Smart Solar Charging the CT?

[GnarlyDudeLive]

So solar was just installed on my home and I would love some input from those more experienced.

At peak sunlight hours I overproduce power from my solar system (w/ 1 Powerwall 3) depending on when air conditioner kicks off. Rather than sending the excess power back to the power company where I only earn 1/2 credit, it would be nice if that specific extra KW went towards charging my CT first.

Seems rather simple but at the moment its rather manual and tedious. If I simply pug in the CT during this time it will draw more power than I am producing and either pull from my Powerwall and/or from my power provider (ComEd). I believe I can reduce the amperage on the charge from 49a down to a level where it only pulls the excess but it can be rather variable depending on if the home AC kicks on and off.

Tesla hear me out, If the Powerwall would talk to my charger (software) this could be done intelligently and maximize usage even as it varies from moment to moment.

In essence, extra power first charges the Powerwall. Once Powerwall is at capacity, then start charging my CT. Once the CT is at desired capacity, then start sending excess power back to the grid.

I fully understand this will NOT charge my CT at its fastest rate available via my Universal Power Adapter/Charger.

If this is already possible call me a fool and please someone educate me.

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[GnarlyDudeLive]

Ok, looks like it can already do this via the "Charge on Solar" option. Going to give it a shot and see how it goes.

 

[REM]

Ok, looks like it can already do this via the "Charge on Solar" option. Going to give it a shot and see how it goes.

was just about to send you a link to this lol

 

[GnarlyDudeLive]

was just about to send you a link to this lol

I need to know figure out why I don't get this option displayed yet on my phone app.

 

[REM]

what's your entire setup? Do you have a gateway?

 

[GnarlyDudeLive]

what's your entire setup? Do you have a gateway?

PowerWall 3, an additional Tesla Inverter, Tesla Universal Wall Connector, 24.9kw of (58qty) Solar panels. No Tesla Gateway. Net Metering to be enabled in a week or 2. QMerit assigned contractor sometime in October to do the install of the Powershare.

 

[Coolhandz]

PowerWall 3, an additional Tesla Inverter, Tesla Universal Wall Connector, 24.9kw of (58qty) Solar panels. No Tesla Gateway. Net Metering to be enabled in a week or 2. QMerit assigned contractor sometime in October to do the install of the Powershare.

Don't think you can enable charge via solar until net metering is enabled. Waiting on the same.

 

[GnarlyDudeLive]

Don't think you can enable charge via solar until net metering is enabled. Waiting on the same.

Interesting but I do not understand why net metering would have any bearing on this feature.

Further (but sketchy) research indicates Tesla Gateway is needed for this feature. However, there is an app "Charge HQ" than can do this exact same feature. It needs to link to your Tesla account to pull API information and then link to your vehicle via a Virtual Access key. This monitors your excess solar energy and then divert that to your Tesla by adjusting your charge amperage on the fly. By doing so it prevents the excess power from going to the utility company where depending on when you bought into Net Metering you may only get back a portion of what you sent them. Currently this rate is 50% so you only get back 1/2 of the excess you sent them as credits and why I would rather charge my CT before the util co. halves its value. It also has a nifty priority feature that you can set what threshold your Powerwall is at before sending power to your EV rather than a always fixed 100%. 30 day trial then $5 per month.

 

[MSL2]

Interesting but I do not understand why net metering would have any bearing on this feature.

Further (but sketchy) research indicates Tesla Gateway is needed for this feature. However, there is an app "Charge HQ" than can do this exact same feature. It needs to link to your Tesla account to pull API information and then link to your vehicle via a Virtual Access key. This monitors your excess solar energy and then divert that to your Tesla by adjusting your charge amperage on the fly. By doing so it prevents the excess power from going to the utility company where depending on when you bought into Net Metering you may only get back a portion of what you sent them. Currently this rate is 50% so you only get back 1/2 of the excess you sent them as credits and why I would rather charge my CT before the util co. halves its value. It also has a nifty priority feature that you can set what threshold your Powerwall is at before sending power to your EV rather than a always fixed 100%. 30 day trial then $5 per month.

I charge on solar and I don't have a Gateway. I have 22kw system with two PW2+ and a Universal Wall Connector. Although I charge on solar with just the mobile charger and without the Universal Wall Connector.

 

[GnarlyDudeLive]

I charge on solar and I don't have a Gateway. I have 22kw system with two PW2+ and a Universal Wall Connector. Although I charge on solar with just the mobile charger and without the Universal Wall Connector.

Charging on solar is not the issue. Its charging only with EXCESS solar AFTER the PW's are full, without going over production and pulling back from the util co. So its a variable rate charge so that it stays in its lane. I would rather not cycle my PW when possible while charging the CT or MY. Obviously there will be times when I need a charge quickly and it is what it is. If you have Net Metering from a couple years ago, you get 1:1 power credits and it is not really an issue pulling from the util co from a cost perspective.

 

[GnarlyDudeLive]

I charge on solar and I don't have a Gateway. I have 22kw system with two PW2+ and a Universal Wall Connector. Although I charge on solar with just the mobile charger and without the Universal Wall Connector.

Yeah the 49a Universal charger can pull 20kw and maybe more, its a hefty load. When your charging with your mobile charger, are you pulling from your PW's at all?

 

[Coolhandz]

I guess just for clarity, you don't need to specifically have net metering activated/approved, but rather a grid connection which enables net metering or sending power back to grid. Whatever power is generated in excess of what the home and what the powerwall are using.

I would imagine that right now, when you have peak solar (~midday), then the panels are being throttled in what they can produce rather than exporting to the grid which is what is required for charging on solar feature to work. You don't need another piece of hardware or another app. Just your utility provider to enable the grid connection/exporting.

 

[MSL2]

Yeah the 49a Universal charger can pull 20kw and maybe more, its a hefty load. When your charging with your mobile charger, are you pulling from your PW's at all?

Not while charging on solar, its not pulling from the PW's or from the grid.

I have my UWC wired up to get the highest charge possible (if needed) but even then its only 11.5kW. But I don't like it drawing even that much at once and I'm not in a hurry to charge so I throttle mine down from 48 amps to 32 amps.

 

[MSL2]

Charging on solar is not the issue. Its charging only with EXCESS solar AFTER the PW's are full, without going over production and pulling back from the util co. So its a variable rate charge so that it stays in its lane. I would rather not cycle my PW when possible while charging the CT or MY. Obviously there will be times when I need a charge quickly and it is what it is. If you have Net Metering from a couple years ago, you get 1:1 power credits and it is not really an issue pulling from the util co from a cost perspective.

If you're charging using the "charge on solar" feature, it wont pull from the grid unless your SOC is below your lower threshold which is adjustable.
Charge on solar does everything you're describing except waiting until your PW's are full. You could change your scheduled charge time until later when your PW's are full(er).

 

[mongo]

PowerWall 3, an additional Tesla Inverter, Tesla Universal Wall Connector, 24.9kw of (58qty) Solar panels. No Tesla Gateway. Net Metering to be enabled in a week or 2. QMerit assigned contractor sometime in October to do the install of the Powershare.

So you don't have backup capability?
Did they install a Tesla Remore Energy Monitor then? Without it, there is no way for the system to know what the house draw is so that it can charge the vehicle with the excess solar.
https://wing.energy/tesla-powerwall-3-non-backup-installation/
The Powershare Gateway (3V, not V3), isn't compatible with Powerwall. You need a regular Gateway or Backup Switch and for Tesla to release the software for PW+PS. Unless you want a subset of loads backed up by the truck without using the Powerwall (coukd possibly use the non PW inverter also).

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