Search results

I had an existing LG 12 solar panel system with Enphase microinverters on my 100A main panel. Tesla recently added 12 panels and 3 Powerwalls to the same 100A panel. The additional panels was for a newly built ADU. Still waiting for Permission to Operate from PG&E. I'm in the prcess of...

Hi, I just had Tesla solar panels installed with 3 Powerwalls today. They were able connect to my existing non-Tesla solar panels (LG panels with Enphase microinverters). I was looking at the app monitoring energy flow and have the following questions. I have a Tesla vehicle but I don't see...

Thanks for everyone's replies. I'm leaning towards just having the electrician relocate the combiner disconnect box and take a chance. I think the solar company is charging way too much given the amount of work required to move the box. If a panel does go out, is it pretty easy to swap out the...

Hi, Not Telsa related but I need to relocate a solar breaker (Combiner/gateway box?) 2ft over to be able to install my 400A panel. Solar panels have Enphase microinverters and supposedly have a 25yr warranty. The electricians I've been getting estimates for the panel upgrade for mostly say they...

Yes, I'm trying to get grandfathered into NEM 2.0. I read the interconnection application with PG&E (Northern California) needs to be submitted before 4/14/23. After submitting the application, you have 3 years to complete the solar installation to still qualify for NEM 2.0. NEM 3.0...

Anyone know the average timeline for Tesla to install the panels from start to finish? 2 months?

Do you know if Tesla will charge me for 2nd gateway if I upgrade to a 400A panel later?

Hi, According to the Tesla website, each Powerwall comes with a gateway (How Powerwall Works | Tesla Support). I plan on ordering 3 Powerwalls so does that mean I will get 3 gateways even if I don't need all 3? For example, if I have a 100A or 200A panel, I would think 1 gateway would...

I guess I'll find out when I schedule my final inspection without having the solar panels installed. Since the solar panels are listed on my ADU permit, I'm assuming the inspector will check everything off except for the solar piece. If this is the case, hopefully that'll be sufficient for...

I'm building a detached ADU in CA which requires solar panels. On the building permit for the ADU, the solar panels are a "deferred submittal". If I understand deferred submital correctly, it just means the solar plans are submitted for review after the main building permit is issued. Here's...

Is that the trenchless coring? I was told it would cost about the same. What should the price difference be?

When I replaced my old 100A Zinsco panel a few years ago, PG&E said I had replace it with a like for like panel (so another 100A panel). So I'm not sure if I'd be able to install a larger panel when I don't have that service. In my case, I already purchased a 400A panel already but was going to...

I don't really need 400A but since I have to pay to trench and install conduit for my underground powerlines I figured I might as well install the 320A powerline. I'm assuming the cost to install a 320A powerline vs. a 200A powerline isn't that much more. Labor would be the same so I'm just...

Any particular reason why? Is it to avoid any issues should there be any work done that might accidentally mess with my wiring? We'd each have our own conduits. In any case, installation of a new distribution box sounds like it can be pretty expensive to do. Plus having to wait for PG&E to...

Any idea how much PG&E charges to install a new distribution box? Could it be over $10K? As I mentioned, the exiting PG&E box is across the street. PG&E said that in order for my neighbor and I to share a trench, it'd only be allowed if we installed a distribution box on our side of the...

That makes sense. But if I wait until my neighbor's ready to trench for his main panel upgrade, ideally we'd be able to split the cost of the trenching. I also asked trenching contractor if he would offer multi-customer discount if he did both trenching jobs and he said yes. I'm guessing I can...

It's a 400A panel but will be 320A service (I plan on splitting into a 200A breaker and 120A breaker (assuming they make a 120A breaker?). My electrician said that's the max PG&E would provide for residential. The 200A breaker would be connected to Tesla Gateway, powerwalls, solar panels. The...

Are the electrical lines from the Tesla Gateway to the solar panels and Powerwalls the same whether I have a 100A panel vs. a 400A panel (320A service split into 200A/120A breakers)? Would the only difference be the line between the main panel and the Tesla Gateway? I understand it's better to...

As usual, thanks for your input. General question... I was chatting with my new neighbor next door (his electricity runs off the same PG&E box across the street). He was also interested in upgrading his main panel as well so there's a possibility of us splitting the trenching cost across the...

So what'd you end up doing? Did you originally have a 100A main panel? Did you upgrade your main panel? If so, how much was trenching? I'm in a similar situation, I have a 100A main panel (underground service) with 4kw solar panel system on the main house. We're building an ADU in the...

