We moved into a new (to us) house in El Dorado Hills, CA a few months ago and finally pulled the trigger on ordering some Powerwalls to shield ourselves from PG&E power outages. Based on my initial research I ordered three Powerwalls, mainly for the increased output current so we can have our air conditioning backed up. It's a 5-ton unit, with an LRA of 153 so I'm hoping a soft-start unit will bring the LRA down to a level that's compatible with three Powerwalls.
My bigger question is how I should expect Tesla to go about designing what gets backed up and what doesn't. Currently the house is wired like this:
Main Panel
![Frown :( :(](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
Is it likely that Tesla would OK this installation for whole home backup, and just put both of the sub panels behind the Powerwall Gateway? Will they only approve backing up the more important upstairs sub panel, and it'll be up to me to relocate the downstairs HVAC and water heater circuits to the upstairs sub panel?
Curious what everyone thinks who's been through this process before, and how you would have handled this dilemma.
Thanks!
My bigger question is how I should expect Tesla to go about designing what gets backed up and what doesn't. Currently the house is wired like this:
Main Panel
- Main panel is a combined Square D SC3040M200F, which means there's no good way to insert the Powerwall Gateway between the meter and the main load center. It's all one unit on the wall.
- Two 100A breakers, each feeding a separate 100A sub panel on each floor.
- 50A breaker feeding my two Tesla Wall Connectors for EV charging. Don't care about backing up.
- Some miscellaneous 15A and 20A breakers for home office outlets, one bathroom, closet, etc. Don't really care about backing these up, but it would be nice.
- 35A back-fed breaker from the 7.28kW Solar City system. I know this will get moved to a panel behind the Powerwall Gateway.
- 15A and 20A breakers for nearly all of the outlets and lights in our main living spaces, including kitchen appliances. Must be backed up.
- 30A breaker for kitchen ovens. Must be backed up.
- 50A breaker for AC compressor. Must be backed up.
- Lights and outlets for downstairs rooms. Don't care about backing up.
- Gas furnace / blower for AC. Must be backed up.
- Gas tankless water heaters. Must be backed up.
- 50A breaker for spa. Don't care about backing up.
- 40A breaker for pool pumps. Don't care about backing up.
Is it likely that Tesla would OK this installation for whole home backup, and just put both of the sub panels behind the Powerwall Gateway? Will they only approve backing up the more important upstairs sub panel, and it'll be up to me to relocate the downstairs HVAC and water heater circuits to the upstairs sub panel?
Curious what everyone thinks who's been through this process before, and how you would have handled this dilemma.
Thanks!