Charge on Solar now enabled for Cybertruck

[65SoYoLO]

Looks like Tesla finally enables charging on solar for Cybertruck.

Not sure I’m following the question. Have what on the app?

Charge on solar

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[AlmostHuman]

Charge on solar

Oh yeah, I have it and use it all the time for the truck. I may disable for the winter, we just don’t kick out enough solar for it to really matter when the panels are covered in snow

 

[65SoYoLO]

Oh yeah, I have it and use it all the time for the truck. I may disable for the winter, we just don’t kick out enough solar for it to really matter when the panels are covered in snow

I am thinking you need to have powershare also? I don't have that on my app.

 

[txtravwill]

I am thinking you need to have powershare also? I don't have that on my app.

No, you only need existing Gateways/PowerWall/Solar system from Tesla. I use it all the time time, have minimum set at 50%, then up to 80% on extra solar - love it.

 

[AlmostHuman]

No, you only need existing Gateways/PowerWall/Solar system from Tesla. I use it all the time time, have minimum set at 50%, then up to 80% on extra solar - love it.

Can confirm, we only have Powerwalls, solar, and Gen 3 Wall Connectors. Do almost the same, normally around 35% from any source (minimum) and 50% from extra solar. We don’t commute for work and any running around town 50% is plenty for us. If we have a trip that requires a little more juice I just set the schedule to charge it up more (say 70%) to be ready before we need to leave.

 

[Crissa]

Nope, the only port to charge is the NACS port so you’d have to connect the MPPT to charge of some kind, like the mobile charger.

If you had the right MPPT, you could bypass the onboard charger.

-Crissa

 

[AlmostHuman]

If you had the right MPPT, you could bypass the onboard charger.

-Crissa

How would you do that? Or better yet how would you do that and not void the warranty or blow up your truck

 

[Crissa]

How would you do that? Or better yet how would you do that and not void the warranty or blow up your truck

Well, it wouldn't void the warranty, because that's not a thing.

Secondly, you'd have to know the voltage range for the traction pack and the MPPT would bet set to that range and would not exceed it. That what an MPPT should do.

-Crissa

 

[AlmostHuman]

Well, it wouldn't void the warranty, because that's not a thing.

Secondly, you'd have to know the voltage range for the traction pack and the MPPT would bet set to that range and would not exceed it. That what an MPPT should do.

-Crissa

I just assumed the battery limited warranty and/or the basic vehicle limited warranty would be voided if you starting taking the truck apart to try to plumb in some kind of external direct DC charging to the vehicle.

 

[Crissa]

I just assumed the battery limited warranty and/or the basic vehicle limited warranty would be voided if you starting taking the truck apart to try to plumb in some kind of external direct DC charging to the vehicle.

That would be an unenforceable term of service.

Law and case law say they have to prove any repair or modification was the source of the damage. Those little 'no user serviceable parts inside' void stickers aren't valid, either.

https://www.ifixit.com/News/74736/warranty-void-stickers-are-illegal-in-the-us-what-about-elsewhere

Know your rights. Claim your rights. Defend your rights.

-Crissa

 

[AlmostHuman]

That would be an unenforceable term of service.

Law and case law say they have to prove any repair or modification was the source of the damage. Those little 'no user serviceable parts inside' void stickers aren't valid, either.

https://www.ifixit.com/News/74736/warranty-void-stickers-are-illegal-in-the-us-what-about-elsewhere

Know your rights. Claim your rights. Defend your rights.

-Crissa

Just going to charge my truck like a normal.

 

[Crissa]

Yeah, well, an 800v MPPT might be pretty spendy and you'd really need to know and have the right tools to access the pack. So while it's simple electronically, it's not simple to implement.

-Crissa

 

[JBee]

How would you do that? Or better yet how would you do that and not void the warranty or blow up your truck

There are some aftermarket options, but a simple way using an external off-grid inverter will simply allow you to connect PV to one side of it and 240V to the other for AC charging port of the CT. Some can also be used in batteryless mode, the only thing you need to be able to with that version, is actively control the CT charge amps to match the PV input power, which can be done with a microcontroller, and even over Home Assistant. If you add batteries to the inverter, you then just have to make sure from time to time that you have enough external battery capacity to charge at that rate, or reduce it manually on the Tesla app to suit.

A 400V MPPT should suffice, provided you can negotiate that with the CT charge port. No need to open up the CT battery terminals to do this.

The real question is if you want to have it portable to take with in the CT, or have it fixed mounted when you park? Obviously, charging directly DC would technically be more efficient so you'd need a "DC-Coupled" system for that like this:

https://cleantechnica.com/2024/09/2...e-inverter-battery-bi-directional-ev-charger/

It's possible to use the DC input of the NACS/CSS2 port for low kW DC charging as well, provided you can negotiate the right connection to the vehicle. Once again though the trick is to make sure a) you know how much solar is available in your system b) you can configure the EV charger to match it.

Ideally though the CT should have included a DC port to plug in a dedicated MPPT, or even better, reconfigured one of the onboard inverters/chargers to act like an MPPT itself. While we're at it, I'd like a ePTO as well.

 

[Crissa]

Running a CCS coupling seems like the worst way to do it. All the disadvantages of the AC charging plus a bunch of overhead in the truck.

-Crissa

 

[JBee]

Running a CCS coupling seems like the worst way to do it. All the disadvantages of the AC charging plus a bunch of overhead in the truck.

-Crissa

Read again... I gave solutions for both DC and AC, using existing ports, without disassembly.

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