PowerShare Gateway New Install not working!

[ActiveArch]

From my understanding, A power purchase agreement (PPA) for solar power in California is a contract between a homeowner and a solar company that allows the homeowner to purchase electricity generated by the solar panels. The solar company owns the panels, and the homeowner pays a fixed rate for the electricity. If this is true in your case, I would contact the company that owns your solar panels and ask them how it all works and what your options are in regards to installing powerShare.
I had a DIY solar equipment supplier help me design my solar system, walk me through the permitting and application process with SCE, order all the equipment that I needed for my project and I bought/installed/commissioned my own solar system saving tens of thousands of $. I maxed out my roof with 39 panels that are 360 watts each panel for a total of over 14 kilowatts. The picture below shows 2 of the 5 arrays on my roof.

Beautifully done, that’s the right way to do it. Problem with my solar company is they’re a complete utter fraud and scam company. Can’t get a hold of anyone, nobody responds to emails, we get random “late fees” with threats to get sent to collections, and no way to refute them. They’re called Spruce and if you look into them you’ll be blown away, check their BBB rating, it’s unreal. You’ll be extremely glad you did it right and avoided any PPA. I’ve been desperately trying to figure out how to get out of the contract but it seems impossible so I’m trying to at least figure out how to work around it with the PowerShare, unfortunately attempting to even communicate with them about it is utterly useless.

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[Cybrtr808]

During installation the electricians put the called Tesla , they said not available yet, but there is a reporting meter that they are testing that will be available soon. I looked it up, they have install docs and setup docs.

Would you be able to post a link to those installation and setup docs for the reporting meter? Thanks in advance


Also, how long does it take for my truck to activate to get the Backup software?

The UWC showed up on my Tesla app a day or two after it was initialized.

 

[Gaximus]

The UWC showed up on my Tesla app a day or two after it was initialized.

I had the Wall charger show up while they were installing and setting up. I also have the PowerShare showing in the app, and when my CT is plugged in, I get the little two arrow green indicator in the app that I’m connected to bidirectional power source. But the switch in the charging section of the setting on the truck to enable PowerShare has yet to become available.

 

[Cybrtr808]

The UWC showed up on my Tesla app a day or two after it was initialized.

I had the Wall charger show up while they were installing and setting up. I also have the PowerShare showing in the app, and when my CT is plugged in, I get the little two arrow green indicator in the app that I’m connected to bidirectional power source. But the switch in the charging section of the setting on the truck to enable PowerShare has yet to become available.

When you have time could you please post a screen shot of : PowerShare showing in the app, and when my CT is plugged in

And a pic if you have seen one of:
switch in the charging section of the setting on the truck to enable PowerShare has yet to become available

Would be helpful to all so we know what we should be looking for on the app when this is working. Thanks in advance

 

[Markkinak]

So glad to read this. This explains it. I just had powershare installed and it's not showing on my app. I've been trying to get support to figure it out... and now, I finally know that it's my solar panels that are restricting the usage of the powershare. Would have been nice to know this when it was setup.

Is your solar installed between your house meter and the powershare, or is it downstream of the powershare gateway?

 

[rjbonds]

Thanks for your input and knowledge about my Enphase solar.

This is my electricians first PowerShare install.

I am paying about $5,300 for the install. It seems overpriced for 2 days of work for 2 men, but I am happy that they full house backup 200 amps through the PowerShare gateway and that they ran the utility lines first to the gateway and made my two breaker like sub panels.

Can anyone comment if Backing up all 200 amps is a no no for the PowerShare installation. I know not to try to run all the heavy 240 appliances, stove, two Tesla chargers, and three split AC units while backing up from the CT.

With my PowerShare installation I can now see via the Tesla app how much electricity is coming from the grid and exactly how many kWh of energy is being used by the house at anytime. My Enphase box works intermittently- on for about three or four weeks then I have to turn it off for 3 to four weeks to get it running. This is the original Enphase box installed in 2012. Per Internet search this model Enphase box craps out in about 5 years, and seems newer boxes are similarly unreliable . About 4 to 5 years ago, As suggested on the internet I tried to heat and reflow some of the solder connections on the box’s electronic board, no help.

