PowerShare is worth it - Story from hurricane Helene.

[2DVS4U]

Our power was off for 24 hours yesterday, I ran 2 Refrigerators, TV, cable/internet, computers a fan a light and 3 phone chargers off extension cords for about 15 hours and only used 11% of my battery, then I used my generator for the rest of yesterday till the power went back on and that gave me an idea, I went to Lowes and bought 2-male 14-50 plugs and 19' of 10-guage 4-conductor cord so the next time I will hook up like I do when I use my Generator to back feed my panel and that way I can run all 110volt circuits and 2-split unit a/c's just like I do with the generator.
Note: if you do this you have to make sure you turn off the MAIN and all the 220 circuits to prevent back feed or overload and (DO NOT TURN THE MAIN BACK ON TILL YOU DISCONNECT IT).

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[Derektsla]

Great benefit of the Cybertruck.

This is one of the reasons I will install this when I get mine.

I also want backup power such as the powerwall or a similar product. That way if this ever occurs and I need to take my truck somewhere, such as charging it for more power to my house or if I need to take it to work, my house and family still have power while I'm gone.

Combine this with starlink and I might not even realize that the power went out until I see the notification

When we initially lost power, the lights flickered and then power cut off for about 3-4 seconds. I learned 2 things from this…

1. You won’t always get notified if the truck starts powing your house. Cell and internet were flaky, I never got a notification.

2. I didn’t know this, but you CAN’T enable the rear truck outlets while the truck is feeding power to your house. So make sure you have plenty of extension cords to run to things outside your house if needed.

 

[Derektsla]

Wow, that is a great story! All my best for the many affected by the storm.

The story should be sent to the press, which I’m sure would come out as “ cybertrucks leaking/will not run
in hard rain” ?

Very true. My neighbors got together for a hur-I-que (just made that up, a bar-b-que right after a hurricane to eat all the expensive meat they can’t save). To my surprise, they were all bragging about my truck effortlessly dragging branches. They shared a few memes they have seen about cybertruck owners doing stupid things and said I should share a video they took. I told them it wouldn’t matter, haters gonna hate! ?‍

 

[heems]

…existing solar/powerwall owners … already have everything we need.

I think you answered your own question. I am in the same boat. Suspect because of above it’s low on the priority list for Tesla.

 

[YukonJack]

I’m in upstate SC. Many trees down and flooding. Lot’s of trees downed power lines and major power outages across the area. Power pole and transformer to my house was knocked down. Many roads blocked with downed trees. Haven’t seen any crews yet so will likely be a while before power is restored.

My CT is running refrigerator, lights, charging outlet, fan, and our hot water (instant/120v controller) - staying under the 20amp limit. Starter at 80% yesterday noon and down 15% so far.

I had the Qmerit team show up about a month ago and quote installing Powershare - it was outrageous at over $14K. Opted to have local electrician install a generator cutover, route wires to cut-over box, install surge protection, and install Wall connector for $2K. I’ll be able to use the 240V outlet from CT to the generator cutover when completed. That was scheduled for next week - so too late to help current situation.

I’ve had my CT for one week today.

 

[Cyberman]

Greenville, SC area. We were getting hammered by Helene.

My truck is currently powering…
- My house
- 100’ extension cord to my neighbors to run 2 shop vacs to keep his basement from flooding. (it’s a miracle they are not tripping a breaker)
- A refrigerator that is now storing several thousands of dollars of my neighbor’s medication.

I honestly never figured it would come in this handy, but glad I paid to install it now.

UPDATE

Thanks for all the supportive words. It was a tough day. I left my truck to power the house for a while and then left to join a crew cutting up trees all day to free up roads.

i tried not to show up my friends driving diesels, but it was hard. We had to drag several very big logs off the road. The Cybertruck did it silently with no tire spin. The diesel was spinning tires and making lots of noise. The AWD and weight made a big difference.

I used 10% power overnight and morning. Then 8% driving around. Retuned to my house with 82% power, still says 2 days of power left. But I am not running AC much to save power since it might be multiple days. Running a fridge, chest freezer, water heaters, TV’s, internet, and a few other things. Only about .5-1.5kw usage.

Also, I now have about $20k worth of medication in my fridge from several neighbors.

Feeling very blessed today. My brother’s house was hit by a tree, but not bad damage. We had a big tree fall but not on the house. The last image is a golf course pretending to be a river!

Many other small reasons I have realized PowerShare is great
1. Having PowerShare means… you don’t have to wait in an endless line for gasoline at the few stations with power. It’s funny how people have told me gas is “easier” in a disaster because power goes out first. But they forget it takes power to run gas pumps.
2. you can make your own coffee still. So you don’t have to stand in a 2 hour line at Dunkin or Starbucks.
3. You can store cold food, because the grocery stores without power will not have cold food after about 2 days.
4. you keep your internet and wireless up, so you can get updates on things. No one else knew what was going on after the storm.
5. If there is a supercharger not too far away, you can drive there to recharge and add another several days of house power in about 40m. (Less time than gas station line)
6. You can keep all your electric tools charged. Those little Dewalt electric chainsaws are awesome, but you need batteries. There is a shortage of gas, so people are passing around gas cans for chainsaws.

FYI - You CANT enable your truck outlets while the truck is powering your house.

Cybertruck saving the planet, and humanity, one day at a time.

