Powerwall 2: Installation

[WannabeOwner]

Turned off outside lights,T.Vs, tablets, Notebooks, etc

We had a mains transformer on the room bells from back in the days when they had servants ... . It had been there, silently doing its job, for 50 years ... soaking up significant power all that time too, until along I came with my Power Meter. Took me ages to find, buried in a cupboard, a device that we had no idea was there (since buying the house ...) and now replaced with something far more power-efficient

 

[wwhitney]

Those of you with completed Powerwalls installations, I see from the pictures posted that there is typically EMT conduit being run out the left-hand side of the unit. Could you tell me the distance (to the nearest 1/8") from the bottom of the Powerwall to the centerline of that EMT? It looks to be about 60% of the way up, so given the 44" unit height it should be in the neighborhood of 27"

Also, what size EMT is it? For reference, 1/2" EMT has an outer diameter of 0.71" ; 3/4" EMT has an OD of 0.92"; and 1" EMT has an OD of 1.16".

Thanks, Wayne

 

[arnolddeleon]

Those of you with completed Powerwalls installations, I see from the pictures posted that there is typically EMT conduit being run out the left-hand side of the unit. Could you tell me the distance (to the nearest 1/8") from the bottom of the Powerwall to the centerline of that EMT? It looks to be about 60% of the way up, so given the 44" unit height it should be in the neighborhood of 27"

Also, what size EMT is it? For reference, 1/2" EMT has an outer diameter of 0.71" ; 3/4" EMT has an OD of 0.92"; and 1" EMT has an OD of 1.16".

Thanks, Wayne

1" EMT 30 1/2" to the center from the ground.

 

[mongo]

1" EMT 30 1/2" to the center from the ground.

View attachment 274668

To confirm, the PW is sitting directly on the ground, so this is a bottom of PW to conduit measurement?

 

[arnolddeleon]

To confirm, the PW is sitting directly on the ground, so this is a bottom of PW to conduit measurement?

Yes, it's resting on the ground.

 

[jeep1979]

Those of you with completed Powerwalls installations, I see from the pictures posted that there is typically EMT conduit being run out the left-hand side of the unit. Could you tell me the distance (to the nearest 1/8") from the bottom of the Powerwall to the centerline of that EMT? It looks to be about 60% of the way up, so given the 44" unit height it should be in the neighborhood of 27"

Also, what size EMT is it? For reference, 1/2" EMT has an outer diameter of 0.71" ; 3/4" EMT has an OD of 0.92"; and 1" EMT has an OD of 1.16".

Thanks, Wayne

Both my batteries are exactly 30" from EMT centerline to bottom of the batteries. Both batteries are wall mounted.

 

[wwhitney]

1" EMT 30 1/2" to the center from the ground.

Thanks much, and to jeep1979, too!

Cheers, Wayne

 

[Kren]

We had a mains transformer on the room bells from back in the days when they had servants ... . It had been there, silently doing its job, for 50 years ... soaking up significant power all that time too, until along I came with my Power Meter. Took me ages to find, buried in a cupboard, a device that we had no idea was there (since buying the house ...) and now replaced with something far more power-efficient

Wow Downton Abbey get's a Powerwall. Cool!

 

[NuShrike]

The latest on the saga that is my install.

Why double-stacked on the ground instead of two mounted separately high up on the wall?

My "alley" looks similar to yours. I had decided two separate mounts high up on the wall (away from gardeners, any impossible flooding, etc), but I want to understand the reasoning for your style. Thanks.

 

[GenSao]

Why double-stacked on the ground instead of two mounted separately high up on the wall?

My "alley" looks similar to yours. I had decided two separate mounts high up on the wall (away from gardeners, any impossible flooding, etc), but I want to understand the reasoning for your style. Thanks.

I prefer double-stacked side by side on the ground. Less of a visual impact; minimizing the amount of exposed conduits. They could (in theory) be easily upgrade-able by stacking a third (or more) unit(s) next door.

Unfortunately, we live in a flood plain (1 foot max). Although the Powerwalls are rated NEMA rated Type 3R for outdoor use, they are not guaranteed to be waterproof.

 

[Shygar]

I prefer double-stacked side by side on the ground. Less of a visual impact; minimizing the amount of exposed conduits. They could (in theory) be easily upgrade-able by stacking a third (or more) unit(s) next door.

Unfortunately, we live in a flood plain (1 foot max). Although the Powerwalls are rated NEMA rated Type 3R for outdoor use, they are not guaranteed to be waterproof.

Yea that was the reason I put mine a couple feet off the ground. Probably not necessary. Who knows maybe a flood will provide better cooling

 

[Frankman60]

I can’t find the dimensions of the PW Gateway box and determine if it can be mounted on an outside wall (rather than inside the garage). Would someone please post the dimensions and let me know if you have installed it outside. Thanks.

 

[Shygar]

I can’t find the dimensions of the PW Gateway box and determine if it can be mounted on an outside wall (rather than inside the garage). Would someone please post the dimensions and let me know if you have installed it outside. Thanks.

I can measure it later but all of my equipment is installed outside.

 

[Frankman60]

Thanks. My planned installation should look similar to yours (as in your photo). I can see your gateway box on the photo but it’s hard to estimate the actual dimensions. My wall space is a little tighter than yours so I am concerned about the size of the gateway.

I can measure it later but all of my equipment is installed outside.

 

[wwhitney]

I can’t find the dimensions of the PW Gateway box and determine if it can be mounted on an outside wall (rather than inside the garage). Would someone please post the dimensions and let me know if you have installed it outside. Thanks.

See Powerwall Support which has a link to the Backup Gateway specifications. It lists the dimensions as 29.1" x 14.9" x 5.1".

Cheers, Wayne

 

[Frankman60]

Thanks Wayne.

See Powerwall Support which has a link to the Backup Gateway specifications. It lists the dimensions as 29.1" x 14.9" x 5.1".

Cheers, Wayne

 

[wwhitney]

Unfortunately, we live in a flood plain (1 foot max). Although the Powerwalls are rated NEMA rated Type 3R for outdoor use, they are not guaranteed to be waterproof.

Hmm, how about building a little 30" wide by 10" to 12" deep by 18" high deck for the Powerwalls? That way they can be floor standing and elevated.

Cheers, Wayne

 

[arnolddeleon]

Why double-stacked on the ground instead of two mounted separately high up on the wall?

My "alley" looks similar to yours. I had decided two separate mounts high up on the wall (away from gardeners, any impossible flooding, etc), but I want to understand the reasoning for your style. Thanks.

They didn't give me that option. One of the things I liked about my first crew that did the main panel install (they did everything but the batteries and generation panel), they always verified things with me.

The one downside in my case for double high wall would be more sun exposure. The lower double floor stack is somewhat shaded.

arnold

 

[GenSao]

Hmm, how about building a little 30" wide by 10" to 12" deep by 18" high deck for the Powerwalls? That way they can be floor standing and elevated.

Yes, that would be an option. I also considered a small concrete pad, but due to height restrictions and the presence of a window, the best (and free) option was to hang the two powerwalls on the wall.

 

[wwhitney]

the best (and free) option was to hang the two powerwalls on the wall.

Oh, sorry, I forgot that yours are already installed, I thought you were still planning it out.

Cheers, Wayne