Powershare Install Completed

[schmo]

Smart Charge America completed my Powershare install today. Before and after pictures above.

I have non-Tesla solar so the Gateway was connected to my main panel after the meter and three loads (sub panel and two AC compressors) were moved inside as my backup loads.

My garage is on the other side of the house so both power and communication wires were fished through my first story ceiling.

I will throw some more pictures in the thread. Feel free to ask any questions you may have.

The install team, Damir, Sanchez, Kevin, and Clifford did an excellent job. Clean and professional work!

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[schmo]

 

[Jmerwin]

I am in CA with San Diego Gas and electric. I also have non-Tesla solar with no battery. If there is a blackout my understanding is I will have no power even though solar is producing power . With PowerShare I assume the Cybertruck can power the home during the blackout but can the solar panels still power the Cybertruck?

 

[schmo]

I am in CA with San Diego Gas and electric. I also have non-Tesla solar with no battery. If there is a blackout my understanding is I will have no power even though solar is producing power . With PowerShare I assume the Cybertruck can power the home during the blackout but can the solar panels still power the Cybertruck?

Good question. Before Powershare, the SolarEdge inverter would shutdown during an outage since I didn't have a battery backup. Once my Powershare gets activated, the Cybertruck will serve as a battery backup, but the solar inverter will still shutdown. The only way to get keep your solar panels generating during an outage is to add a Powerwall to your setup.

Outages are rare in my neighborhood so I opted against adding a Powerwall.

 

[cgladue]

How much Total ? how many holes did they cut and did they completely patch them after?

interesting you decided to not power your whole main panel

 

[schmo]

How much Total ? how many holes did they cut and did they completely patch them after?

interesting you decided to not power your whole main panel

I haven't received the final bill yet, but should be less than $2K after rebates.

Two holes, each a foot square, were cut. I offered to have my painter patch them. One hole was where the wire entered the house and the other was where it entered the garage. See the interior picture with the ladders.

The Tesla Gateway can be installed between the meter and existing main panel for whole home backup, but then you need to wait for approval (and inspection) from your electric utility. That can take months. By installing the gateway after the main panel, the utility does not need to get involved. (They treat it as a generator)

My installation allows the gateway to be directly attached to the meter if needed in the future.

A 125A breaker was installed in my main panel that fed the gateway power. The electrician then moved three circuits from the main panel (my sub panel and two air conditioners) to the gateway panel for backup. A fourth circuit was run to the UWC in my garage for the Cybertruck. (The panel in the gateway only has room for four breakers which worked out perfect for my needs.)

The only remaining circuits in my main panel are my oven, dryer, and solar inverter. They are my non-backup loads. I didn't need to touch my solar wiring and it will shutdown during an outage as expected.

 

[Jmerwin]

coincidentally I received the email from Tesla to schedule my site visit to start the powerwall installation. (not the initial questionnaire) However, I have not yet received my vin for the Cybertruck- what was your timeline on contact with the powerwall and getting your Cybertruck?

 

[schmo]

coincidentally I received the email from Tesla to schedule my site visit to start the powerwall installation. (not the initial questionnaire) However, I have not yet received my vin for the Cybertruck- what was your timeline on contact with the powerwall and getting your Cybertruck?

I was contacted by the contractor directly four days after delivery. They asked for photos and didn't need a site visit before the install. They told me at the time that they already had my Tesla Gateway and UWC in their warehouse.

 

[schmo]

Looks like this in the app…

 

[cyberzurc58]

Smart Charge America completed my Powershare install today. Before and after pictures above.

I have non-Tesla solar so the Gateway was connected to my main panel after the meter and three loads (sub panel and two AC compressors) were moved inside as my backup loads.

My garage is on the other side of the house so both power and communication wires were fished through my first story ceiling.

I will throw some more pictures in the thread. Feel free to ask any questions you may have.

The install team, Damir, Sanchez, Kevin, and Clifford did an excellent job. Clean and professional work!

Nice, did you have to pay for the installation?

 

[schmo]

Nice, did you have to pay for the installation?

Yes, since I have the dual motor truck. Cyberbeast owners get $4000 towards install costs.

 

[SolarWizard]

I am in CA with San Diego Gas and electric. I also have non-Tesla solar with no battery. If there is a blackout my understanding is I will have no power even though solar is producing power . With PowerShare I assume the Cybertruck can power the home during the blackout but can the solar panels still power the Cybertruck?

Your setup will still stop making power but depending on what equipment you have it can be swapped over to stop that

 

[schmo]

 

[Phones And Drones]

This is awesome, thank you for sharing. I just approved my estimate and have 2 questions. First, were you offered or have you heard of "partial home" and "full home" backup options? One basically covers 6 breakers, the other 8? Second question is i have a newer wall connector and they said that they need to swap it for the universal one. From you picture, it looks like you are using the same wall connector i currently use and not the universal one. Is this the case? Thank you

 

[schmo]

This is awesome, thank you for sharing. I just approved my estimate and have 2 questions. First, were you offered or have you heard of "partial home" and "full home" backup options? One basically covers 6 breakers, the other 8? Second question is i have a newer wall connector and they said that they need to swap it for the universal one. From you picture, it looks like you are using the same wall connector i currently use and not the universal one. Is this the case? Thank you

I am doing "partial" home backup for a couple reasons. See post #6 in this thread for the details. The most important reasons were I have solar that needs to be isolated from the backup loads and I didn't want to wait for approval from my electric utility.

I have the Universal Wall Connector. Looks the same on the outside, but the inside is different. In addition to the wires for power, a second set of low voltage wires is run between the gateway and UWC for communications. See the wiring diagram in post #13.

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