Might be seeing the light at the end of tunnel:)

[charlesj]

Out of the clear blue this past Thursday morning I got a text that Tesla has applied for my permit.
Called the number in the text that was a central directory not one of the person I was talking with in the past.
The extension number was answered rather quickly. A good sign.

I contacted my original contact person in Las Vegas but looking through my file it seems something may not be in order.
At least I was not notified design was done or what was in the design or if I was supposed to be so notified in advance; perhaps not. I am hoping that they are designing for 2 PW as one would be too expensive.

I did ask about that SGIP list and was told that it may not happen, too complex or something and no idea about being funded further.

Will see how it goes from here.

 

[jboy210]

Sounds great! I hope they get things rolling quickly

 

[SMAlset]

How can you have a contract with permit applied for and not have design plans? Do you already have your solar roof and just adding PowerWall system to it? Only thing I can think of. Our order is under my husband’s Tesla account but under Manage I think the plans were there ( and not with the contract). You must know what equipment you are purchasing though from the contract price.?? BTW did you mean to say one PowerWall as two would be too expensive?

The only design plans we have are the roof layout. As for where the rest of the equipment goes it was listed on our order (and we received the spec sheets for each part) and told when they come out they will suggest a layout for the equipment but will do their best to follow our preferences. We did discuss our ideas for placement and concerns prior but that uncertainty of layout does leave you feeling a bit up in the air. We were assured however that they would have more than enough conduit etc to run inside and across our garage walls.

Glad to hear you are on your way with the permit. Next weekend is suppose to be great weather here so plan to tackle clearing our garage area in anticipation of the install. Pretty excited to move forward as well.

 

[charlesj]

Yes, I have solar panels already and just adding PW. My contact wasn't clear on the issue but didn't say he had access to the design so I could see a copy of it.
Yes, I know what I contracted for, 2 PW, but I am hoping that their design and what the local certified installer had in mind is not that different.
Certainly don't want to replace the main panel in a stuccoed outside wall.
No, what I meant is that I want 2 PW and hoping local agency will allow this as 1 would be too expensive per unit that two as they would just delete the cost of one but install would be essentially be the same.
So, right now I don't have a clear picture what is to come. Waiting for my contact to get back to me with more info.
My panels are pictured in moniker.

 

[jjrandorin]

Yes, I have solar panels already and just adding PW. My contact wasn't clear on the issue but didn't say he had access to the design so I could see a copy of it.
Yes, I know what I contracted for, 2 PW, but I am hoping that their design and what the local certified installer had in mind is not that different.
Certainly don't want to replace the main panel in a stuccoed outside wall.
No, what I meant is that I want 2 PW and hoping local agency will allow this as 1 would be too expensive per unit that two as they would just delete the cost of one but install would be essentially be the same.
So, right now I don't have a clear picture what is to come. Waiting for my contact to get back to me with more info.
My panels are pictured in moniker.

When you get Powerwalls as an add on, and they apply for the permit, the "design" drawing is basically an electrical schematic on what breakers are being relocated, and the part numbers of the devices they are ordering for your job. It also says the wall they are planning on putting it on.

It does not show placement on wall or anything like that. As long as the plan has the wall you intended them to install on) and you see the breakers re located that you expected, it should be fine. Your energy contact should be able to send you a copy of the design, I had no issue getting mine anyway.

 

[charlesj]

When you get Powerwalls as an add on, and they apply for the permit, the "design" drawing is basically an electrical schematic on what breakers are being relocated, and the part numbers of the devices they are ordering for your job. It also says the wall they are planning on putting it on.

It does not show placement on wall or anything like that. As long as the plan has the wall you intended them to install on) and you see the breakers re located that you expected, it should be fine. Your energy contact should be able to send you a copy of the design, I had no issue getting mine anyway.

Thanks. Yes, that would be fine as well but even that is not available or sent to me.
At least I would know what is going on, how close it is to what I told them and sent info on and not showing up here with misunderstandings.
I like to pre plan things, not once they are here.
Most likely it will go smoothly but I like reassurances beforehand.

 

[jjrandorin]

Thanks. Yes, that would be fine as well but even that is not available or sent to me.
At least I would know what is going on, how close it is to what I told them and sent info on and not showing up here with misunderstandings.
I like to pre plan things, not once they are here.
Most likely it will go smoothly but I like reassurances beforehand.

Totally get it. Not sure why you are not getting the drawing from them, I had no issues getting mine.

I am uploading a copy of mine so you can see what it looks like. My main load center (breaker panel) is on the outside wall of my garage, and my powerwalls went on the same wall but on the inside.

The attached PDF shows what they provided me.

 

[jjrandorin]

Note on the document above. Taking a closer look at it, there is language on there that looks like I am not supposed to share it. with that being said, I have already posted it so would just ask that people please not distribute that anywhere else.

Also @charlesj , I have been trying to remember when they gave me this document, and it was AFTER I was scheduled for install. In fact, it was the scheduling group who provided it to me, so it was not provided at the permitting stage.

 

[aesculus]

Totally get it. Not sure why you are not getting the drawing from them, I had no issues getting mine.

FWIW I did not get mine until after the final inspection when I got the originals for everything. They also had to make a small modification to mine between install and inspection as a panel was not needed. The SLD is also used for the PTO application but I am sure they can make as many electronic copies as they need. I do have the original permit.

 

[charlesj]

Note on the document above. Taking a closer look at it, there is language on there that looks like I am not supposed to share it. with that being said, I have already posted it so would just ask that people please not distribute that anywhere else.