PG&E said it would cost about $40k for them to do the trenching from across the street to my main panel! Independent contractor would cost about $28k ($20k trenching + $8k PG&E fees) which is still a crazy amount to me. I'm not sure if PG&E will need to upgrade the transformer that feeds my...

Since I need to trench to replace my underground powerlines, I figured I might as well install 400A lines now rather then install 200A lines (and possibly have to upgrade again later. It would power both the main house (1,700 sq ft.) and ADU (900 sq ft). By "load center" do you mean the main...

If my 400A panel will be split into two 200A breakers. One 200A line will be backed up by the Powerwalls (because a single Gateway can only handle 200A max), the other 200A line won't be backed up the by Powerwall (I'll use this line for EV charging in the future). Will Tesla need to do any...

This would be for the SF Bay Area. I'm told the contractor would need a Class A Engineer license to trench across the street?

Does anyone have any suggestions for contractors authorized to trench across the street to install electrical conduit and powerlines for underground powerline upgrade from 100A to 320A/400A? Thanks!

Thanks. My electrician also layed out 1.5" conduit for them to run any solar cables from the main house to the ADU. They told me they probably wouldn't be able to use it. I think they wanted a larger conduit. Not sure why but my existing solar panel wires fit in a 3/4" conduit. Will powerwall...

I decided to upgrade to 400A instead of 200A because I have to trench across the street to replace old powerlines. I don't ever want to do that again. The ADU will have a 100A subpanel and then the main house will get to use the rest eventually have electric car chargers installed. So I just...

I'm building a detached ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) in the back yard. Main house has a 100A main electrical panel with solar panels (not Tesla) that has Enphase microinverters. I will be installing additional Tesla solar panels and 3 Powerwalls for the ADU. Tesla designed the system based...

Thanks. Yes, I think that's what I would do. Install 2 x 200A main panels and just leave one switched off. I'm asking the PG&E project manager if that's allowed.

If I have 400A service feeding into two 200A main panels, can I leave one of the 200A panels switched off (until I need it in the future for an EV charger)? There's nothing that says both main panels need to be on right? For the active 200A panel, I can run 100A subpanel to the main house and...

Thx. If I had a 400A service line, can I have a 200A main panel for the main house and 100A sub panel for the ADU? Or do I need to install a 300A main panel for the main house and 100A sub panel for the ADU? Do the electrical panels need to add up to the service line amperage coming into your...

Thanks for the quick reply. I'm in Castro Valley (Alameda County) so hopefully your electrician is willing to come my way. I'd be interested in reaching out to him. PG&E gave me a bunch of options. They said they can handle everything in the public street to the curb or they can do the whole...

Would you mind providing the contact information for your electrician? Did they install the 400A service line cable in the conduit or did PG&E do that? Did your trenching contractor install the conduit? Here's what PG&E said: -Who do you want to trench on your private property and install the...

Thanks for the detailed explanation. Unfortunately, my existing service panel is <3ft from the gas meter so when I upgrade the panel, I will need to relocate the panel as well. I was told 4 houses to each PG&E underground box. Do you recall how much it was to split the meter? It would be...

Did you have underground powerlines? How much did it cost for you to replace your lines? Was upgrading to 400A alot more expensive vs. going with 200A? Would 400A require PG&E to upgrade the neighborhoods transformer? If so, I'm assuming that's something I would need to pay for (which...

I think another reason I'm leaning towards Powerwalls is more psychological. If I didn't have underground powerlines, it would be a no brainer to upgrade the service panel. It would cost $5k at most to replace the powerlines? That means $15-$25k is just for digging a trench! It's all labor cost...

Thanks for the lively discussions and detailed calculations. Below are the cost breakdown for the solar panels and Powerwalls (before Federal tax credit). 4.8kw panels = $12,048 3 Powerwalls = $25,000 (as another poster mention 1st Powerwall is $11k, 2nd one is $7k, 3rd one $7k) Total = $37,048...

Thanks for your input. Will see how it goes with the Powerwalls first If I end up tripping breakers left and right, then will have to upgrade underground powerlines. My initial thinking was some people live off grid so must be doable. I'm shopping around for lower amperage appliances in hopes...

Hi, Main 3bd/2ba house is 100A main panel. I'm building a detached 2bd/2ba ADU (aka granny unit) in the back yard. Due to underground powerlines, it's super expensive ($20-30k) to upgrade to 200A main panel due to underground trenching to across the street and replacing existing PG&E...