Tesla [Cybertruck] Powershare and Universal Wall Connector

[192.168.1.1]

Hello all!

Id like to start a mega thread on the Universal Wall Connector and Powershare equipment that come with the Foundation Series Cybertruck.

We have all seen that there is a lot of unknown, rumors, and assumptions going around. Additionally, I think it would be beneficial for future owners picking up their FS Cybertrucks in the future on what to expect and ask regarding the Powershare and Universal Wall Connector.

Things id love to see:

1. If you received any of the equipment upon delivery.
2. Any emails regarding this before or after your delivery.
3. Who is it shipped to? You or [any] electrician (Including Tesla contracted)
4. Are you required to use the electrician that Tesla provides (If any).
5. Price of install. (Maybe materials required if you have that)
6. Time from order to install.

anything outside of these is also greatly appreciated!

Sponsored

 

[tripzero]

You won't physically receive the universal wall connector or gateway from Tesla as far as I understand. They will either connect you with an installer if you qualify or credit you.

Price is going to vary, but I was quoted $4k today. They haven't even seen my home, so that may change.

I was contacted by the installer about 20 days after I configured the truck. I'm still waiting for a VIN, so I doubt they will be able to install anything before I complete the truck purchase.

 

[Thor]

$2550 was the quote I got. Can’t proceed further until the vin is assigned.

 

[av8rdude]

I have the powershare gateway installed and working in my house. Here are the details and my timeline:

Dec 26: Ordered AWD truck
Within a week I got the powershare questionnaire to determine if I could get the equipment. I'm in GA and later I got an email saying I'm a candidate for powershare.

In early March the approved local electrician emailed and scheduled a site survey of my house. Quote was approximately $3500 (final cost $3850). All equipment was shipped directly to the electrician.
Apr 5: VIN Assigned
Apr 8: Original delivery scheduled
Apr 5 at 2030 at night. Pedalgate started and I received the vague text from Tesla HQ saying my truck would not be ready for delivery.
Apr 20: Delivery finally rescheduled for Apr 27
Apr 27: Delivery day with no issues on the truck.
May 6: Powershare gateway and universal wall connector installed
May 8: New Powershare Banner appeared in the Tesla phone app showing details and how it works.

I ignored the banner add in the app for one day and then realized it showed how to enable Powershare in the app or in the vehicle. It is enabled in the app on the controls section after swiping up from the bottom. In the truck it in on the charging page.

I plugged in my truck and turned off the main breaker at the meter. Immediately I got a phone notification and powershare powered the house in less than a second. I powered the house for about 30 minutes including cycling an AC unit off/on several times without issue.

When I turned the main breaker back on I got a phone notification that grid power was restored and powershare would stop in 5 minutes. Exactly 5 minutes later the powershare stopped with less than a second blink of the lights.

During installation I asked about hard wiring the internet connection. The installer had never tried to use ethernet. I found two ethernet ports on the gateway and plugged ethernet into the left port. It worked connected to my network showing a hard wired network connection during the installation.

The Universal Wall Connector is connected to the Gateway with a data wire for communications with the truck. The Gateway functions as an extension bus to your main panel allowing more circuits to be added inside the gateway. My new Universal Charger breaker was added inside the gateway while my original Gen 2 Wall connector is in my main breaker panel. Both are on 60 amp circuits.

The approved installers use an app called Tesla One. You can download the app and add an account as an "external user" or some other choice besides certified installer. This allows you to see all the setup steps and the provisioning of the gateway.

Here is a link to an album with a video showing the truck and some screen shots of the Tesla android app...enjoy

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Exi5ot4aaMfhT5Tx7

 

[akenis]

...about 30 minutes including cycling an AC unit off/on several times without issue.

My new Universal Charger breaker was added inside the gateway while my original Gen 2 Wall connector is in my main breaker panel. Both are on 60 amp circuits.

Do you know what the LRA is on your AC unit? Truck supports up to 110 A. Powerwall supports up to 185. Did you have soft start installed on AC? My AC is 124. Pool heat pump is 145. (Not that I need to heat the pool with a power outage).

With second WC, did they get networked to share available amperage, or are they independent? Tesla says

Avail amp/number of WC = max A per WC when all used.

Networking not required if greater than 48 amps.

I have 200 amp service, so not sure what to use for avail amp number.


Question: Is there any way to force CT to power house w/o removing the grid? Thinking about load shifting during peak.

 

[av8rdude]

Do you know what the LRA is on your AC unit? Truck supports up to 110 A. Powerwall supports up to 185. Did you have soft start installed on AC? My AC is 124. Pool heat pump is 145. (Not that I need to heat the pool with a power outage).

With second WC, did they get networked to share available amperage, or are they independent? Tesla says

Avail amp/number of WC = max A per WC when all used.

Networking not required if greater than 48 amps.

I have 200 amp service, so not sure what to use for avail amp number.


Question: Is there any way to force CT to power house w/o removing the grid? Thinking about load shifting during peak.

