Tesla Powerwall 2 installation location

[simplyme]

Has anyone installed a Tesla powerwall 2? If so, did you install it indoors or outdoors? And may I ask the reason?

I'm in the process of getting my solar and battery installation find. My contractor is suggesting that I install the power walls outside near the electrical panel. He says that cold weather will not hurt the battery's performance and it will in fact help it (which sounds strange to me), and that heat tends to be the bigger issue. But since we'd be installing it in an east facing direction that is also protected by a neighbor's redwood tree, we should be fine he says. Further, he says that the 85 ft run from the inverter, which will be installed near the panel, to the garage where I wanted the batteries installed indoors, would be 85 ft. He claims that I would lose as much as 10 to 20% in efficiency due to the distance.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, since I need to make my decision by tomorrow noon.

Finally, and less critically, I'm wondering what PG&E rate plan is recommended. I drive an EV so I should qualify for the EV plan. However I have heard folks recommend the ETOU-D (energy time of use D) plan even if your drive an EV. Best.

 

[h2ofun]

Has anyone installed a Tesla powerwall 2? If so, did you install it indoors or outdoors? And may I ask the reason?

I'm in the process of getting my solar and battery installation find. My contractor is suggesting that I install the power walls outside near the electrical panel. He says that cold weather will not hurt the battery's performance and it will in fact help it (which sounds strange to me), and that heat tends to be the bigger issue. But since we'd be installing it in an east facing direction that is also protected by a neighbor's redwood tree, we should be fine he says. Further, he says that the 85 ft run from the inverter, which will be installed near the panel, to the garage where I wanted the batteries installed indoors, would be 85 ft. He claims that I would lose as much as 10 to 20% in efficiency due to the distance.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, since I need to make my decision by tomorrow noon.

Finally, and less critically, I'm wondering what PG&E rate plan is recommended. I drive an EV so I should qualify for the EV plan. However I have heard folks recommend the ETOU-D (energy time of use D) plan even if your drive an EV. Best.

If you have EV and batteries, you will have EV2-a rate plan.

I have 5 batteries outside. From my inverters to the generation panels is like 100 feet. I lose more from the shading of my neighbors trees than anything related to my wiring. IMO, put the stuff where it looks the nicest, and is out of the way of things like traffic

 

[BGbreeder]

You can always upsize the wire connecting the batteries to reduce losses, but, yes, shorter wire lengths are better, so it makes sense to put the batteries as close to your main service panel as possibl.

All the best,

BG

 

[miimura]

Mine were installed on an outside wall. It may have been better to put them in the garage but pulling new wire from the meter area to the garage would have been expensive. Now there are increasing restrictions from the fire departments on installing in garages. In our climate, they do just fine outside. Just don't put them in direct south facing sun.

 

[h2ofun]

Mine were installed on an outside wall. It may have been better to put them in the garage but pulling new wire from the meter area to the garage would have been expensive. Now there are increasing restrictions from the fire departments on installing in garages. In our climate, they do just fine outside. Just don't put them in direct south facing sun.

View attachment 647565

Is that a GW1?

 

[miimura]

Is that a GW1?

Yes. It was installed in early 2018. The box next to it is the generation panel. The main panel and meter are out of frame to the left.

 

[h2ofun]

Yes. It was installed in early 2018. The box next to it is the generation panel. The main panel and meter are out of frame to the left.

I have to admit, the new GW2's are pretty. I guess with the GW2, you would not have needed the generation panel.

 

[miimura]

I have to admit, the new GW2's are pretty. I guess with the GW2, you would not have needed the generation panel.

In my specific case, the generation panel is good to have because I also had some minor loads from the main panel relocated to the generation panel to be backed up. Most of the backup loads are in a pre-existing sub-panel.

 

[h2ofun]

In my specific case, the generation panel is good to have because I also had some minor loads from the main panel relocated to the generation panel to be backed up. Most of the backup loads are in a pre-existing sub-panel.

cool, can never have too many subpanels

 

[simplyme]

If you have EV and batteries, you will have EV2-a rate plan.

I have 5 batteries outside. From my inverters to the generation panels is like 100 feet. I lose more from the shading of my neighbors trees than anything related to my wiring. IMO, put the stuff where it looks the nicest, and is out of the way of things like traffic

Thank you, sir!

Mine were installed on an outside wall. It may have been better to put them in the garage but pulling new wire from the meter area to the garage would have been expensive. Now there are increasing restrictions from the fire departments on installing in garages. In our climate, they do just fine outside. Just don't put them in direct south facing sun.

View attachment 647565

Thanks so much! Clean install! just wondering if it makes sense to also have the inverters in the garage near the batteries?

 

[jjrandorin]

Thank you, sir!

Thanks so much! Clean install! just wondering if it makes sense to also have the inverters in the garage near the batteries?

Im not sure you will have an option to put them inside a garage (at least not easily) in most places in northern california:

This thread has some information on what I am talking about Santa Clara County retroactively Changing ESS Rules

 

[Laketime]

In your climate I don't think there is much of a difference inside vs outside. In NY, where I am, it is very helpful to have them in a warm room especially when we get down to single digits in the winter...

 

[h2ofun]

Thank you, sir!

Thanks so much! Clean install! just wondering if it makes sense to also have the inverters in the garage near the batteries?

My inverters are 100 feet from the batteries. I put them in the garage in the back where they were the most out of the way.

Everyone who sees the installation of my solar, batteries, conduits, panels, inverters, disconnects, etc. are impressed on how clean it all looks. Got to have it look nice, not nerdy, when it is time to sell.

 

[eppyphotog]

Here in AZ, I wanted to keep everything out of the sun. Our original inverter install is in our laundry/storage room so it made sense to put the new load center, gateway and powerwalls there too.