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Upgrade Existing System

Discussion in 'Tesla Energy' started by darrelld, Mar 4, 2021 at 2:13 PM.

  1. darrelld

    darrelld Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2016
    Messages:
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    Location:
    North Texas
    I am upgrading my existing 7.5kw/2 PW system to add an additional 4kw/1PW.

    After placing my order and credit card charged I cannot see the new system on my Tesla account. Had to email my electric bill to Tesla Energy support since there is no other way to track or update my install process.

    Multiple calls to Tesla Energy support have not yielded any resolution.

    Anyone else have this issue? If so what was the fix?

    Trying to avoid freezing in Texas or relying on the unreliable Texas Electric Grid.
     
  2. jboy210

    jboy210 Supporting Member

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    I can take a few weeks (or perhaps longer in Texas after the freeze event) for them to work on your account. Until then silence. They have a much smaller staff relative to the number of customers than other companies. That is one way Tesla operates and is able to give customers such low prices.
     
  3. Electrph

    Electrph Member

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    Curious for my own info was your original PV / powerwall installed by tesla ?
     
  4. darrelld

    darrelld Member

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    Location:
    North Texas
    Yes, Tesla installed the original system last year and it displays on my Tesla portal and in the Tesla mobile app. The new order which Tesla has confirmed they have received does not display.
     
    • Informative x 1
  5. boaterva

    boaterva Supporting Member

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    How does one expand their panels/PW system? Do you mean adding a completely new system? I was told that was the only way to do so, adding a completely new/additional everything (which seems to me to be overkill), new inverter, cabling, disconnects, etc.
     
  6. jrweiss98020

    jrweiss98020 Tessa's Tesla

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    Location:
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    This is one regime where having microinverters makes it quick & easy! I just had 8 panels added to my original 27. Put on the mounts, mount the panels, connect the wires. Done.
     
  7. h2ofun

    h2ofun Active Member

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    But I assume you cannot connect like over 16 ideally on a string. So depending on setup, it maybe a little more complicated if new strings have to be added and routed to the inverter?
     
  8. jrweiss98020

    jrweiss98020 Tessa's Tesla

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    There is no inverter to route to - each panel has its own inverter! They are all routed to a "combiner", which is a set of circuit breakers and monitoring software. Mine has 3 x 20A CBs, so 4.8 kW x 3 = 14.4 kW max; it can hold 90A CBs....
     
  9. nwdiver

    nwdiver Well-Known Member

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    #9 nwdiver, Mar 4, 2021 at 8:05 PM
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2021 at 8:11 PM
    Depends. We added 4 panels to a string inverter a couple years ago. Took < 2 hours total, we simply made a string of 7 into a string of 9 and a string of 8 into a string of 10. SUPER EASY and much cheaper. Materials cost was ~$750. With micros it would have been ~$1300. If your micro string is tapped out you need to run another AC line and another breaker. Then what happens if you're at the amp limit of your panel? Now you also need a panel upgrade... hugely complicates things.
     
  10. hslee

    hslee Member

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    Location:
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    @nwdiver - was that an addon to a Tesla panel system with PW - the PW probably doesn't matter. I am looking to up to 4k and my existing 8.8k system on 1 string. The SE inverter is rated for 10.9k but I am not worried about the clipping more about getting energy in the afternoon as my panels are E/SE facing. I wonder if I should get a new string since it will be West facing.

    Did you do it yourself or get a contractor to do it?
     
  11. nwdiver

    nwdiver Well-Known Member

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    I am the contractor :)

    With solar edge that should be super easy. Depending on the model it can accommodate up to 6kW per string and up to 155% of the inverter nameplate. No the PW shouldn't care about the DC capacity of your inverter. What size inverter do you have?
     
  12. hslee

    hslee Member

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    Location:
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    Ah - I was I could be my own contractor. But I am going to see if there any contractors are interested in my local area.

    Here is SE model I have: SE10000H. Looks like the size is 10k watts (A/C) and 15.5 watts (D/C). I think based on this: https://www.solaredge.com/sites/default/files/se-hd-wave-single-phase-inverter-with-setapp-datasheet-na.pdf
     
  13. nwdiver

    nwdiver Well-Known Member

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  14. hslee

    hslee Member

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    Location:
    Boston, MA
    I called Tesla - and to add more panels it needs to be a new full install. And if I do it myself and add more panels, it will invalidate the warranty. Annoying.
     

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