt to turn on a single breaker on my house panel, the F-150 throws a ground fault error and turns off the electrical supply. I attempted to reset the truck and retry multiple times, but had no luck. 

Do you have any ideas as to how I could use the truck to power my house in the event of an electrical outage? This is super frustrating as it was one of the main reasons I spent the extra money on the truck with the big generator…

Any ideas you have would be much appreciated!


   
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 Tony
(@Tony)
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Joined: 3 weeks ago
Posts: 3
 

Did you ever figure this out I have the same problem.


   
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(@John Borsi)
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Joined: 3 weeks ago
Posts: 1
 
  1. Same problem with trying to power our home as well! Very frustrated and need a solution from Ford! I can power my travel trailers thankfully and individual items in my home, by just not going thru the panel. Use extension cords using the 20Amp outlets.

   
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 Tony
(@Tony)
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Joined: 3 weeks ago
Posts: 3
 

I found this which explains it.

 

I did some digging into this and it seems the Powerboost system is a bonded neutral and total GFCI protected system.

What this means is:

To connect safely and in code compliance to your home will require a 3 pole GFCI transfer switch (not a standard 2 pole) which transfers the neutral as well as the 2 lines (hots).

The reason is twofold. You cannot have a ground/neutral bond in two places and the GFCI system will not allow it because it sees potential on the ground coming from the house as it is in parallel with the neutral.

The 3 pole transfer switch breaks the neutral from the house and transfers it to the generator.

You could technically backfeed without a transfer switch by not connecting the ground from the powerboost to the panel but obviously this creates the danger of no return path for voltage in the case of a short or open in the neutral between the gennie and the panel.

 


   
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(@Jon Hartline)
New Member
Joined: 9 months ago
Posts: 2
Topic starter  

Has anyone verified the 3-pole GFCI transfer switch solution above actually works?

I spoke to a few electricians who weren’t sure how to address the issue, so I more or less gave up  


   
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 Tony
(@Tony)
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Joined: 3 weeks ago
Posts: 3
 

It works but is pricey and a pain to do you need to separate all the grounds (or was it neutrals) in the panel to do it.  Or just unhook the ground in your plug going to the powerboost which works too just is against code so it is not recommended. 


   
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