Powerwall 2 Installs in Hawaii
- Thread starter Papafox
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- Hawaii Powerwall powerwall 2 USA
fstop11
Member
Thanks to k-mal_808, I was able to get my schedule moved up by about a month! So now, instead of waiting until October, I only have a few weeks to wait. Then our M3s will be powered off the sun!
Spoke with Tesla today and now they said the reason my post installation packet haven't been submitted to HECO is because Tesla needs to take pictures of the install. How is it possible for Tesla to have done the install over 2 months ago and not come out yet to take pictures?
Tesla has said in multiple phone calls and emails that they had all the required documentation to submit the post install packet.
I believe the installers are supposed to take pictures and submit to Tesla during or after install. At least they did during my install. Seems easy enough to get done either way, and no reason why it should take two months to snap some pics. What a *sugar* show.
Oh I know they haven’t submitted mine yet. I’m waiting on DPP to approve the revisions to the permit due to changes made at install(system size and panel layout). Once that’s approved, I can schedule inspections, then apply for PTO.
Did anyone else get the Storm Watch notification this morning?
Did anyone else get the Storm Watch notification this morning?
Yeah, I got storm watch on Saturday morning again due to fire risk. It came on last week too. I think it's because of the red flag warning/brush fire risk that they mentioned on the news weather report. I turned off storm watch when it came on - I'd rather have the PW run.
fstop11
Member
It sounds like post-installation issues may be par for the course. I guess I'll find out soon enough; my install got moved up to tomorrow. I hope it's not too optimistic to expect PTO before Halloween...
The delay has been on DPP's end, not so much Tesla's. They submitted the revised plans a day after install. DPP has been dragging their feet reviewing them. But yeah, this could have been avoided by a site inspection by Tesla prior to install, and yeah it sounds like lots of people have issues with paperwork and PTO submissions after install. My system is running off-grid as we speak, so the delays don't bother me too much now. If I wasn't able to run my system while waiting, I'd def be pestering all parties involved. Good luck on the install. Feel free to PM me anytime.
It has been 11 months since i signed the solar purchase agreement and my system is still not turned on. So much for the 4-6 months install timeline.
fstop11
Member
Well, the clock is running now for my install. The installation went off without a hitch, although I did have to ask them for the "black box" before they left. And the installers did take pictures on-site. We'll see how this progresses. I'll give it a week before I start screaming. 
Well, the clock is running now for my install. The installation went off without a hitch, although I did have to ask them for the "black box" before they left. And the installers did take pictures on-site. We'll see how this progresses. I'll give it a week before I start screaming.
If you figure out how to get that black box from SolarCity(I think it's called the "neo gateway") running, let me know. I tried plugging it in according to the instructions, but nothing. From what I have read, I think it's redundant anyway since the Powerwall gateway communicates with Telsa on the panel production & PW status, but I'd still like to figure it out anyway, since the PW Gateway doesn't provide details on the PV production, and I know the gateway production amount is inaccurate due to my existing PV system.
FWIW, my city inspection was approx 2 weeks after they completed install. HECO came about a week later.
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fstop11
Member
Thanks for the info.
I have no evidence to back this up, but I suspect the black box is meant to save Tesla some cellular expenses. I believe the Gateway has cellular built in, but if they can piggyback off the customer's router, they won't have to use OTA data.
By the way, mine worked fine. I plugged in the ethernet, then the power, and it started up right away. You may have a faulty box.
I have no evidence to back this up, but I suspect the black box is meant to save Tesla some cellular expenses. I believe the Gateway has cellular built in, but if they can piggyback off the customer's router, they won't have to use OTA data.
By the way, mine worked fine. I plugged in the ethernet, then the power, and it started up right away. You may have a faulty box.
Also I was on the phone with Tesla for over a hour and got transferred to 5 different people, but now someone will be here Monday to take pictures of my install.
The “black box” is the Tesla solar gateway, not to be confused with the energy gateway. It plugs into your router and establishes a Zigbee connection with the inverter and reports statistics back to Tesla. It’s very important in solar only installs, as that’s how the Tesla app gets its solar data. Not so important with solar + PW installs as the TEG(energy gateway) & attached CT clamps provide the data. They gave me one but I haven’t plugged it in and I’m getting real time data for all four categories in the app, so if you didn’t get one, probably no need to worry.
Got a email from HECO today saying the post installation packet was submitted.
Happy to see it was finally submitted, but damn why did it take Tesla over two months to take a handful of pictures.
Happy to see it was finally submitted, but damn why did it take Tesla over two months to take a handful of pictures.
fstop11
Member
Seems like they would be a little more prompt in getting things inspected and approved, especially since they don't get paid until it passes inspection.