I have not checked the LRA of my units yet. But I was told they need to be below 150. The lights slightly flickered as the compressor kicked on. I do not have soft start installed, yet.

I have my old and new Wall Connectors on separate 60 amp circuits, so I did not setup load share between them. Each wall connector is set to a max of 48 amps. The only issue is the old connector has no communication line and still shows as an additional "My Home" in the app. One of "My Homes" has the gateway and universal connector. The second "My Home" only has the older wall connector. Maybe if I connected the two Wall Connectors via wifi to load share I could see them both in a single Home? But this is not necessary since they are on independent 60 amp circuits.

The new Gateway 3V will not power the house with the grid input power present. It will not isolate the house from the grid. The grid has to fail to enable powershare from the truck.

 

[hodginator]

These initial quotes are making me sad. My initial quote was ~$7K... I'm trying to find alternate options now since this seems excessive.

 

[Fabville]

These initial quotes are making me sad. My initial quote was ~$7K... I'm trying to find alternate options now since this seems excessive.

I’m currently getting additional quotes myself as the initial electrician Tesla gave my contact info to has been higher than quotes others on this forum has received. Even though they are Tesla certified electricians that I’ve reached out to, they seem to have trouble getting information from Tesla so far.

 

[SteelMyHeart]

Hello all!

Id like to start a mega thread on the Universal Wall Connector and Powershare equipment that come with the Foundation Series Cybertruck.

We have all seen that there is a lot of unknown, rumors, and assumptions going around. Additionally, I think it would be beneficial for future owners picking up their FS Cybertrucks in the future on what to expect and ask regarding the Powershare and Universal Wall Connector.

Things id love to see:

1. If you received any of the equipment upon delivery.
2. Any emails regarding this before or after your delivery.
3. Who is it shipped to? You or [any] electrician (Including Tesla contracted)
4. Are you required to use the electrician that Tesla provides (If any).
5. Price of install. (Maybe materials required if you have that)
6. Time from order to install.

anything outside of these is also greatly appreciated!

1. If you received any of the equipment upon delivery.

No you don't get the gateway or universal wall connector, only mobile charger and ccs adapter.

2. Any emails regarding this before or after your delivery.

Yes in your area Tesla should have an electrician reach out from a company such as car charging pros etc with questions about your house and electrical system to see if you qualify.

3. Who is it shipped to? You or [any] electrician (Including Tesla contracted)

The local instal company once they determine you are approved will send you an estimate and then if you approve estimate they order the gateway and wall connector from Tesla and then notify you once the equipment arrives so they can come do install.

4. Are you required to use the electrician that Tesla provides (If any).

Yes, they provide only one company in local area, at least where I am.

5. Price of install. (Maybe materials required if you have that)

For whole house backup including permit, hardware and wiring and labor is ~$4700 and I live in Florida

6. Time from order to install

Not sure yet. I got truck on 5/3, approved estimate 2 days ago so just waiting on them getting the Tesla hardware.

 

[gaswalla]

At some point, if you already have a home charging solution, it seems like these high install costs make getting a powerwall a better option.. really lame

 

[Derektsla]

The new Gateway 3V will not power the house with the grid input power present. It will not isolate the house from the grid. The grid has to fail to enable powershare from the truck.

The installer told me that to test the gateway, you open the front panel and flip off the 200A breaker inside. This disconnects the gateway from the grid manually and should result in the truck powering the house. I can’t prove this as PowerShare isn’t software activated yet. But, if you did want to go off grid manually this seems like an option.

 

[tlc5432]

I currently have Tesla Solar panels and battery - was told I did not qualify for PowerShare, and was given 6 months of super charging. I have no idea what or why these decisions are made. I’d love to use my CT as a backup battery but not sure if I can. Any helpful info would be appreciated. Can I PowerShare with my existing equipment?

 

[mbrockus]

I currently have Tesla Solar panels and battery - was told I did not qualify for PowerShare, and was given 6 months of super charging. I have no idea what or why these decisions are made. I’d love to use my CT as a backup battery but not sure if I can. Any helpful info would be appreciated. Can I PowerShare with my existing equipment?

Good News for you Tim - you dont need any additional hardware for Powershare to work. Check this out https://www.tesla.com/support/powershare

 

[cofree]

Good News for you Tim - you dont need any additional hardware for Powershare to work. Check this out https://www.tesla.com/support/powershare

One thing confuses me a little... that page says that any version of HPWC is fine... however a post at the top of this thread suggested that the HPWC needs to communicate via a cable/port that an early HPWC doesn't have?

 

[mbrockus]

One thing confuses me a little... that page says that any version of HPWC is fine... however a post at the top of this thread suggested that the HPWC needs to communicate via a cable/port that an early HPWC doesn't have?

I would go with the official pubs vs what you read in a forum.. If not, you can always reach out to [email protected] to see if they can help clear up any confusion.

Sponsored