Adding Solar and Powerwall to Powershare Gateway 3V

[bemis]

Has anyone here added solar and Powerwalls to a Powershare Gateway? What was your experience?

I got my Powershare setup installed last year. Now I am going to be getting solar and powerwalls installed (my HOA blocked solar previously, but the Michigan law that went into effect this year means I can finally get it!). I know Powershare and Powerwalls aren't supported together yet - but I am curious what will work when it is hooked up. The installer has been in talks with Tesla to figure it out, but hasn't gotten a clear answer yet.

From what it looks like - the Powershare Gateway has the neutral transformer wired into the comms port where the Powerwall would normally go in a V3 Gateway. My assumption is that since the neutral transformer isn't needed with Powerwall, we would just disconnect those communication lines and wire the Powerwall into it like it would normally be in a V3 Gateway. But what I don't know is that if the 'expected Q3' update to enable Powershare and Powerwall means that doing this will mean I will have no batteries available until then, or will Powerwall work, and just not powershare?

Sponsored

 

[Cyberrad]

I am in the same situation. I have a PowerShare for the CT. I am now putting on Solar. I am putting on 2 power walls as I have 2 200 A main panels which will make it full house back up. Tesla told me that I can either have the full house back up or the CT back up through the PowerShare but not both, atleast for now. There is supposed to be an over the air update for the PowerShare which is going to make it work with the powerwall but not at the moment. Let me know if you learn something else and how your project goes.

 

[mongo]

Has anyone here added solar and Powerwalls to a Powershare Gateway? What was your experience?

I got my Powershare setup installed last year. Now I am going to be getting solar and powerwalls installed (my HOA blocked solar previously, but the Michigan law that went into effect this year means I can finally get it!). I know Powershare and Powerwalls aren't supported together yet - but I am curious what will work when it is hooked up. The installer has been in talks with Tesla to figure it out, but hasn't gotten a clear answer yet.

From what it looks like - the Powershare Gateway has the neutral transformer wired into the comms port where the Powerwall would normally go in a V3 Gateway. My assumption is that since the neutral transformer isn't needed with Powerwall, we would just disconnect those communication lines and wire the Powerwall into it like it would normally be in a V3 Gateway. But what I don't know is that if the 'expected Q3' update to enable Powershare and Powerwall means that doing this will mean I will have no batteries available until then, or will Powerwall work, and just not powershare?

My understanding:
To add Powerwall, the communication lines to the site manager in the Gateway 3V and UWC need to be disconnected and the Powerwall connects to the 3V isolation switch instead. I think the neutral forming transformer can stay in circuit.
At that point, Powershare will not work until Tesla releases the new software.

 

[PungoteagueDave]

My understanding:
To add Powerwall, the communication lines to the site manager in the Gateway 3V and UWC need to be disconnected and the Powerwall connects to the 3V isolation switch instead. I think the neutral forming transformer can stay in circuit.
At that point, Powershare will not work until Tesla releases the new software.

I’m still confused - I am having solar panels (20.1 kWh) installed on our new house this month by a Tesla-approved contractor, along with one new powerwall, the new gateway that I purchased with my CT in March, as well as two new Tesla wall chargers, one purchased with the CT in early March, the other with my wife’s ‘26 MY in late March. The design was approved by the local utility, permits are issued, and the installers are coming in June, with the contract promise that it all works now, no software or other issues. What am I missing?

I have three other Tesla wall chargers at other homes and the farm, have never had an issue, even with the oldest, an 80-Amp Gen 1 HPWC that I bought in 2012. At this new property I’m looking forward to the full integration that we don’t have elsewhere, where our solar arrays cut off when the power dies, and we use propane generators for backup - as our oyster aquaculture farm with mission-critical seawater pumps must run 24/7 or the baby spat dies. That’s not so important at the new house, but I was drawn in by the positive experience with the out-of-spec team’s power wall and gateway implementation seen on youtube, showing almost immediate cut-over in a simulated outage. Again, what am I missing - based on comments above and a few elsewhere, is Tesla’s system really not ready, or is this just a problem for older powerwall owners?

 

[mongo]

I’m still confused - I am having solar panels (20.1 kWh) installed on our new house this month by a Tesla-approved contractor, along with one new powerwall, the new gateway that I purchased with my CT in March, as well as two new Tesla wall chargers, one purchased with the CT in early March, the other with my wife’s ‘26 MY in late March. The design was approved by the local utility, permits are issued, and the installers are coming in June, with the contract promise that it all works now, no software or other issues. What am I missing?

I have three other Tesla wall chargers at other homes and the farm, have never had an issue, even with the oldest, an 80-Amp Gen 1 HPWC that I bought in 2012. At this new property I’m looking forward to the full integration that we don’t have elsewhere, where our solar arrays cut off when the power dies, and we use propane generators for backup - as our oyster aquaculture farm with mission-critical seawater pumps must run 24/7 or the baby spat dies. That’s not so important at the new house, but I was drawn in by the positive experience with the out-of-spec team’s power wall and gateway implementation seen on youtube, showing almost immediate cut-over in a simulated outage. Again, what am I missing - based on comments above and a few elsewhere, is Tesla’s system really not ready, or is this just a problem for older powerwall owners?

