skepticcyclist
Member
Context is important. The video was about comparing a Tesla vs Enphase setup.
-
Want to remove ads? Register an account and login to see fewer ads, and become a Supporting Member to remove almost all ads.
New Battery - Tesla or Enphase?
- Thread starter Patrick66
- Start date
At the very start of the video:
"Enphase Ensemble. Is this the Tesla Powerwall killer? In today's video I'm going to be telling you 3 reason why the Enphase Ensemble beats the Powerwall battery."
He literally says "battery" every time. No mention of Tesla PV. And regardless of what it's comparing, it's wrong - Tesla PV systems support this.
Please take this down.
skepticcyclist
Member
Sorry. I have to decline.
Others can see the video as well as your further details and explanation. If they too are taking it out of context, they can read your post.
Last edited:
Aren't Tesla installs currently only using PV + their Powerwall+ which uses a string inverter? I didn't think it's possible currently to get microinverters from a Tesla install.
I'm not talking about what a third party has done or can do since when I was researching for my own install, no installer could give me any timeframe of powerwall availability at all (most said 6+ months if that, they didn't sound confident neither).
Same here. I wired a manual transfer switch between my gateway and my backup loads panel. I can run my generac 7500W generator to power my entire backup loads center and allow all the sun to charge my PW's during the day if need be.
I think it’s time for y’all to go off grid today after the batteries are near full and report on your results haha. Who has which to test?
Enphase Micros + Powerwall
Enphase Micros + Enpower
Tesla Inverter + Powerwall
SolarEdge + Powerwall
Enphase Micros + Powerwall
Enphase Micros + Enpower
Tesla Inverter + Powerwall
SolarEdge + Powerwall
skepticcyclist
Member
Many have done just that.
And we lost power once with my Enphase mircos + PW and had the same cycle pattern (it could just be the way it is configured.)
The off-grid behavior depends entirely on configuration, on both the Tesla and solar inverter sides of the system.
This is exactly correct. I have Powerwall + Enphase IQ6s and had to change the off grid profile for my Enphase to match the Powerwall frequency shifting. Works great now. I'm using the "PREPA off grid frequency-watt 83/hz" profile.
Would love to learn more. Would you mind posting your set up and experiences, maybe in a new thread? I'm considering augmenting my system with something similar.
I'm not sure if there's something similiar already as a forum topic. This OP did discuss using a generator as an intigrated feature so me posting about it here showing how you can do it with the Tesla system might be appropriate. @jjrandorin Would it be okay to post my setup of a manual transfer switch between the gateway and the backup loads center here?
Great! Thanks for the quick answer @jjrandorin.
Disclaimer: I am NOT a licensed electrician in any way, shape or form. Those that are DIY'ers and would like to repeat what I'm showing you please do so at your own risk. I won't be held responsible for anybody who injures or kills themselves or others by attempting an installation as shown below.
This honestly is fairly basic. I wanted a manual transfer switch so that if my panels were blown off my roof by a hurricane, I'd have some sort of backup power. If they manage to survive the hurricane, now I have the sun, the powerwalls and the generator to survive on.
This is mostly going to be pictures showing my setup and how I extended the wiring in the gateway to a manual transfer switch and then back over to the backup loads center. The manual transfer switch is designed to backup an entire house or whatever else you may need. The one I used is sold by Home Depot and is called EZ-connect. They're sold in multiple configurations.
The below is my original configuration after installation minus the transfer switch. You can see that the two far left panels are my gateway and backup loads center.
Below is a picture of the transfer switch I added myself. I had to redo the wiring from a junction box to the left and installed new liquidtight conduit.
Below is a picture of the A/C disconnect going to the gateway. And yes the black plastic cover is removed in the gateway to show the wiring.
I used new 3/0 wire to extend the wire from the gateway load lugs to the manual transfer switch. This just show the wire coming from the gateway and passing through the backup loads center on their way to the transfer switch.
This shows the wires coming from the gateway through the backup loads center to the manual transfer switch. They enter in to the top of the switch. I then routed the existing wire between my gateway and the backup loads center back over to the backup loads center out of the bottom of the manual transfer switch. Then they are secured in to the top lugs of the backup loads center.
The generator plug is wired with #10 wire since I have a 30 amp generator. I wired the neutral and ground directly in the backup loads center. And FYI, all these panels are sub panels so all the grounds and neutrals are separated. The main panel is and should be the only panel that has neutral and ground bonded together. I also bonded any metal conduit fittings to the panel ground.
The panel manufacturer. I know the handle looks like it's in the off position but it's actually set to the utility position. It bothers me but that's how the labeling, slot and lever are designed.
That's pretty much it in a nutshell. Let me know if you have any questions. Total cost was around $700 or so for the parts and $0 for my time lol.
