Powershare/Breaker set up

[AO-Pete]

I think this is a silly question, but wanted to make sure. This is our breaker set-up:

So one PW2, solar array (not Tesla) and then two breaker boxes, one backed up by the PW (low loads - lights, fridge, office, node zero etc). The wall chargers are both in the non-backed up box, since (when we built this) they would have sucked all the stored energy real quick when there's an outage.

So, to enable Powershare, am I correct in thinking the PW circuits now need to include the Universal Wall Charger(s) breaker(s), and as long as it does, it'll all just kinda work with the CT is plugged in?

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[akenis]

I think you are correct. Charger has to be on the backed up side. In the FAQ and survey questions they state this. They even say to test: turn off your main breaker and make sure charger is still powered on.

What gateway do you have? Or backup switch? Might be be able to wire charger into a gateway.

 

[AO-Pete]

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, there's no doubt if I turn off the main breaker then all the chargers (3 in total, but only one Universal) would be off, since they're in that middle breaker box. The PW is a gen 2, the backup gateway is (I think) a gen 1, below is a pic of the 'other side' of the system.

The Universal HPWC and a Gen 2 HPWC (currently) share a single 80A circuit, since the HPWC's are back-to-back on a dividing wall.

 

[akenis]

I think you're right. At least one charger (doesn't matter which one) would have to be on the back up panel.

From the pic above, it does look like Backup Gateway.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3047050608...Rsz_p39sQ6y-77cqkfC62iz3MGMm8G5BoCfrUQAvD_BwE

Unfortunately, I can't find any info related to that gateway. All other combinations are covered here:

https://www.tesla.com/support/energy/powerwall/installer-resources/powerwall-installation-documents

That thing must be old! Something to consider. Other gateways have the capability to wire internal panel boards to backed up loads at the gateway. Not sure if OG gateway has that capability. Might be useful if it would be easier to wire one of your chargers directly to the gateway instead of moving it from your non-backed up panel to your backed up panel. Worse case I see Backup Gateway 2's there on ebay.

 

[txtravwill]

I believe your correct also.

I'm hoping with our setup we are good also. Our UWC goes into our 200 amp panel directly. That is has a gateway on the other side with powerwalls and solar behind it. It soft of the whole home backed up so adding truck just sends power to the entire panel for use ( but can't exceed what the truck sends when in use).

Very excited to eventually have that working as our powerwalls deplete fast.

 

[AO-Pete]

Yeah, we just have the one PW on low-raw circuits, but it's generally done 3-4 hrs after sunset. The CT will dramatically add capacity, I'll have to get an electrician in to move a few breakers around, and maybe add a few more to the backed-up box.

 

[akenis]

The CT will dramatically add capacity,

As of now, not really. CT only does VTH (vehicle to home power) as a backup only. You can't power your house unless you lose power (Or turn off your main service at the meter).

See my other thread that talks about VTG (vehicle to grid) and using CT battery when it's dark outside or for load shifting (charge CT at night from grid... and let CT power house during peak hours or cloudy days.) I'm not seeing any indication from Tesla that this is possible. I hope I'm wrong.

Musk: "But immediately after this answer, CEO Elon Musk stepped in to pour a little cold water on the idea, stating, “I don’t think very many people are going to want to use bidirectional charging, unless you have a Powerwall, because if you unplug your car, your house goes dark, and this is extremely inconvenient.”

https://electrek.co/2023/03/01/tesl...s answer,and this is extremely inconvenient.”

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