The Gateway you received with the Cybertruck Powershare is a 3V. The "V" means it has a site controller and neutral forming transformer built in. These items do not exist in a Gateway 3 which is what comes with Powerwall installations. In the case of a Backup Switch based install, there is no Gateway at all.

The installer will need to disconnect the 3V's site controller and set it up with the typical Powerwall to isolation switch wiring. The solar, Powerwall, and wall connectors (for charging) will then work fine. However, you'll need to wait on Tesla releasing the updated software for Powershare (Cybertruck as a big battery) to work with the Powerwall.

 

[koolio]

I'll soon welcome you to the club of 'waiting for Powerwall software update in Q3 to get Powershare'

 

[PungoteagueDave]

The Gateway you received with the Cybertruck Powershare is a 3V. The "V" means it has a site controller and neutral forming transformer built in. These items do not exist in a Gateway 3 which is what comes with Powerwall installations. In the case of a Backup Switch based install, there is no Gateway at all.

The installer will need to disconnect the 3V's site controller and set it up with the typical Powerwall to isolation switch wiring. The solar, Powerwall, and wall connectors (for charging) will then work fine. However, you'll need to wait on Tesla releasing the updated software for Powershare (Cybertruck as a big battery) to work with the Powerwall.

I see what you say and cannot disagree, other than to say that Tesla says it all works right now - and it does seem to work on the Out of Spec YouTube review - the backup kicks on nearly instantly, How can that be?

 

[mongo]

I see what you say and cannot disagree, other than to say that Tesla says it all works right now - and it does seem to work on the Out of Spec YouTube review - the backup kicks on nearly instantly, How can that be?

Kyle's house doesn't have Powerwall.
Tesla says it doesn't all work now
https://www.tesla.com/support/powershare

 

[PungoteagueDave]

Kyle's house doesn't have Powerwall.
Tesla says it doesn't all work now
https://www.tesla.com/support/powershare

Okay. I wonder why the installers think otherwise. Should be interesting to see what they do if/when it doesn’t initially work. I have a completion holdback. No switch-on, no final payment.

 

[txtravwill]

Man we were supposed to get this software Summer 2024, then they changed the text to end of 2024, now it's late 2025. I have no confidence on when but definitely wanting and need it too for our setup!

 

[mongo]

Okay. I wonder why the installers think otherwise. Should be interesting to see what they do if/when it doesn’t initially work. I have a completion holdback. No switch-on, no final payment.

Forewarned is Forearmed. I suggest avoiding it not working the first time.

https://energylibrary.tesla.com/doc...UID-DE301BC1-9668-43FC-A27B-AB5D86EB3A82.html

Powershsre wiring. UWC connects to #1 TACO, and 12/GND get split to TACO and isolation switch #3. TACO has wires that run to #3 also.

Powerwall connection, bypass Tesla Asset Controller (TACO), Powerwall and Powerwall only connects only to #3.

 

[bemis]

The latest from my installer is that Tesla is now telling them that Gateway 3V will not work for this setup at all (powerwall+solar), and must be replaced with a Gateway V3

That seems to line up with the note in mongos first screenshot from the install page:

Do not install Powershare Gateway with a Powerwall system. Do not attempt to run communication wiring between the Wall Connector and the Powerwall or Backup Gateway / Backup Switch.

 

[mongo]

The latest from my installer is that Tesla is now telling them that Gateway 3V will not work for this setup at all (powerwall+solar), and must be replaced with a Gateway V3

... I strongly doubt that is the case. I think Gateway just needs a little low voltage interior rewiring to bypass the TACO.

 

[bemis]

... I strongly doubt that is the case. I think Gateway just needs a little low voltage interior rewiring to bypass the TACO.

It seems like that should work, but I am concerned that no one else confirmed they actually have that working today, plus the note in that screenshot/install page to not use powershare gateway. If we do bypass it and get it to work I would then be concerned that if I have any issues in the future it wouldn't be supported. I'm also concerned that while generally the hardware in the 3V and V3 gateways is the same (besides the transformer), the firmware in the 3V might not be setup to handle powerwall

 

[mongo]

It seems like that should work, but I am concerned that no one else confirmed they actually have that working today, plus the note in that screenshot/install page to not use powershare gateway. If we do bypass it and get it to work I would then be concerned that if I have any issues in the future it wouldn't be supported. I'm also concerned that while generally the hardware in the 3V and V3 gateways is the same (besides the transformer), the firmware in the 3V might not be setup to handle powerwall

No one has it working yet because Powerwall + Powershare doesn't work, even with a stock setup.

I mean, it's possible there is a difference, but how much unique firmware does an isolation switch need? Functionality should be the same between the two versions.

Sponsored