Does Powerwall 3 support powershare now with no need for gateway?

[mongo]

Yup, Tesla admitted their error in selling me the PowerShare Gateway as a CT option package because they knew when I bought the CT that I was intending powerwall with solar, two chargers, and bidirectional CT support. This was a new house last spring, and the solar/PW3, Gateway/Wallcharger installation team identified the problem the minute they saw the CT in the driveway, and stopped everything, called Tesla, and they swapped the Gateway 3 in for the returned PowerShare gateway. PowerShare gateway in this scenario is a complete no no.

not PowerShare Gateway, which is incompatible with solar

Powershare Gateway works with solar.
It does not work with Powerwalls.

With software update:
Powershare will work with Powerwalls and solar in systems with a Gateway (non-Powershare version) or meter attached backup switch.

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[PungoteagueDave]

Powershare Gateway works with solar.
It does not work with Powerwalls.

With software update:
Powershare will work with Powerwalls and solar in systems with a Gateway (non-Powershare version) or meter attached backup switch.

Correct. Original question was whether it can do all three, which it cannot. If you have solar and Powerwall, then no PowerShare Gateway, must have Gateway 3 to integrate everything.

 

[hemiarch]

It was my understanding that what came with my powerwall 3 which disconnects me from the city was all I needed once software update happens to use PowerShare as long as my wall connector is on the backed up panel.
Is that not true?

 

[mongo]

It was my understanding that what came with my powerwall 3 which disconnects me from the city was all I needed once software update happens to use PowerShare as long as my wall connector is on the backed up panel.
Is that not true?

Your understanding was correct.
PW3 with Gateway (non Powershare 3V)/ backup switch and Wall Connector on the backed up side of the Gateway is all you need (besides software).

 

[mongo]

Correct. Original question was whether it can do all three, which it cannot. If you have solar and Powerwall, then no PowerShare Gateway, must have Gateway 3 to integrate everything.

Maybe we're speaking to different things.
Verbosity for those following along.

Solar is orthogonal to Powershare/ Powerwall.
If you have Powerwall 3 for backup, you need GW3 or Backup Switch, regardless of solar or not.

@Swamibob was talking about Powershare Gateway 3V which would give backup in the short term, but won't work with Powerwall and would need to be replaced.

They will need a Gateway 3 or Backup Switch (along with SW) to enable Powershare as part of their future PW3 install for off grid backup.

I bought the universal wall connecter specifically for power share so I'm good there. I just don't want to waste 4.5k on the gateway if a firmware update gets me the same thing on a PW3 with 13.5kWh battery along with it. That will help when the truck is not home. I live in FL so I worry about week long power outages when hurricanes hit. Only getting more frequent.

It will work with the promised software update, but not if you have or plan for solar panels. For that you must also have Gateway 3 (not PowerShare Gateway, which is incompatible with solar).

Powerwall + GW3/Backup Switch + Powershare will work with solar post software update (at least Powerwall integrated solar inverters).
Powershare will not work without a Gateway/ backup switch, even if there are Powerwalls since it's not grid certified.

Powershare Gateway is not incompatible with solar. It is incompatible with Powerwalls.

 

[Tanquen]

I went back and forth with Tesla over this for over a year and had multiple account advisors. I was told many different things, so it's very confusing.

Their end game is to sell a Powerwall 3 or greater with a backup switch and be able to do everything. There are various issues with the various gateways with solar, battery backup and Powershare.

They finally installed the system over the last couple of weeks. It took so long that they closed my original project and they couldn't reopen that one and when they did create a new one I had to fight with them a second time. They were telling me that I could not have a backup switch because I had stairs too close to the meter and then it was that the gas meter was too close and it just can't be done. I don't know why they were doing that but eventually they'd go back to somebody higher up or somebody on the project design team that would say yeah you can have the backup switch and it will have Powershare but not until there's a software update.

It would not be surprising to find out that the folks I was talking to were completely wrong about some aspect of this but I was repeatedly told that if I wanted solar and batteries and Powershare I couldn't have a gateway and needed the backup switch. This also kind of makes sense to me as the backup switch is also for whole home backup and not some kind of hybrid solution. It's completely disconnecting you from the utility and then your solar, battery and PowerShare can do what's needed, Isolated from anything else.