Also @charlesj , I have been trying to remember when they gave me this document, and it was AFTER I was scheduled for install. In fact, it was the scheduling group who provided it to me, so it was not provided at the permitting stage.

Great, thanks.
My concern is how will they treat my two sub-panels, one on main floor, other on 2nd floor.
Have two 100A breakers in main panel.
The local certified installer who was helpful but very expensive indicated the two 100A can be replaced with 1 200A, then
as your drawing shows, Gateway behind the outside main panel in the garage, then to a new panel panel next/near the Gateway with the two 100A breakers and 2 30A fro the PW with 2 extra space for future expansion.
One of the 100A has the solar feed from the 2nd story sub-panel.

So, I am somewhat concerned if it will follow this as to rewire will be next to impossible without much remodeling.
Maybe I need to go to the planning office to see what they submitted.

 

[charlesj]

Update.
Well, I went down to the permit office this afternoon and looked at the permit with the wiring diagrams.
Good thing I didn't wait until the installation crew arrived.
As is, I have placed a call to my coordinator to discuss the plan. I am not about to rewire my solar circuit from the 2nd story sub-panel.
Hopefully things can be worked out somehow.

 

[charlesj]

Talked with my coordinator this morning. Back to the drawing board.
Design team didn't pass drawings through him nor did they seem to follow what was submitted, Seems to be a boiler plate drawing.

 

[charlesj]

Revision 1 to original drawing.

Added 2nd story sub panel that has solar breaker with a 100A breaker in backup loads panel; great.

I see an unspecified breaker feeding backup loads. Presume to be for sub panel 1 that has a 100A now.
All in their backup loads panel.

But, still a 100A in main panel and interestingly a second breaker symbol in main panel in series with that 100A.
Why are they hung up on that 100A in main panel that currently has 2-100A breakers.

Asked the designer to call to straighten this out

 

[charlesj]

Had a 3 way conversation with coordinator, designer, and myself.
Revision 3 coming up.
Pointed out some mistakes on the permit plans.
Finally will have two 100A breakers for the subpanels in the backup load panel
and of course the two PW breakers.
Main panel. I could only convince the designer to use a 150A breaker there instead of the 100A on previous drawings.
He stated something about a 120% load panel and generation would not allow a 200A as main breaker.
I don't understand what and why NEMA code prevents the 200A. Anyone?

So, I am a go at this point. Waiting to see the rev 3 drawings so it can back to plan check then scheduling.

 

[charlesj]

As it stands, the final rev 3 looks good except one minor deletion of an inverter location
on one page. The same inverter location was deleted from the site map but not this page.
So, time to plan check then scheduling.

 

[charlesj]

I am really upset. I thought I was almost ready to be scheduled.
I went to check on the revised design at the plan check office.

What do I see? Revised design not the one we agreed on at both ends but an intermediate design still.
My coordinator looked at the agreed upon design. Yep he still has the correct design but that is not what went to plan check.
Agreed design was on 5 Feb, latest wrong design stamped received 7 Feb at plan check.

Good thing I stopped in today for a look.

 

[jjrandorin]

I am really upset. I thought I was almost ready to be scheduled.
I went to check on the revised design at the plan check office.

What do I see? Revised design not the one we agreed on at both ends but an intermediate design still.
My coordinator looked at the agreed upon design. Yep he still has the correct design but that is not what went to plan check.
Agreed design was on 5 Feb, latest wrong design stamped received 7 Feb at plan check.

Good thing I stopped in today for a look.

I think @JayClark said "think of yourself as the GC on a tesla project". I think this is true if you dont have a "boilerplate" type of install.

Great job, General Contractor @charlesj , catching that issue with the plan being submitted before your client actually saw it

All kidding aside, great job sticking with it, and I am pulling for you to get this done. Thanks for updating us on progress, even if its frustrating.

 

[charlesj]

I think @JayClark said "think of yourself as the GC on a tesla project". I think this is true if you dont have a "boilerplate" type of install.

Great job, General Contractor @charlesj , catching that issue with the plan being submitted before your client actually saw it

All kidding aside, great job sticking with it, and I am pulling for you to get this done. Thanks for updating us on progress, even if its frustrating.

It's frustrating because you are left out of a notification loop: we are sending the design to plan check, here is a copy;
oh something is not right here is a better design without sending that too to plan check;
oh, we finally agree and rev. 3 and it stays behind, rev.2 went to plan check.

And, even then: only the line drawing is important( the electrical side)
So, the Site Plan not being accurate is not important?
Or, when the Site Plan is corrected the correction is not carried to other pages where it might also show up.


And, jump to after install, just reading elsewhere here if one batter is off line or quits, you may not discover it until who knows when.
We, us here, are curious about all this, we ask lots of questions of those who went before, and may discover it. We are a minority of the customers. How will they discover it? Will Tesla tell them the next day?

As an aside. My wife's laptop had an issue, beeping on start up. Discovered the laptop sent a report to Dell, case number, phone, etc was blaring on the screen. Called them and they will fix it at my home tomorrow.

 

[charlesj]

Well, went to the permitting office this morning as they were closed Monday. The correct plan was emailed after my phone call Thursday or Friday. I saw the main breaker at 150A and forgot to look closer to a couple of other small items.
The plan was approved before I got there today. Now I suppose the next step is scheduling?

Sure hope that the installing crew comes with possible alternative install parts and breakers as may be needed but missed on plan.
One item is a powerline sensor as I think it might be needed.
Are they for DC or AC line or either?

I am ready, are they?

 

[aesculus]

I saw the main breaker at 150A and forgot to look closer to a couple of other small items.

Let us know what they say about this. Mine is also 150 amp and I questioned this after the fact with no response.