Powershare install and testing experience

[CyberTruck530]

I wanted to put this post together because I had trouble finding information online. Here is my Powershare experience:

• February 2024: Got 19xx vin
• March 2024: Installer installe universal charger and powershare gateway. Backup switch wasn’t approved for use with powershare by PG&E, expected approval was end of the year. They allowed the backupswitch with powerwalls but not powershare.
• July 2024: Tesla provided a year of supercharging for the delay.
• May 2025: Installer wired backup switch and left it in a bag. A week later, PG&E came out and did the install. A week later, the installer came out to close out the install and take photos for the Tesla One app. At that point it seemed like everything was hooked up, but the installed tried using the manual override and powershare didn’t turn on. He opened a ticket with Tesla.

A week later I noticed that I had the option to pair my phone to the gateway via Bluetooth and then disconnect from the grid. I think Tesla enabled it after reviewing the closeout documentation and photos. I went off grid and it worked! It tells you to turn off solar breakers before going off grid, but you can turn solar back on when powershare is on. I attached a few photos showing the Cybertruck pushing power out, and then taking it in via solar. I was able to turn on both air conditioners and the truck started pushing out power with no delay.

The last thing I want is to add solar data into the Tesla app (I have SunPower). It says “Tesla Remote Meter will be available for Non-Backup Site metering and/or Solar metering in 2025. It is strongly recommended for installers to return to site to install a Tesla Remote Meter when they become available, as complete monitoring enables accurate data in the customer's Tesla app, and overall a much better customer experience.” On this page: https://energylibrary.tesla.com/doc...UID-897037CD-1141-4B7B-B912-EE0DA802B6E4.html

Does anyone know if I can buy a Tesla Remote Meter and install it myself? It seems doable using the Tesla One app, curious to know if anyone has done this.

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[Cold.Truth]

You’re way ahead of me, bro. I bought a bunch of stuff I didn’t need with my $2500 coupon and called it done after Qmerit sent two electricians who both wanted ~ $6000 for the labor using my $2500 Tesla coupon parts. It was a ridiculous “dollar / time" fee - makes a Hollywood plastic surgeon look like a pauper. So I said “no thanks” and walked away. Of course, I’ve had half-a-dozen blackouts since that decision here in Albuquerque, NM, but fortunately none of them lasted more than a few minutes so I might still be ahead of the cost curve. Sounds like you have things set up nicely though and I bet it didn’t cost you $6k !!

 

[CyberTruck530]

You’re way ahead of me, bro. I bought a bunch of stuff I didn’t need with my $2500 coupon and called it done after Qmerit sent two electricians who both wanted ~ $6000 for the labor using my $2500 Tesla coupon parts. It was a ridiculous “dollar / time" fee - makes a Hollywood plastic surgeon look like a pauper. So I said “no thanks” and walked away. Of course, I’ve had half-a-dozen blackouts since that decision here in Albuquerque, NM, but fortunately none of them lasted more than a few minutes so I might still be ahead of the cost curve. Sounds like you have things set up nicely though and I bet it didn’t cost you $6k !!

I forgot to mention the install price! It was 2800. I went with the whole house backup. They did a great job, they measure twice and cut once!

 

[Korben Dallas]

Guys, I have a related PowerShare question I hope someone can answer.

My charging system (see photos below) was installed by a Tesla certified installer & it became operation in November 2023 before we could even order a Cybertruck. And as evidenced by the app screenshot below, it is also shown there too.

1. A 12.3 kW SolarEdge & REC PV system.
2. Two PowerWalls
3. Gateway
4. Universal Wall Connector

So it appears to me that I have everything in place, according to Tesla, to support PowerShare. Unfortunately, & even though the Cybertruck & the app both show the PowerShare activation sliders, they both also have a note that my "home not connected".

So here’s my question. What am I missing and how can I get PowerShare activated?

Winter power outages are very common here in the Olympic Mountains & I need to be ready for this year’s winter as each winter seems to be a little worse than the last due to trees falling across power distribution lines.

Thanks in advance for all your help Folks.

 

[CyberTruck530]

Guys, I have a related PowerShare question I hope someone can answer.

My charging system (see photos below) was installed by a Tesla certified installer & it became operation in November 2023 before we could even order a Cybertruck. And as evidenced by the app screenshot below, it is also shown there too.

1. A 12.3 kW SolarEdge & REC PV system.
2. Two PowerWalls
3. Gateway
4. Universal Wall Connector

So it appears to me that I have everything in place, according to Tesla, to support PowerShare. Unfortunately, & even though the Cybertruck & the app both show the PowerShare activation sliders, they both also have a note that my "home not connected".

So here’s my question. What am I missing and how can I get PowerShare activated?

Winter power outages are very common here in the Olympic Mountains & I need to be ready for this year’s winter as each winter seems to be a little worse than the last due to trees falling across power distribution lines.

Thanks in advance for all your help Folks.

That should be sometime later this year according to this page: https://energylibrary.tesla.com/doc...UID-04DE7F20-2290-4489-A9A1-53F639BB85CB.html

"Can be installed now, Powershare feature available later in 2025"

 

[Jim Waller]

I had similar timing and experience to you accept my Tesla app seems to be one revision behind for off-grid functionality. I post that since it took me a while to figure out why I couldn't get it to work. I'm not sure why my Android phone hasn't picked up the new. 45 version but I assume it will be available soon. Posting this to save other people time going crazy relinking your phone and getting nowhere.

