I apologize that this is so long. I've tried to make it as brief as possible. But, there is so much to explain.
I am nearing the end of a dual Powerwall installation and my project is HALTED until I can figure this out. My problem is with the vendors rather than the equipment. Allow me to explain.
This involves 2 solar vendors (I'd rather not name names yet, so let's call them SolarVendor and BatteryVendor). I purchased a 10kw system from SolarVendor in 2019. My solar install is not typical in that, because of several impediments (block wall and chimney) blocking clean access to my 400amp main panel, the solar output instead enters my system via an existing 175 amp sub panel (panel rated 200amp but running off 175amp breaker) located about 90' from the main panel diagonally across the house. The system has worked well for the 3+ years I've had it.
In late 2021 I learned about the SGIP program, contracted with BatteryVendor (after trying to get SolarVendor to handle it, but they shut me down) who placed me on the wait list. My reservation letter came in early 2022 and we were off to the races ... or so I thought. There was a shortage of Powerwalls at that time which caused enough delay that BatteryVendor had to get me a 6 month extension (which will expire in July 2023).
BatteryVendor finally delivered my Powerwalls in August 2022. After many unexplained delays and lack of communication from BatteryVendor, they finally finished installing my Powerwalls, Tesla Gateway, critical loads panel and moved the backed up circuits from my main panel in February 2023. It is important to note that they installed this equipment near my 400amp main panel (with some hideous 3" conduit wrapping around the chimney) - 90' away from the sub panel where the solar output enters my home. Note that we chose NOT to include the 175amp sub panel in the backed up circuits because it would use most of the 200amp capacity of the gateway leaving little room for other critical circuits from the main panel. The plans that they submitted to my city's building and safety department specified that they would be replacing the existing 22inch flex conduit and wires between the solar disconnect box and the sub panel with a 90ft EMT conduit and wires that would extend the existing solar output to the Tesla Gateway on the other side of the house.
Out of the blue, on the day of the installation of the 90' conduit, the BatteryVendor's lead technician informed me of a "problem" that prevented them from continuing. He put me on the phone with his supervisor who essentially told me that they didn't realize until just then that my solar system came from a different vendor. He followed that I had to get SolarVendor to give them a waiver letter or I need to hire SolarVendor to make the connection to the gateway (at my expense). Essentially, he refused to let his crew touch anything that SolarVendor had installed. Later, BatteryVendor offered to contact SolarVendor directly to get what was needed. I thought that was a good idea, since it was very vague what they wanted from SolarVendor. Wrong. The person who contacted SolarVendor must have pissed them off because BatteryVendor came back to me asking me to work it out with the "uncooperative" SolarVendor.
That's where I am now. I finally was able to begin a dialog with SolarVendor and this is the latest from them, "... if they change anything we install even wiring it will void out our service calls or any warranty at the time of their installation. They will need to ensure your solar is properly working once completed and inform us with pictures and proof of voltage readings and the work that was done. Our warranty will only continue to warranty the panels and inverter only. If they cross wires or cause a issue with the product due to voltage current or wire crossing the warranty will be voided. You must ensure that the work is being done by a licensed C10 electrician."
I'm not an electrician (beyond DIY stuff). Honestly, I probably should have but didn't see any of this cross-vendor BS coming. Frankly, I thought it was a clean demarcation of vendors by taking the output from the disconnect to the gateway (SolarVendor being responsble for everything upsteam of the disconnect and BatteryVendor responsible for everything downstream). Apparently not. I find it interesting that BatteryVendor went out of their way to get permissions from my homeowner's association but neglected to consider the ramifications of dealing with an existing solar installation from a different vendor (a fact that I disclosed to them on multiple occasions - aside from the fact that they should have known I was a new customer without a history with their company).
As they say, "It is what it is." I need to get this sorted ASAP as my drop dead date will soon be looming.
I have considered proposing some options to SolarVendor to get this train moving again. Here's what I have come up with:
1) Sacrifice the warranty from SolarVendor and just make sure I'm protected from BatteryVendor blowing up any of SolarVendor's equipment. I'm not certain what that warranty is really worth in light of Net Metering 3.0 and how it's likely to affect small vendors like SolarVendor moving forward (yes, they're a small outfit). I'm not even certain BatteryVendor would agree to this. They seem pretty steadfast in their refusal to touch anything of SolarVendor's.
2) Propose that BatteryVendor install all the conduit and wires for the 90' (since I'm already paying for that), but not connect it to the solar disconnect or gateway. Hire SolarVendor to make the actual connections after inspecting the wire and conduit ensuring it meets their standards (even I could do that much).
3) Propose to hire SolarVendor to do it all (run conduit, wires and make the connection to the gateway). I don't like this option because I'm already paying BatteryVendor to do this.
4) This one may be a stretch. Propose that BatteryVendor move most of the circuits back from the backup panel to the main panel and make the sub panel a backed up circuit. I'd probably have to do a load calc for the sub panel to make sure this is viable. Besides the 175 amp sub panel (which would come out much less in a load calc), I need a minimum of 3 other circuits protected (50amp and two 20amp circuits - two refrigerators and the bedroom circuit with the CPAP machine). By doing so, I think I could leave the solar feed at the sub panel untouched. I'm not sure what challenges this would create with CT sensors, etc.
I know this was long and I appreciate anyone who used their precious time to read it. If you see anything wrong with my plan, please comment on this thread or, even better, make a new suggestion for a better way to manage this.
