PowerShare Gateway Not Compatible with Solar yet!?

[DECO]

Tesla let me pay over $3000 (partial payment until system is working) for installation of the gateway and then I’m told it’s not compatible with Solar yet. I have Enphase Solar and no power wall. Apparently waiting on software fixes and possibly some hardware to monitor Solar consumption/production. Saw a YouTube video were someone had Solar with no power wall and the new gateway running on some beta software though. Anyone else running into this situation?

Sponsored

 

[Robruok]

I have an older enphase system, and am in the same boat, but I have yet to install. Did your installer specifically somehow link the breaker for the enphase to the gateway or is that not necessary? It doesn't bother me that it doesn't work right now as long as I get it correctly set up from the get-go so I don't have to pay extra money later

 

[Jones 1]

Why would it ever be compatible with Solar panels?
What would be the benefit of having them connected to your Solar panels.
The Powerwall Gateway yes. Because it is used to change direction of energy flow.
if it was your panels. It would send energy back to your Battery or Home. Not your panels.

Let me know if I’m overlooking something.

 

[rudedawg78]

Why would it ever be compatible with Solar panels?
What would be the benefit of having them connected to your Solar panels.
The Powerwall Gateway yes. Because it is used to change direction of energy flow.
if it was your panels. It would send energy back to your Battery or Home. Not your panels.

Let me know if I’m overlooking something.

From the Powerwall Tesla website:

Ref: How Powerwall Works | Tesla Support

 

[Woodrick]

The only plans that I know of is Tesla solar with Powerwalls.

 

[Robruok]

We may be speaking at cross purposes. I mean obvious if the truck is providing prolonged islanded power, then the solar panels would prolong that capability. I don't care how they connected to the gateway just that it is indeed connected and that it works as a comprehensive cohesive whole

 

[Robruok]

The only plans that I know of is Tesla solar with Powerwalls.

 

[DECO]

I have an older enphase system, and am in the same boat, but I have yet to install. Did your installer specifically somehow link the breaker for the enphase to the gateway or is that not necessary? It doesn't bother me that it doesn't work right now as long as I get it correctly set up from the get-go so I don't have to pay extra money later

They did not move the Enphase breakers to the gateway

 

[Robruok]

That's what I'm afraid of, unless it's not necessary. It's vitally important to me that the solar array is controlled or I don't want to get into some kind of goofy loop where the The power goes out: The enphase
Inverters don't detect the grids so they shut down. Then the truck decides to power the house back on, then the end phase inverters come back on, then the truck thinks it's got shore power again so it shuts down and I'm in some kind of loop. I don't think that Tesla intended for me to shut off the breaker of the solar panels every time I wanted to power my house. If The gateway is smart enough to control the solar panel inverters, I need to know how it would be done mechanically to make sure it's done the first time I have the power share equipment installed so I don't have to pay extra for that capability later.

 

[Woodrick]

We may be speaking at cross purposes. I mean obvious if the truck is providing prolonged islanded power, then the solar panels would prolong that capability. I don't care how they connected to the gateway just that it is indeed connected and that it works as a comprehensive cohesive whole

And in that case, it's not Tesla working with Enphase, it's Enphase tricked into thinking that the Powershare is the utility power.

Powershare requires a grid disconnect. It can't provide power until the grid has been disconnected. If the Enphase is on the same side as the Powershare, after the Powershare comes on, the Enphase may come on as well.

And then there's the fact that two different highly computer-controlled systems are watching the power and hopefully the Enphase won't make Powershare upset.

 

[Woodrick]

That's what I'm afraid of, unless it's not necessary. It's vitally important to me that the solar array is controlled or I don't want to get into some kind of goofy loop where the The power goes out: The enphase
Inverters don't detect the grids so they shut down. Then the truck decides to power the house back on, then the end phase inverters come back on, then the truck thinks it's got shore power again so it shuts down and I'm in some kind of loop. I don't think that Tesla intended for me to shut off the breaker of the solar panels every time I wanted to power my house. If The gateway is smart enough to control the solar panel inverters, I need to know how it would be done mechanically to make sure it's done the first time I have the power share equipment installed so I don't have to pay extra for that capability later.

The gateway is the transfer switch. Things that are outside the gateway are only utility powered. Things that are inside the gateway are either Powershare or utility powered.

Powershare has a sensor outside the gateway to detect power. If power goes away, the relays open and disconnect from the grid. They will stay open until power is detected on the grid side.

The bigger question is whether Powershare would see Enphase also providing power.
The whole thing about grid-tie and Enphase is that the grid-tie systems monitor the phase and must meet the phase of the incoming power exactly. Powershare may also be closely monitoring phase, I don't know, but it wouldn't surprise me. If either system detects a phase drift, they try to correct and if they can't correct, they have to disconnect.

 

[Robruok]

And in that case, it's not Tesla working with Enphase, it's Enphase tricked into thinking that the Powershare is the utility power.

Powershare requires a grid disconnect. It can't provide power until the grid has been disconnected. If the Enphase is on the same side as the Powershare, after the Powershare comes on, the Enphase may come on as well.

And then there's the fact that two different highly computer-controlled systems are watching the power and hopefully the Enphase won't make Powershare upset.

just noticed

The gateway is the transfer switch. Things that are outside the gateway are only utility powered. Things that are inside the gateway are either Powershare or utility powered.

Powershare has a sensor outside the gateway to detect power. If power goes away, the relays open and disconnect from the grid. They will stay open until power is detected on the grid side.

The bigger question is whether Powershare would see Enphase also providing power.
The whole thing about grid-tie and Enphase is that the grid-tie systems monitor the phase and must meet the phase of the incoming power exactly. Powershare may also be closely monitoring phase, I don't know, but it wouldn't surprise me. If either system detects a phase drift, they try to correct and if they can't correct, they have to disconnect.

I just noticed this reply from the contractor Qmerit assigned:
This is the response from Qmerit regarding the solar –



"Unless this is a line side tap on the solar, it is recommended to move the solar breakers to the gateway. Here is the rub on that. Tesla does not have the software embedded in the system to accept Solar and once the v3 gateway reads a negative input out solar production it will shut down the bi-direction capability of the gateway. There is a fix on the way but is not expected to come out closer to the end of the year."


So, I spoke with the tech and said, I want you to run the wire but not connect it so I can do it once the software patch is in. the problem is my install is running over the cost of the installation credit, and I'm cheap

 

[mongo]

Inverters don't detect the grids so they shut down. Then the truck decides to power the house back on, then the end phase inverters come back on, then the truck thinks it's got shore power again so it shuts down and I'm in some kind of loop.

The truck should be getting island status directly from the Gateway, so solar feeds shouldn't impact that. Just like Powerwall feed wouldn't.

 

[Robruok]

the Gateway needs to be smart enough to control the solar. I.E. if the power goes off, and the solar automatically goes off (as is the case with older enphase inverters) then the truck disconnects from the grid and supplies power, then the panels could kick on, and think the the grid is on, and then disconnect. Apparently the hardware in the gateway to do this in there, just needs a software update. As such, I am having them run a power wire to the solar array to be able to control the solar panel output.

 

[Woodrick]

The truck should be getting island status directly from the Gateway, so solar feeds shouldn't impact that. Just like Powerwall feed wouldn't.

Where would it get utility power status if it wasn't the utility side of the gateway?

In this setup, there really isn't an island concept. It's utility on/ utility off.
The Enphase then just sees power, sync and augment.

And that where it appears the Powershare can see the extra power and assume that something isn't quite right and jumps ship.

Sponsored