Used Cybertruck to power my house during power outage

[pschmitz87]

so worth it. 10 powerwalls will cost 100k. So having a kick ass truck and 10 powerwalls worth of power for 100k hands down is 100% the way to go.

So true but thats what I'm trying to understand is if the truck truly is a apples to apples comparison with the type of power and storage the Powerwall can offer vs the CT as I've seen a few forums where the estimates of power a CT can provide don't linearly match up with what, to your point, 10x powerwalls would be able to

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[Cybertruck 1974]

So true but thats what I'm trying to understand is if the truck truly is a apples to apples comparison with the type of power and storage the Powerwall can offer vs the CT as I've seen a few forums where the estimates of power a CT can provide don't linearly match up with what, to your point, 10x powerwalls would be able to

The 123kw will provide down to 10% at 11kwh rate which is more than my powerwalls do and capacity of my powerwalls is 13.5kw each. the CT is 123kw.

 

[yessirrom]

if you go this route, (and i think its the best route) make sure you buy a breaker interlock kit too, then you dont have to trust yourself or a family member or the next owner.

also if you have solar you may want to turn off the breakers that the solar inverter feeds your main panel from (if thats how its installed) also.

I have this very setup and it works quite well with my portable generator. I look forward to the cybertruck setup for future needs though.

 

[Cybertruck 1974]

I have this very setup and it works quite well with my portable generator. I look forward to the cybertruck setup for future needs though.

me too. I plan on never using PGE again. Im done with their rates and Tru Up Fees. I will be charging my truck at work and powering my house with my solar and 2 wall batteries and truck all day and night. Im just going to turn the breaker off at main and be done. Can't wait.

 

[Woodrick]

Hey W, I think maybe I didn't write my original message very clearly, apologies about that. Let me take a step back with my understanding of how V2H charging works with the CT to make sure I didn't misinterpret.

My understanding is there are 2x main ways the CT Powershare feature (https://www.tesla.com/powershare) can charge a home. Including the link more for reference for others not implying you didn't know about it and also because its incredible hard to find easily on the website.

1. Is by plugging your home's generator or other non-Tesla equipment directly into the 120V and 240V ports in the bed of the truck. This essentially turns your Tesla into a standard power source and should be compatible with any equipment that has a cord with a male plug on the end to draw power from.

2. Is through the NACS port where you plug the Tesla Universal Wall charger into the CT's NACS charging port and as long as you have a Tesla Gateway 3V or newer, then if the Gateway detects the grid is down it can intelligently pull power from the CT to be the home's source of energy until either the grid is detected to come back online or the CT runs out of battery (or potentially it stops at 10% so your truck doesn't completely die)

If you also look into the fine print in the site above, it claims halfway down the page that the CT can power a home for 3x days but at the very bottom of the page it notes that is based on 30kwh of energy use per day so even by those metrics, that would mean it would only be the equivalent of 90kwh right? Or potentially is that just the point it stops providing power so the truck doesn't completely die?

I know this thread started as Johnm6875 discussing leveraging option #1 above but my question is for option #2.

I hope that helps to clarify what data I'm after in terms of how this can augment the current Gateway + 2x powerwall setup I currently have at our house. Let me know if you think this deserves or should have its own thread so it doesn't fork the conversation for this one.

1) You don't plug a generator into the Cybertruck's outlets. I'm hoping this was a kind of typo. Yes, this is simply providing 120V or 240V power, but is only enabled for 12 hours and must be renabled at that point

2) Yes, it is connected to an auto switch-over relay that provides power to the home.

3 days @ 30kWh is 90 kWh, or about 70% (90/123) of the battery. If you only charged to 80% and then dropped to 10%, then that seems to be the numbers that they are using.

So yes, the Cybertruck would provide about 90kWh in addition to the Powerwalls.