 

[CyberTruck530]

I had similar timing and experience to you accept my Tesla app seems to be one revision behind for off-grid functionality. I post that since it took me a while to figure out why I couldn't get it to work. I'm not sure why my Android phone hasn't picked up the new. 45 version but I assume it will be available soon. Posting this to save other people time going crazy relinking your phone and getting nowhere.

Interesting, I'm on Tesla app v4.44.5-3304

The off grid section on the screen appeared about a week after the installer closed out the job on the Tesla One app. No update or anything special that triggered it. I assume someone at Tesla reviewed the documentation from the installer then that let it appear

 

[Korben Dallas]

That should be sometime later this year according to this page: https://energylibrary.tesla.com/doc...UID-04DE7F20-2290-4489-A9A1-53F639BB85CB.html

"Can be installed now, Powershare feature available later in 2025"

Why is it that it’s so hard for me to get excited about "available later in 2025"? Because they seemingly always miss the published date, that’s why.

PowerShare was a huge selling point for me because I need more backup than what a pair of PWs can provide without going into full camping mode for a few days even though my Cybertruck has about 8 PWs worth of useable energy equivalency since it saves the last 20% for itself just in case. No problem there.

So instead of camping with 2 PWs, my wife & I could be glamping with 10 PWs of juice as we also have a very high efficiency Mitsubishi mini-split heat pump that would keep us toasty warm in a comfortable room to ’live’ in for 2-3 days, maybe more depending on ambient temps at the time.

 

[doggod]

I live off-grid so I just plug my trucks into the inverter with a 240 volt extension cord and power the house also charges the house batteries when storms last more than a week in winter. had to connect twice this year for about 3 hours each time. there is a charger in town that is $0.25 a kWh so it is cheaper than PG&E residential rates ($0.41 kWh). it is nice having CT and lightning as one can charge at station while other charges house battery. have EG4 off-grid equipment. currently 9000 watts of solar, will add another 12000 watts of solar when garage is finished.

 

[koolio]

Guys, I have a related PowerShare question I hope someone can answer.

My charging system (see photos below) was installed by a Tesla certified installer & it became operation in November 2023 before we could even order a Cybertruck. And as evidenced by the app screenshot below, it is also shown there too.

1. A 12.3 kW SolarEdge & REC PV system.
2. Two PowerWalls
3. Gateway
4. Universal Wall Connector

So it appears to me that I have everything in place, according to Tesla, to support PowerShare. Unfortunately, & even though the Cybertruck & the app both show the PowerShare activation sliders, they both also have a note that my "home not connected".

So here’s my question. What am I missing and how can I get PowerShare activated?

Winter power outages are very common here in the Olympic Mountains & I need to be ready for this year’s winter as each winter seems to be a little worse than the last due to trees falling across power distribution lines.

Thanks in advance for all your help Folks.

You need to wait until Q3 of this year for Tesla Energy to push a software update to Powerwall for PowerShare.

There’s a bunch of us Powerwall owners waiting for this. Note, the UWC needs to be backed up by Powerwall in order for PowerShare to work. If it’s on a sub panel that’s not being backed up, then PowerShare won’t work via this ‘Powerwall-based’ method.

 

[hemiarch]

So is it possible for us powerwall and solar people to have an electrician come and install a generator inlet with a manual backup switch somewhere so we can just use the 240v truck outlet to backup our homes while we wait on this promised software miracle?
If so, where would this go? On the board that’s inside the Tesla switch which isolates the home from the grid, or on the outside of that switch so the system sees the input as “the grid”?

 

[mongo]

So is it possible for us powerwall and solar people to have an electrician come and install a generator inlet with a manual backup switch somewhere so we can just use the 240v truck outlet to backup our homes while we wait on this promised software miracle?
If so, where would this go? On the board that’s inside the Tesla switch which isolates the home from the grid, or on the outside of that switch so the system sees the input as “the grid”?

It is possible. Putting it between gateway/ powerwalls and the house panel is the best option.
https://www.tesla.com/support/energy/powerwall/learn/combining-systems

 

[hemiarch]

It is possible. Putting it between gateway/ powerwalls and the house panel is the best option.
https://www.tesla.com/support/energy/powerwall/learn/combining-systems

Thanks. You’re the best Mongo. Thats useful. So basically it’s a redundancy you activate after the powerwalls
run out. Logical.

 

[Korben Dallas]

You need to wait until Q3 of this year for Tesla Energy to push a software update to Powerwall for PowerShare.

There’s a bunch of us Powerwall owners waiting for this. Note, the UWC needs to be backed up by Powerwall in order for PowerShare to work. If it’s on a sub panel that’s not being backed up, then PowerShare won’t work via this ‘Powerwall-based’ method.

Thank you the response. I didn’t realize until your post that the PWs also require an update to support PowerShare. Also, my UWC is downstream of the Gateway.

 

[Jim Waller]

Interesting, I'm on Tesla app v4.44.5-3304

The off grid section on the screen appeared about a week after the installer closed out the job on the Tesla One app. No update or anything special that triggered it. I assume someone at Tesla reviewed the documentation from the installer then that let it appear

It turns out I needed to remove the cover to scan an interior QR code. Those of you having trouble might try this. The one near the breaker acted like was the correct one but wouldn't finish the phone pairing.
Thanks for your reply which got me digging deeper in the instructions.

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