They also told me that if I got the free hardware for the Cybertruck and got a gateway with a battery I could not have solar. I'd also have to cancel my project and open a new one with a different group inside Tesla.

It's a total mess.

 

[mongo]

I went back and forth with Tesla over this for over a year and had multiple account advisors. I was told many different things, so it's very confusing.

Their end game is to sell a Powerwall 3 or greater with a backup switch and be able to do everything. There are various issues with the various gateways with solar, battery backup and Powershare.

They finally installed the system over the last couple of weeks. It took so long that they closed my original project and they couldn't reopen that one and when they did create a new one I had to fight with them a second time. They were telling me that I could not have a backup switch because I had stairs too close to the meter and then it was that the gas meter was too close and it just can't be done. I don't know why they were doing that but eventually they'd go back to somebody higher up or somebody on the project design team that would say yeah you can have the backup switch and it will have Powershare but not until there's a software update.

It would not be surprising to find out that the folks I was talking to were completely wrong about some aspect of this but I was repeatedly told that if I wanted solar and batteries and Powershare I couldn't have a gateway and needed the backup switch. This also kind of makes sense to me as the backup switch is also for whole home backup and not some kind of hybrid solution. It's completely disconnecting you from the utility and then your solar, battery and PowerShare can do what's needed, Isolated from anything else.

They also told me that if I got the free hardware for the Cybertruck and got a gateway with a battery I could not have solar. I'd also have to cancel my project and open a new one with a different group inside Tesla.

It's a total mess.

I can see clearance from backup switch to gas meter being an issue because it is not explosion proof.
Backup switch is basically the same contactor as in a non Powershare Gateway. If you gave a combined meter and main panel, backup switch might be the only option. However, Gateway can do full house also.

Powershare does work with backup switch, but still requires the Powershare Gateway.

Solar with Powershare wasn't supported for the first year or so.

 

[hemiarch]

I don’t have anything installed that looks like a little white Tesla box . My solar goes into my powerwall 3’s and I have a round thing behind my city meter that as I understand it is what disconnects me from the grid whenever I’m in off-grid mode. My vehicle chargers come off the same box (breaker panel) as everything else in the house with a breaker. 60 amp if I remember correctly.
I do worry I may have to move one of my chargers to a separate circuit eventually because my UWC and gen3 charger share a breaker and are set up with group power management (note that I’m not using the term PowerShare for this which Tesla previously used to describe it because that makes everything even more confusing)
This means I have the backup switch and not the gateway correct?
The third party installer who did this for me knows even less than Tesla does so I’m trying to understand from you guys collective experience whether I will be able to use PowerShare. By PowerShare I mean powering the house from the truck.

 

[Tanquen]

Powershare does work with backup switch, but still requires the Powershare Gateway

I pressed this with them on multiple occasions and they told me that it would work without a PowerShare gateway. I haven't given them a payment yet so maybe I shouldn't? Then if you use the PowerShare gateway, you can't have solar. It would seem they need some way of doing both moving forward.

I can see clearance from backup switch to gas meter being an issue because it is not explosion proof.

But the panel with the meter socket that it's plugging into is all ready outside the requirements from PG&E for the gas meter vent distance.
I'd also removed the gas meter from the property. So I'm full electric now.

 

[mongo]

I don’t have anything installed that looks like a little white Tesla box . My solar goes into my powerwall 3’s and I have a round thing behind my city meter that as I understand it is what disconnects me from the grid whenever I’m in off-grid mode.

Yes, that is the Backup Switch on your Powerwall setup. You don't need Powershare Gateway (that's only for pure Powershare, not PW+Cybertruck)

I do worry I may have to move one of my chargers to a separate circuit eventually because my UWC and gen3 charger share a breaker and are set up with group power management (note that I’m not using the term PowerShare for this which Tesla previously used to describe it because that makes everything even more confusing)

That's likely true, a Powershare only system can't do Group power management. I expect the same in this case. The problem is the circuit has dual feeds when Cybertruck and PW both export and so the wiring to the second WC is undersized

 

[hemiarch]

Yes, that is the Backup Switch on your Powerwall setup. You don't need Powershare Gateway (that's only for pure Powershare, not PW+Cybertruck)


That's likely true, a Powershare only system can't do Group power management. I expect the same in this case. The problem is the circuit has dual feeds when Cybertruck and PW both export and so the wiring to the second WC is undersized

So basically you’re saying I understand this correctly. The only thing I may still have to do when the software is released is run an appropriately sized wire with its own breaker to the gen 3 wall connector and disable “group power management” in the Tesla one app.
OP says above you can’t have solar, powerwall and PowerShare without additional hardware that I don’t have or am I misunderstanding that too?