BUT, this requires the Cybertruck to be plugged in. It requires the Cybertruck to be at full normal charge (80%) and assumes that you will not be using the Cybertruck. All of these are BIG "Ifs"

 

[pschmitz87]

1) You don't plug a generator into the Cybertruck's outlets. I'm hoping this was a kind of typo. Yes, this is simply providing 120V or 240V power, but is only enabled for 12 hours and must be renabled at that point

2) Yes, it is connected to an auto switch-over relay that provides power to the home.

3 days @ 30kWh is 90 kWh, or about 70% (90/123) of the battery. If you only charged to 80% and then dropped to 10%, then that seems to be the numbers that they are using.

So yes, the Cybertruck would provide about 90kWh in addition to the Powerwalls.

BUT, this requires the Cybertruck to be plugged in. It requires the Cybertruck to be at full normal charge (80%) and assumes that you will not be using the Cybertruck. All of these are BIG "Ifs"

Haha yes #1 I wrote generator but I didn't mean that

Yeah typically when we lose power its from ice or bad storms where we wouldn't be leaving the house anyways so the CT not being used and plugged in at home is a good assumption for our situation.

Worst case we also have solar where if we did need to pull the CT out and run an errand then the house could switch over to the powerwalls and hopefully get some drip charge from the panels. We are also planning on keeping our Y at this point so theoretically we could also in the event of a bad power outage, just park the CT in the garage and plug it in, then put the Y on the street for errands and have our setup be that combo.

Either way really I really appreciate the insight and discourse, thanks!

 

[ParTheBar]

My CT hadn't been home 24 hours before our power went out due to a big storm.

I have a cutoff switch with a NEMA 14-50 plug that I usually plug into an ICE generator during power outages. This time I plugged into the CT, turned it on with the app and "no fuss, no muss" the house had power, including the well. It used about 1% per hour through the evening.

We have propane for hot water and heater and, except for the refrigerator, we didn't run our appliances much. Not hearing the generator is delightful. It did turn off after about 10 hours, don't know why, and I turned it back on from the app without any drama.

My granddaughter wanted me to drive her to High School today (lots of heads turned) so I topped up at a supercharger before coming home (power is still out here) so I'm set for the next couple of days if necessary.

Just received Config Email and considering Beast. I was initially adding up benefits of Premium Accessories, Light Bar, etc. but think Powershare is HUGE benefit. Am i thinking about this correctly?

• CT Beast has ~123kWh capacity.
• Powerwall v2 has 14 KwH capacity
• Powerwall Cost $8,400 LESS 30% Fed Credit = $5,880.
• CT = ~Nine (9) Powerwalls
• CT kWh capacity is worth $52,920
• 3V Gateway Included - $1,800 est
• Universal Wall Connector - $595
• Powershare Beast installation credit - $4,000
• Total Powershare benefit - $59,315

Plus Lightbar ($1-3K), FSD ($7-12K) adds another $8-15K.

Total CT Beast benefit = $67,315 - $74,315

Am I thinking about this correctly?

Appreciate ant/all feedback

 

[Woodrick]

Just received Config Email and considering Beast. I was initially adding up benefits of Premium Accessories, Light Bar, etc. but think Powershare is HUGE benefit. Am i thinking about this correctly?

• CT Beast has ~123kWh capacity.
• Powerwall v2 has 14 KwH capacity
• Powerwall Cost $8,400 LESS 30% Fed Credit = $5,880.
• CT = ~Nine (9) Powerwalls
• CT kWh capacity is worth $52,920
• 3V Gateway Included - $1,800 est
• Universal Wall Connector - $595
• Powershare Beast installation credit - $4,000
• Total Powershare benefit - $59,315

Plus Lightbar ($1-3K), FSD ($7-12K) adds another $8-15K.

Total CT Beast benefit = $67,315 - $74,315

Am I thinking about this correctly?

Appreciate ant/all feedback

While it may not be the justification that others do, whatever justification that you need to do and makes you happy is satisfactory.

