Critical Loads Panel Included in Tesla Quote?

[SBerg]

Looking at installing one PW2 and have existing 2.5kw solar system. Tesla's online quote is lower than a quote from an independent installer. Does the Tesla quote include a critical loads panel or would that come as a change order at additional cost?

 

[pruveit]

Yes, the critical loads panel is part of the process. It's necessary for the system to determine what will actually be backed up.

 

[holeydonut]

When I was speaking with them a few months ago, Tesla was going to charge for the creation of the sub-panel that would house the critical loads. For me, the only way to get rid of this extra cost was to bump up the # of Powerwalls to get whole home backup.

 

[mnsweeps]

it was included for my 2 Powerwalls.. It has breakers for all my backed up load.

 

[SoundDaTrumpet]

Single powerwalls setups tend to guarantee a critical load panel. The technical reason is because a single can’t backup a 30A load such as a clothes dryer, which is typically included in all residential electrical panels.

You solar size of 2.5kW is compatible with a single PW. General guidance is 3.3kW solar production per PW. (I have small solar system but during storm watch 2PW charged at 6.6kW. 2PW can discharge at 10kW.)

 

[wjgjr]

As others have stated, the installed price should include the critical loads panel. It looks as though their pricing has not changed since I last looked - each PW is $7k, and the gateway is $1k. What changes is the installation cost - for one, it is $3,500, dropping by $500 as you get to four ($2k) and then going back up by $500 as you go to 10 ($5k). The fact that install costs drop as you add more PWs up to four is reflective of the decreasing need to install sub-panels, soft starts, or do other electrical work beyond just hooking the PW/Gateway into the existing electrical.