Powershare Full Panel Backup

[davooodave]

I recently received a PowerShare quote of over $5000. If I update it to note I already have an existing wall charger and if I set it up to just do a whole panel backup rather than a separate box, the cost goes down close to $3000 less.

Any downside to the whole panel backup? I was thinking in this scenario I could just flip the breakers I don’t want during an outage (hot tub, for example). Would it be bad for the devices in my house if the truck underpowered the full panel?

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[wtibbit]

Whole panel backup is what I'm doing. I will manually shed loads as needed. The downside is, if your total load at the time of a power outage exceeds the capability of the truck's output, the truck will stop providing power to the house and send you an alert. You must then reduce the load (shut off circuit breakers or turn off appliances, etc..) and manually restart the PowerShare system.

Outages in my area typically happen during extremely hot or cold weather and our utilities issue warnings of possible power outages. I'll shed loads in advance in those situations.

Here is a link to the PowerShare section of the user manual. It provides some good information, but it doesn't (yet) clearly describe the process for manually restarting the system after an overload shuts it down; hopefully that will be corrected.

https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/cybertruck/en_us/GUID-E2615021-AB6F-4843-8747-C90D85D94DEA.html

 

[Woodrick]

I recently received a PowerShare quote of over $5000. If I update it to note I already have an existing wall charger and if I set it up to just do a whole panel backup rather than a separate box, the cost goes down close to $3000 less.

Any downside to the whole panel backup? I was thinking in this scenario I could just flip the breakers I don’t want during an outrage (hot tub, for example). Would it be bad for the devices in my house if the truck underpowered the full panel?

Flipping breakers to disconnect the house is truly one of the most dangerous things that you can do. There are so many ways it can go wrong, so many ways for people to get killed.
And it is so "family unfriendly." While you may be able to do it the right way, seldom can any other family members do it. What if you are out of town?

Just do it the right way. And then when the power goes out, there is no panic to get up and do anything.

 

[c379776]

So I go to the panel turn off the Pool and HVAC breakers. What is the hazard?

 

[webspeedracer]

I recently received a PowerShare quote of over $5000. If I update it to note I already have an existing wall charger and if I set it up to just do a whole panel backup rather than a separate box, the cost goes down close to $3000 less.

Any downside to the whole panel backup? I was thinking in this scenario I could just flip the breakers I don’t want during an outage (hot tub, for example). Would it be bad for the devices in my house if the truck underpowered the full panel?

I’d use that spare $2k to install a Span Panel as your main panel, would slide to to shed loads from your phone or even automate the load-shedding through the Span panel

 

[Woodrick]

So I go to the panel turn off the Pool and HVAC breakers. What is the hazard?

That one is easy, you won't get ANY power from the truck. You absolutely have to isolate from the grid!

This is the classic generator discussion. You can't do it reliably and safely by throwing breakers. You have to have a transfer switch or lockout mechanism in place.

 

[davooodave]

That one is easy, you won't get ANY power from the truck. You absolutely have to isolate from the grid!

This is the classic generator discussion. You can't do it reliably and safely by throwing breakers. You have to have a transfer switch or lockout mechanism in place.

If this is the case, it’s not what was communicated to me from the certified electrician.

 

[Woodrick]

If this is the case, it’s not what was communicated to me from the certified electrician.

A certified electrician isn't going to install it that way. That's against code. The electrician may not have completely understood your needs, or you may not have completely understood what they said.

Or, if they did, they may not be certified.
These often have to have permits puled, an inspector definitely won't allow it.

There are situations where Powerwalls are used in configurations where they provide load shedding capability, charging at night cheap electricity and discharging during the day, offsetting the expensive electricity. These are grid intertie.
If you lose power with a grid intertie solution, the Powerwall will shut down. It will not provide a backup when running a grid intertie, because of the exact reasons I'm talking about.

 

[Don Draper]

Depends where you live. In AZ my city would not allow the full load from my panel, and we were just doing the main house which is one breaker that goes to a subpanel. Main panel is the AC units and garage and small apartment. City had a problem with electric dryer and electrical oven, which I would never use during an outage. So including only half my house and no AC not approved unless removal of oven and dryer.
So I am not doing it, I really think no one knows what they are doing at this point, I think our plan was fine. I am spending my $2500 on stuff in the store for now, will deal with powershare in the future, only going to get better and cheaper.

 

[Don Draper]

Someone has to say it, imo the whole powershare in the US is a load of ? ?.

Going back decades, i can count on 1 hand when i lit a candle because the lights were out. Im not going to hack/complicate my house's electrical system. Forget about actually paying for it.

You can buy a lot of extension cords for $5000!

 

[wtibbit]

I recently received a PowerShare quote of over $5000. If I update it to note I already have an existing wall charger and if I set it up to just do a whole panel backup rather than a separate box, the cost goes down close to $3000 less.

Any downside to the whole panel backup? I was thinking in this scenario I could just flip the breakers I don’t want during an outage (hot tub, for example). Would it be bad for the devices in my house if the truck underpowered the full panel?

@davoodave,
After reading through the uninformed, misdirected and just flat wrong comments in this thread I recommend you ignore all of it - including mine (except for this) and get reliable advice from a licensed electrician who has solid experience installing backup power systems; and better, PowerShare systems - Tesla provides a list of these in given zip codes.

That’s what I did.

 

[Woodrick]

Depends where you live. In AZ my city would not allow the full load from my panel, and we were just doing the main house which is one breaker that goes to a subpanel. Main panel is the AC units and garage and small apartment. City had a problem with electric dryer and electrical oven, which I would never use during an outage. So including only half my house and no AC not approved unless removal of oven and dryer.
So I am not doing it, I really think no one knows what they are doing at this point, I think our plan was fine. I am spending my $2500 on stuff in the store for now, will deal with powershare in the future, only going to get better and cheaper.

That's generally supporting National Electric Code. What you have to do, and is often done, is install a subpanel and move the covered loads over to it.
Similar to something like this Amazon.com: Generac 6853 HomeLink Upgradeable 30 Amp Transfer Switch Kit - Reliable Power Solution for Homes - 10' Cord and Resin Power Inlet Box : Patio, Lawn & Garden

Here's a Powerwall with integrated switch

The circuits are moved from the main panel to the Cyberwall.

 

[av8rdude]

I have powershare installed and working properly between my meter and my main panel. My entire house is safely backed up. If I turn off an individual breaker it is not dangerous or unsafe.

The Gateway 3V ensures the grid is down and isolates the entire house from the grid before allowing the truck to power the house.

Yes, I would backup your entire panel if that is what you want.

 

[AlmostHuman]

Flipping breakers to disconnect the house is truly one of the most dangerous things that you can do. There are so many ways it can go wrong, so many ways for people to get killed.
And it is so "family unfriendly." While you may be able to do it the right way, seldom can any other family members do it. What if you are out of town?

Just do it the right way. And then when the power goes out, there is no panic to get up and do anything.

What kind of house are you living in if flipping breakers is killing people?

I think if people can’t afford the cost or power budget flipping off a hot tub is just fine

 

[AlmostHuman]

That one is easy, you won't get ANY power from the truck. You absolutely have to isolate from the grid!

This is the classic generator discussion. You can't do it reliably and safely by throwing breakers. You have to have a transfer switch or lockout mechanism in place.

That is what the PowerShare Gateway is for? It is a transfer switch?

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