 

[YukonJack]

Super charger on Haywood rd was working today . My truck had powers my hose all day and has another 24 hours as it sits . This thing is amazing . Turned off ac and ovens but ruining two frigates , freezers and lights as needed .

Thanks. Looks like three Greenville CT’s on this thread. My first super charge was at that station last Saturday about 3PM. Was my first stop after picking it up from the SC in NC. Saw a CT wrapped with Green advertising ….

 

[Deleted member 4261]

Our power was off for 24 hours yesterday, I ran 2 Refrigerators, TV, cable/internet, computers a fan a light and 3 phone chargers off extension cords for about 15 hours and only used 11% of my battery, then I used my generator for the rest of yesterday till the power went back on and that gave me an idea, I went to Lowes and bought 2-male 14-50 plugs and 19' of 10-guage 4-conductor cord so the next time I will hook up like I do when I use my Generator to back feed my panel and that way I can run all 110volt circuits and 2-split unit a/c's just like I do with the generator.
Note: if you do this you have to make sure you turn off the MAIN and all the 220 circuits to prevent back feed or overload and (DO NOT TURN THE MAIN BACK ON TILL YOU DISCONNECT IT).

Anyone using the CT for this and also have Powerwall or similar with solar PV, how does this integrate with those systems.
My thoughts are all EV should be setup for this.

 

[HaulingAss]

When we initially lost power, the lights flickered and then power cut off for about 3-4 seconds. I learned 2 things from this…

1. You won’t always get notified if the truck starts powing your house. Cell and internet were flaky, I never got a notification.

2. I didn’t know this, but you CAN’T enable the rear truck outlets while the truck is feeding power to your house. So make sure you have plenty of extension cords to run to things outside your house if needed.

Extension cords to run things outside your house?

You mean like Christmas lights and landscape lighting?

Oh, wait, those should be already wired into the houses electrical system anyway. Besides, what kind of twisted soul would show off to his neighbors without power by running Christmas lights and landscape lighting?

If you have Home Powershare, and you wired all circuits into the system, then your home would work as if it had grid power. If you needed power outside of the home, you would simply do what you always do, run an extension cord from an outlet in the house.

 

[Derektsla]

Extension cords to run things outside your house?

You mean like Christmas lights and landscape lighting?

Oh, wait, those should be already wired into the houses electrical system anyway. Besides, what kind of twisted soul would show off to his neighbors without power by running Christmas lights and landscape lighting?

If you have Home Powershare, and you wired all circuits into the system, then your home would work as if it had grid power. If you needed power outside of the home, you would simply do what you always do, run an extension cord from an outlet in the house.

I didn’t have time to type out all the details. We have a bigger home with 2 panels. PowerShare installer said the equipment can only be connected to 1 panel, so we picked the panel with the most things we needed. (AC, water heaters, bedroom lighting, etc.). To power the things that don’t run off that panel, dishwasher, expresso maker, disposal, etc, we run cords from the powered outlets (about 50%) to those things. Plenty of power, it’s just split. (I pushed back on the installer, because plenty of generators can power both panels, but I guess it’s a Tesla specific limitation.)

We were not being jerks purposefully wasting power on outside lights, but some things I needed to power were outside, such as portable battery fridge, etc. it’s not like the neighbors couldn’t tell we had power anyway. I’m not going to complain about running cords, they are saying power down for a week for some. I’ll hit a supercharger late tonight nearby and charge up enough to get a few additional days.

 

[CyberGus]

To my surprise, they were all bragging about my truck effortlessly dragging branches.

You didn't rip out your bumper? That's un-possible!

 

[ChargeNdave]

Our power was off for 24 hours yesterday, I ran 2 Refrigerators, TV, cable/internet, computers a fan a light and 3 phone chargers off extension cords for about 15 hours and only used 11% of my battery, then I used my generator for the rest of yesterday till the power went back on and that gave me an idea, I went to Lowes and bought 2-male 14-50 plugs and 19' of 10-guage 4-conductor cord so the next time I will hook up like I do when I use my Generator to back feed my panel and that way I can run all 110volt circuits and 2-split unit a/c's just like I do with the generator.
Note: if you do this you have to make sure you turn off the MAIN and all the 220 circuits to prevent back feed or overload and (DO NOT TURN THE MAIN BACK ON TILL YOU DISCONNECT IT).

If you use #10 AWG for this purpose it will overheat. You need larger size wire like #6 AWG CU.

 

[Wonderful]

Not sure if you're still out of power, but with neighbors meds, I'd personally not drive around and help clear if I could. You are now their lifeline and should preserve battery for that fridge and their meds. Jump in a gas truck for the time being, unless there is a charger nearby with power.

 

[2DVS4U]

If you use #10 AWG for this purpose it will overheat. You need larger size wire like #6 AWG CU.

Yes, I agree but my generator cable is 10 Guage, and it doesn't get hot, so I chose to do the cable the same and made it shorter (9-feet long). so, the next time we get an outage I will test and give feedback.

 

[ChargeNdave]

Yes, I agree but my generator cable is 10 Guage, and it doesn't get hot, so I chose to do the cable the same and made it shorter (9-feet long). so, the next time we get an outage I will test and give feedback.

I know how this experiment ends and I assure you it is not worth it. I am talking damage to your vehicle as well as your electric panel. Worst case it will start a fire. Please reconsider.

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