Thank you.
I am nearing the end of a dual Powerwall installation and my project is HALTED until I can figure this out. My problem is with the vendors rather than the equipment. Allow me to explain.
This involves 2 solar vendors (I'd rather not name names yet, so let's call them SolarVendor and BatteryVendor). I purchased a 10kw system from SolarVendor in 2019. My solar install is not typical in that, because of several impediments (block wall and chimney) blocking clean access to my 400amp main panel, the solar output instead enters my system via an existing 175 amp sub panel (panel rated 200amp but running off 175amp breaker) located about 90' from the main panel diagonally across the house. The system has worked well for the 3+ years I've had it.
In late 2021 I learned about the SGIP program, contracted with BatteryVendor (after trying to get SolarVendor to handle it, but they shut me down) who placed me on the wait list. My reservation letter came in early 2022 and we were off to the races ... or so I thought. There was a shortage of Powerwalls at that time which caused enough delay that BatteryVendor had to get me a 6 month extension (which will expire in July 2023).
BatteryVendor finally delivered my Powerwalls in August 2022. After many unexplained delays and lack of communication from BatteryVendor, they finally finished installing my Powerwalls, Tesla Gateway, critical loads panel and moved the backed up circuits from my main panel in February 2023. It is important to note that they installed this equipment near my 400amp main panel (with some hideous 3" conduit wrapping around the chimney) - 90' away from the sub panel where the solar output enters my home. Note that we chose NOT to include the 175amp sub panel in the backed up circuits because it would use most of the 200amp capacity of the gateway leaving little room for other critical circuits from the main panel. The plans that they submitted to my city's building and safety department specified that they would be replacing the existing 22inch flex conduit and wires between the solar disconnect box and the sub panel with a 90ft EMT conduit and wires that would extend the existing solar output to the Tesla Gateway on the other side of the house.
Out of the blue, on the day of the installation of the 90' conduit, the BatteryVendor's lead technician informed me of a "problem" that prevented them from continuing. He put me on the phone with his supervisor who essentially told me that they didn't realize until just then that my solar system came from a different vendor. He followed that I had to get SolarVendor to give them a waiver letter or I need to hire SolarVendor to make the connection to the gateway (at my expense). Essentially, he refused to let his crew touch anything that SolarVendor had installed. Later, BatteryVendor offered to contact SolarVendor directly to get what was needed. I thought that was a good idea, since it was very vague what they wanted from SolarVendor. Wrong. The person who contacted SolarVendor must have pissed them off because BatteryVendor came back to me asking me to work it out with the "uncooperative" SolarVendor.
That's where I am now. I finally was able to begin a dialog with SolarVendor and this is the latest from them, "... if they change anything we install even wiring it will void out our service calls or any warranty at the time of their installation. They will need to ensure your solar is properly working once completed and inform us with pictures and proof of voltage readings and the work that was done. Our warranty will only continue to warranty the panels and inverter only. If they cross wires or cause a issue with the product due to voltage current or wire crossing the warranty will be voided. You must ensure that the work is being done by a licensed C10 electrician."
I'm not an electrician (beyond DIY stuff). Honestly, I probably should have but didn't see any of this cross-vendor BS coming. Frankly, I thought it was a clean demarcation of vendors by taking the output from the disconnect to the gateway (SolarVendor being responsble for everything upsteam of the disconnect and BatteryVendor responsible for everything downstream). Apparently not. I find it interesting that BatteryVendor went out of their way to get permissions from my homeowner's association but neglected to consider the ramifications of dealing with an existing solar installation from a different vendor (a fact that I disclosed to them on multiple occasions - aside from the fact that they should have known I was a new customer without a history with their company).
As they say, "It is what it is." I need to get this sorted ASAP as my drop dead date will soon be looming.
I have considered proposing some options to SolarVendor to get this train moving again. Here's what I have come up with:
1) Sacrifice the warranty from SolarVendor and just make sure I'm protected from BatteryVendor blowing up any of SolarVendor's equipment. I'm not certain what that warranty is really worth in light of Net Metering 3.0 and how it's likely to affect small vendors like SolarVendor moving forward (yes, they're a small outfit). I'm not even certain BatteryVendor would agree to this. They seem pretty steadfast in their refusal to touch anything of SolarVendor's.
2) Propose that BatteryVendor install all the conduit and wires for the 90' (since I'm already paying for that), but not connect it to the solar disconnect or gateway. Hire SolarVendor to make the actual connections after inspecting the wire and conduit ensuring it meets their standards (even I could do that much).
3) Propose to hire SolarVendor to do it all (run conduit, wires and make the connection to the gateway). I don't like this option because I'm already paying BatteryVendor to do this.
4) This one may be a stretch. Propose that BatteryVendor move most of the circuits back from the backup panel to the main panel and make the sub panel a backed up circuit. I'd probably have to do a load calc for the sub panel to make sure this is viable. Besides the 175 amp sub panel (which would come out much less in a load calc), I need a minimum of 3 other circuits protected (50amp and two 20amp circuits - two refrigerators and the bedroom circuit with the CPAP machine). By doing so, I think I could leave the solar feed at the sub panel untouched. I'm not sure what challenges this would create with CT sensors, etc.
I know this was long and I appreciate anyone who used their precious time to read it. If you see anything wrong with my plan, please comment on this thread or, even better, make a new suggestion for a better way to manage this.
Thank you.