 

[mongo]

I pressed this with them on multiple occasions and they told me that it would work without a PowerShare gateway. I haven't given them a payment yet so maybe I shouldn't? Then if you use the PowerShare gateway, you can't have solar. It would seem they need some way of doing both moving forward.

To confirm: you do not have Powerwalls, and they wired a backup switch to the UWC?

UWC, Powershare Gateway, Backup Switch, and 11.5 kW or less of UL1741 solar should be a supported configuration.

But the panel with the meter socket that it's plugging into is all ready outside the requirements from PG&E for the gas meter vent distance.
I'd also removed the gas meter from the property. So I'm full electric now.

Yeah, I didn't say they were right, just the only thing I could as a reason. Meter pulling is done by the PoCo who would know to check for gas. The backup switch could toggle at any time.

Not having a gas meter at all really should solve it!

 

[Tanquen]

To confirm: you do not have Powerwalls, and they wired a backup switch to the UWC?

UWC, Powershare Gateway, Backup Switch, and 11.5 kW or less of UL1741 solar should be a supported configuration.


Yeah, I didn't say they were right, just the only thing I could as a reason. Meter pulling is done by the PoCo who would know to check for gas. The backup switch could toggle at any time.

Not having a gas meter at all really should solve it!

You had said that a PowerShare gateway was required with the backup switch. That doesn't appear to be the case.

Sorry, not sure where the confusion is but I have the powerwall 3 with a backup switch with solar. I asked them if the universal connector was needed for powershare and then they added it but it wasn't originally in there and now that I've looked it up I've seen a couple different places that say it's not required for PowerShare when you're using a Powerwall 3.

Installation Without Powerwall
Universal Wall Connector and Powershare Gateway allow you to connect Cybertruck to your home and use battery power to help keep your lights on and appliances powered while disconnected from the grid.


Installation With Powerwall
With Universal Wall Connector or Wall Connector and Powerwall, your home starts using energy stored in Cybertruck instantly when an outage is detected, with Powerwall helping to extend backup duration further.

 

[hemiarch]

You had said that a PowerShare gateway was required with the backup switch. That doesn't appear to be the case.

Sorry, not sure where the confusion is but I have the powerwall 3 with a backup switch with solar. I asked them if the universal connector was needed for powershare and then they added it but it wasn't originally in there and now that I've looked it up I've seen a couple different places that say it's not required for PowerShare when you're using a Powerwall 3.

Installation Without Powerwall
Universal Wall Connector and Powershare Gateway allow you to connect Cybertruck to your home and use battery power to help keep your lights on and appliances powered while disconnected from the grid.


Installation With Powerwall
With Universal Wall Connector or Wall Connector and Powerwall, your home starts using energy stored in Cybertruck instantly when an outage is detected, with Powerwall helping to extend backup duration further.

That language is kind of interesting. Makes it sound like the truck battery will be used first and only then will the powerwall be tapped for backup.

 

[Tanquen]

That language is kind of interesting. Makes it sound like the truck battery will be used first and only then will the powerwall be tapped for backup.

When I asked them about it, they said in this scenario the truck would never be powering the house directly. It would be feeding power to the powerwall when the powerwall was low or out of charge and then that would be powering the house. But just because someone at Tesla told me that doesn't really mean anything.

So the truck and future vehicles act like an expansion battery pack to the powerwall. And that's what I wanted. I only got one powerwall 3 and it's winter now and there's not enough solar during the day to completely recharge the powerwall 3. So if I had a power outage right now after running on battery overnight, I'd not have any power. But then there's like six or seven power walls sitting out in the truck basically. So if they enable Powershare at some point, I'll not need to worry about the power going out anymore.

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