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Powerwall 2 + UPS Connundrum - and solution
- Thread starter NinjaVece
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- ups 65 hertz
RKCRLR
Active Member
It depends on how sensitive your equipment is. The switchover isn't instantaneous. My switchover time seems to take longer the higher the current raw during the switchover. Perhaps up to a second. And a quick bleep can be worse than a longer switchover that causes a device to reboot. My DVR system would lockup during a quick bleep and I would have to manually reboot it by power cycling.
What is really needed is some kind of power conditioner that is only good for a few seconds but they don't seem available to the general public for a price comparable to UPS backups.
Ok thanks.. So by definition the Powerwall 2 with backup gateway 2 is not a true UPS.. right?
I mean it's not semantics ..this is actually is real potential issue for me.. a true UPS (for things like critical computer networks and internet etc) never has any loss of power to any device connected to it.. not even for a microsecond..
The very first post in this thread describes it well. While sensitive electronics will still need a UPS due to the Powerwall contractor (electronic switch) changeover time if the grid drops, you do then have a very large long term UPS for covering outages longer than small domestic UPSs can handle.
RKCRLR
Active Member
Correct, not a true UPS by that definition.
Ok sure. Sorry about the question.. but there is a lot of false/fake news about this on the net etc... I have been weighing up a Tesla PW2 vs a SolarEdge Home battery for critical backup of my network and home auto setup (which also runs my security). I was heavily swinging towards a PW2 as I had (some false impressions it seems) that it could act as a UPS. The SolarEdge backup takes 3 secs to switch over. But being DC - it is unlikely to have these trip up problems with other UPS's.. But really what's the point then of the PW? 3 seconds vs a millisecond.. no difference really. Even a millisecond is not any better in this scenario.. Am I mistaken here? Cheers
RKCRLR
Active Member
I've had switchovers that I didn't even know about until I got the notification from Tesla. But, from a practical aspect, anything that needs a UPS now will still need a UPS.
I mean it's either true uninterrupted power UPS (the current flow goes thru the battery 1st before out to the device) or it's not (there is an external contactor switch which has to be tripped before the power flows out to the device). I;m no electronics engineer but that is my understanding 
Ok cool. Thanks for the clarification. So that is not a win for the Powerwall vs the SolarEdge home battery. 3 sec switchover vs under a sec..even a couple millisecs makes zero difference..
RKCRLR
Active Member
It isn't a win strictly from the aspect of not needing UPSs. But the quick switchover is nice from a convenience standpoint. Most of the time I don't even need to reset my digital clocks.
Are you sure that your system is that sensitive? Cheap UPSs use a relay with as much as a 25 ms switchover and most PCs handle that just fine. That's just one cycle of AC power.
FWIW, my Home Assistant setup (running on a mini PC) has survived a power outage with Powerwalls, but I'm probably going to add a small UPS to make sure it'll stay up even if it's one of the outages that take longer to switch over.
Bottom line: in my house I would definitely feel the difference between a 3 second switchover and what the Powerwalls do now.
RKCRLR
Active Member
It sounds like you're talking about using the Powerwall 2 as a UPS and not a home backup system. So, at that point, I haven't a clue whether or not a Powerwall would do the job. Additionally, I see that you are in Australia which, I believe, uses a different flavor of Powerwalls (all of my electronics run off 110v circuits). You'll probably need input from people in Australia.
Powerwall are battery backup, not a UPS. I am a Business continuity/IT disaster recovery professional. The difference between a backup power supply (battery, diesel generator, rotational) and a UPS is that in a true UPS, all power flows through it at all times. The UPS is not only uninterruptible but it conditions the power as well.
In an IT shop, both the batteries and the generator are connected to the UPS. The UPS’ job is to use the batteries until the generator fires up and is smooth.
With a powerwall system, the controller cuts them or the panels in when there is a power failure. And yes, there can be a delay.
In an IT shop, both the batteries and the generator are connected to the UPS. The UPS’ job is to use the batteries until the generator fires up and is smooth.
With a powerwall system, the controller cuts them or the panels in when there is a power failure. And yes, there can be a delay.
Sure. that's real hard though. Most electricians don't have clue what a UPS is.. At least the PW is configurable by the end user and I won't have to get my installer out all the time to tweek it;s settings.. Right? Cheers
Ok. So I am not so daft after all..
. That is what I thought.. So much misinformation out there.. What UPS's are you using? Thanks!
Your mileage may vary, but my Starlink is running on an APC while my Mac, monitor, router and WiFi run on an Eaton 5S1500LCD.Ok. So I am not so daft after all..
^ Awesome thanks so much for the reply! I have a rack mounted Eton already.. so from reading the other posts in the thread, I won't have to change the PW frequency settings.. All good. I am on my way! I have made my mind up on other reasons for choseing PW over the SE.. I hate dealer only configurations..Life is just not like that.. circumstances will change.. partic when it comes to power management and pricing from electricity providers in the current weird energy priced world.. Cheers all for the help everyone.
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