Disclaimer: I am NOT a licensed electrician in any way, shape or form. Those that are DIY'ers and would like to repeat what I'm showing you please do so at your own risk. I won't be held responsible for anybody who injures or kills themselves or others by attempting an installation as shown below.
This honestly is fairly basic. I wanted a manual transfer switch so that if my panels were blown off my roof by a hurricane, I'd have some sort of backup power. If they manage to survive the hurricane, now I have the sun, the powerwalls and the generator to survive on.
This is mostly going to be pictures showing my setup and how I extended the wiring in the gateway to a manual transfer switch and then back over to the backup loads center. The manual transfer switch is designed to backup an entire house or whatever else you may need. The one I used is sold by Home Depot and is called EZ-connect. They're sold in multiple configurations.
The below is my original configuration after installation minus the transfer switch. You can see that the two far left panels are my gateway and backup loads center.
Below is a picture of the transfer switch I added myself. I had to redo the wiring from a junction box to the left and installed new liquidtight conduit.
Below is a picture of the A/C disconnect going to the gateway. And yes the black plastic cover is removed in the gateway to show the wiring.
I used new 3/0 wire to extend the wire from the gateway load lugs to the manual transfer switch. This just show the wire coming from the gateway and passing through the backup loads center on their way to the transfer switch.
This shows the wires coming from the gateway through the backup loads center to the manual transfer switch. They enter in to the top of the switch. I then routed the existing wire between my gateway and the backup loads center back over to the backup loads center out of the bottom of the manual transfer switch. Then they are secured in to the top lugs of the backup loads center.
The generator plug is wired with #10 wire since I have a 30 amp generator. I wired the neutral and ground directly in the backup loads center. And FYI, all these panels are sub panels so all the grounds and neutrals are separated. The main panel is and should be the only panel that has neutral and ground bonded together. I also bonded any metal conduit fittings to the panel ground.
The panel manufacturer. I know the handle looks like it's in the off position but it's actually set to the utility position. It bothers me but that's how the labeling, slot and lever are designed.
That's pretty much it in a nutshell. Let me know if you have any questions. Total cost was around $700 or so for the parts and $0 for my time lol.
Last edited:
Thanks for sharing! This is interesting.
If I understand your set up the MTS actually disconnects all of your home loads from the Powerwall and PV side and allows you to run the home off of the generator physically separated from the Powerwall + PV side? I'm guessing too your Powerwall system has no idea you have a generator configuration because from it's perspective the generator doesn't ever exist?
That was an approach I hadn't really considered and was interested in a switch at the Gateway input side that would act as the grid. This config seems simpler with the only drawback that you can't charge the Powerwall from the generator.
Good info, and this can be an automatic transfer switch if you choose. Customers who want a generator, have the ATS integrated between the Tesla gateway with all the generation, and the essential loads which needs a backup to the backup.
Whooooaaaaa another 200A fatty disconnect. Any time there's a 200A disconnect I give an upvote.
Did they raceway your solar inverter output through your 200A disconnect?? Vines needs to print you up a placard describing this clever sorcery
It's no so much that the generator doesn't exist it's that the gateway doesn't perceive there's any load on the house when the MTS is in the generator position.
Which brings us to your second point about the generator not being able to charge the powerwalls. Since the gateway doesn't see any load it directs all of the sunlight to the PW's. So there's a really good chance during an extended power outage that you could charge the PW's up enough during the day to shut the generator off at night and let the PW's power the home.
The best thing is you never have to shut the A/C disconnect. Just switch the MTS between generator/PW as needed based on sunlight/PW SOC.
All true but an ATS/generator setup would be significantly more expensive than the manual setup above.
I think we're saying the same thing - I was just noting that the Powerwall system does support a direct generator configuration and some people have done it that way. Yours is way less complex but with the small drawback of not being able to charge the Powerwalls during an outage. I actually really like it and will have to see if I can get some sort of MTS setup myself and power my house from a generator or my Volt...
Ah okay. I'm sorry. I think I misunderstood you. I'll be honest, I did not realize there was support for direct generator configuration. I would think for sure that the inverters would have to be off as tug of war would occur between the generator and the inverters. I would think that'd you have to setup an import power limit in the gateway at a minimum so you don't trip the breaker on your generator. I have 4 PW's so they could bring in well over what my generator is rated for.
Can you link any thread or post where someone has that direct generator configuration?
I guess if worse came to worse you could take the bottom wires from the MTS, snip the lugs off and wire those two wires in to a 30 amp breaker in the backup loads center. Then switch the MTS back to utility. I have one spare space in there that could accommodate another breaker. I would definitely have the inverters off if I were even to attempt this. I would definitely setup an import limit in the gateway. You would definitely have to shut your main breaker. Lol, this would not be legal at all.
Similar threads