 

[ParTheBar]

While it may not be the justification that others do, whatever justification that you need to do and makes you happy is satisfactory.

Thanks Ed.

Does anyone know if we can confirm Powershare can be installed before final configuration?

We have a lake house about 20 miles from home address that is on Tesla profile, if want Powershare at lake house, should I change address on CT order? Powershare installer should be the same.

 

[Woodrick]

Thanks Ed.

Does anyone know if we can confirm Powershare can be installed before final configuration?

We have a lake house about 20 miles from home address that is on Tesla profile, if want Powershare at lake house, should I change address on CT order? Powershare installer should be the same.

If you change the address on the order, that will probably ripple all the way through financing, taxes and registration. And everything will be indicated as the other location.

 

[sharpgator]

Just received Config Email and considering Beast. I was initially adding up benefits of Premium Accessories, Light Bar, etc. but think Powershare is HUGE benefit. Am i thinking about this correctly?

• CT Beast has ~123kWh capacity.
• Powerwall v2 has 14 KwH capacity
• Powerwall Cost $8,400 LESS 30% Fed Credit = $5,880.
• CT = ~Nine (9) Powerwalls
• CT kWh capacity is worth $52,920
• 3V Gateway Included - $1,800 est
• Universal Wall Connector - $595
• Powershare Beast installation credit - $4,000
• Total Powershare benefit - $59,315

Plus Lightbar ($1-3K), FSD ($7-12K) adds another $8-15K.

Total CT Beast benefit = $67,315 - $74,315

Am I thinking about this correctly?

Appreciate ant/all feedback

I just told my wife I'm getting a free truck.

 

[Crissa]

BUT, this requires the Cybertruck to be plugged in. It requires the Cybertruck to be at full normal charge (80%) and assumes that you will not be using the Cybertruck. All of these are BIG "Ifs"

Not really. Unless it's an earthquake, you're going to have enough warning to charge your truck. And if it's enough to knock out the power, you're likely not going to be doing very much driving. And if you are, there will be other places to charge.

-Crissa

 

[scottf200]

Anker solix has an auto switch over. We could get 1 solid battery with the smart hub and basically have a buffer for when we need to charge the truck. Come home, use the truck to charge the solix while it powers the house or visa versa.

https://www.anker.com/anker-solix/a1790-pps?ref=A1790111_listing

That is a very cool device.

This guy did a really thorough job of testing and explaining. Impressive load testing on each phase (left & right panels on the device) of the 120s. At one point he indicated when you put it in EV charging mode that it binds the neutral+ground. It'll charge at 24 amps (24 amps × 240 volts = 5760 watts) just with the base unit without the extra battery options.

You can charge it using solar input at the same time it is outputting. You can not charge it using A/C input and output. Probably what you'd expect.

Re: You can charge it using solar input at the same time it is outputting. You can not charge it using A/C input and output. Probably what you'd expect.

This "EG4 Chargeverter" lets you convert AC 240 input to DC and run it into the Anker Solix solar inputs to charge up while it is being used to run your house. eg. ie. house drawing less wattage than your can input into the Anker Solix from your vehicle or generator.

 

[AlmostHuman]

very minimal surges compared to a normal A/C Startup less than half the required current

For sure. Many are around 70% reduction. Have one on our big AC unit.

 

[Woodrick]

Not really. Unless it's an earthquake, you're going to have enough warning to charge your truck. And if it's enough to knock out the power, you're likely not going to be doing very much driving. And if you are, there will be other places to charge.

-Crissa

Hmm, if a truck hits a pole and takes the power out....
It a storm line unexpectedly starts spawning tornados....
A no big deal winter storm turns into a big deal, like the big one that hit NJ/NY a few years ago and everyone got stuck at work or a similar one hit Atlanta 20 years ago.

Or Hurricane Helene that made a turn that NO ONE anticipated and kept it's strength up to wipe out a good portion of the Southern Appalachians. That's the equivalent of a hurricane taking out Los Vegas!

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