Would appreciate if hearing about others experiences with the Enphase controller/reporting boxes.
Norm

I don't think that they installed it correctly. Since they didn't connect the in coming power using a main disconnect breaker, they might have bypassed the internal, automatic disconnect switch that is used in a grid down situation. Could you take the panel off your gateway, take some pictures and post them so I can see how they routed the incoming and out going power lines?

Is your (House Panel) and your (Garage Panel) rated at only 100 Amps each?

My entire main panel (whole house) is backed up by PowerShare as well but my main panel is 200 Amps so they installed a main breaker in the blank spot that that's not being used in your gateway.

 

[mongo]

I don't think that they installed it correctly. Since they didn't connect the in coming power using a main disconnect breaker, they might have bypassed the internal, automatic disconnect switch that is used in a grid down situation. Could you take the panel off your gateway, take some pictures and post them so I can see how they routed the incoming and out going power lines?

The power input doesn't require main breaker.
The transfer switch could be bypassed if they did it really wrong and used the double the output lugs. However, given the lack of a main breaker there must be a disconnect between the meter and Gateway.

 

[rjbonds]

The power input doesn't require main breaker.
The transfer switch could be bypassed if they did it really wrong and used the double the output lugs. However, given the lack of a main breaker there must be a disconnect between the meter and Gateway.

Copy that, but given the fact that the installer said that the solar panels would be feeding the grid if the cybertruck was connected makes me think that it was not installed correctly.

 

[Gaximus]

When you have time could you please post a screen shot of : PowerShare showing in the app, and when my CT is plugged in

And a pic if you have seen one of:
switch in the charging section of the setting on the truck to enable PowerShare has yet to become available

Would be helpful to all so we know what we should be looking for on the app when this is working. Thanks in advance

Sure. I done have the switch in the charging section of the truck yet. The PowerShare shows up as a “Site” in the app, swiping right or left can get you there.

 

[mongo]

Copy that, but given the fact that the installer said that the solar panels would be feeding the grid if the cybertruck was connected makes me think that it was not installed correctly.

Oh, I don't see that in the post.
Could it be the setup is
Meter->Enphase with service disconnect breaker->Gateway->two panels?

 

[rjbonds]

Oh, I don't see that in the post.
Could it be the setup is
Meter->Enphase with service disconnect breaker->Gateway->two panels?

That possible but they should have moved the solar panel feed to the house side of the Tesla Gateway.

Cybrtr808 said in post #9 last paragraph "The installer warned me that i should not keep the truck connected to the UWC when not actively charging in case the grid goes down and the system’s solar may back feed to the grid. "

 

[rjbonds]

Any update on this, I see there was an update on these forums the other day allowing solar charging?

As far as I know, no one has the PowerShare solar update software yet.

 

[Markkinak]

Wish there was a poll option- is there anyone with Solar that is installed between the meter and the gateway- where powershare works? I have non tesla solar and am planning on keeping the solar on the grid side of the powershare- so when there's an outage the solar will shut off. The Cybertruck will then run the house until grid power is restored. Really curious about where folks solar is tied into this system.

 

[rjbonds]

I'm disappointed in their rollout speed on these systems. They need to kick it into high gear so that we can reach mass market already.

That's typical Tesla for you but your right! they need to Kick that shit into high gear!!! The software update for solar was promised to be out by the end of 2024.

 

[mongo]

Wish there was a poll option- is there anyone with Solar that is installed between the meter and the gateway- where powershare works? I have non tesla solar and am planning on keeping the solar on the grid side of the powershare- so when there's an outage the solar will shut off. The Cybertruck will then run the house until grid power is restored. Really curious about where folks solar is tied into this system.

From a Powershare point of view, all sources on the grid side of the grid are grid, so solar over there shouldn't matter. I think I saw a post from someone who started with solar on backed up side and had it moved to get Powershare enabled.

Of course, best will be peaceful coexistence of solar and Powershare.

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