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Powerwall

Top Questions

Do I need solar installed in my home to get Powerwall?
Powerwall can be installed with or without solar. With solar, Powerwall can recharge and discharge daily to increase consumption of your own solar energy, or provide backup during a multi-day outage. Without solar, Powerwall can be charged from the grid and used for load shifting or backup power.
How is Powerwall charged and discharged?
A compatible inverter communicates with Powerwall to determine when to charge and discharge based on inputs from the home’s power need, solar production, information from Powerwall itself and other external factors.
Are tax credits available?
When installed concurrently with solar, Powerwall is eligible for the ITC (Federal Investment Tax Credit for solar installations) of up to 30% when it's charged primarily (>70%) by solar.
Can I lease or finance Powerwall?
Tesla does not currently offer leasing or financing for Powerwall, however some Tesla Energy Authorized Resellers may offer financing as part of their package.
Is Powerwall safe?
Yes, Powerwall includes a sophisticated Battery Management System, a modular architecture, and liquid thermal control system based on the 1 billion miles of Tesla vehicle experience that ensures the battery will always function in a safe manner. Furthermore, Powerwall will be tested and certified to local market safety standards.
What is the warranty for Powerwall and what does it cover?
Powerwall includes a 10 year limited warranty, which covers defects in parts and workmanship, as well as at least 60% energy retention after 10 years.
Does Powerwall require regular maintenance?
Powerwall requires no planned maintenance.
Does Powerwall make any noise?
Powerwall is nearly silent, however it does contain a small fan as part of the cooling system, and therefore does make noise whenever the fan turns on. When the fan turns on, the dB level is less than 60dB measured at 50cm (19.5 inches).
Is Powerwall offered in different colors?
Yes, Powerwall can be ordered in any current Tesla Model S color for an additional fee. The standard color is white.
Where can I see Powerwall?
Powerwalls will be installed at Tesla stores and galleries over the coming months.

 

Powerwall and Vehicle Ownership

Do I need to own a Tesla or other electric vehicle to get Powerwall?
Powerwall operates independently of any electric vehicles.
How does the duty cycle/use case for Model S differ from Powerwall?
Powerwall and Model S are different products. Although they share some of the same architecture and design, they have fundamentally different applications and therefore cannot be directly compared.
Can Powerwall charge my Tesla directly?
Powerwall is not designed to directly charge an electric vehicle. Efficiency gained in a direct DC architecture is offset by added system complexity. However, Powerwall can be installed to support backup for AC connected electric vehicle charging stations.
Can I use Powerwall to power my RV or boat?
Powerwall is designed for stationary applications. It is not designed for use in mobile applications.

 

Usage

Is there an app or portal to monitor the status of Powerwall?
Powerwall and its status will be visible in the monitoring software provided by the installer and/or inverter company.
How many hours of backup can Powerwall provide?
Assuming 2000 watts of continuous backup loads, the Daily Powerwall will deliver power for approximately 3.2 hours. Intermittent loads (like refrigerators) can be powered for much longer. The Weekly Powerwall will power the same loads for approximately 5 hours. During the day with solar, Powerwall can keep your panels operating during an outage, allowing indefinite run time.
How much will Powerwall reduce my electricity bill?
The inherent value of Powerwall is the ability to consume your own solar generation, providing energy independence and security from energy price increases and rate changes. In markets without solar net metering, Powerwall may reduce a homeowner’s energy bill. Exact economic value will vary by market and by utility tariff.
Does installing Powerwall allow a user to go off-grid?
A Daily Powerwall can allow a homeowner to go mostly off-grid. The combination of solar and Powerwall will supply most of the home’s energy needs, with the grid connection acting as backup. For consumers who want to completely disconnect from the grid, Tesla will have a compatible inverter in the coming months.
Can I install Powerwall to back up my entire house?
Yes, entire home backup is possible, but may require multiple Powerwalls if the home’s load is greater than 3300 watts.
Can Powerwall be used at my business?
Powerwall is sized to compliment residential and light commercial energy use. Larger businesses and utilities will use the Powerpack commercial battery.

 

Installation and Planning

How do I prepare my home for Powerwall?
When planning a new solar installation, Tesla recommends installing a compatible inverter from SolarEdge or Fronius. If backup is desired, a homeowner will install a new small circuit breaker panel containing the electrical circuits (i.e. refrigerator, TV, lights) they wish to backup.
Does Powerwall connect via AC or DC to the inverter?
Powerwall connects DC to the inverter using an onboard DC-DC converter. For homeowners with micro inverters, or incompatible inverters, Powerwall can be connected to a home by installing a dedicated Powerwall inverter.
Can Powerwall keep solar panels operating in the event of a grid outage?
Yes, Powerwall is designed to work with island-capable inverters, which enable solar to continue operating during an outage, allowing a home to have backup power continuously for multiple days. Typically, solar panels must shut off during an outage to prevent power from flowing back to the grid.
What inverters are compatible with Powerwall?
The Fronius Symo Hybrid Powerwall inverter and SolarEdge StorEdge inverter systems will be compatible at launch with others to follow. Only compatible inverters may be used with Powerwall.
Can I install Powerwall myself?
Tesla recommends Powerwall to be installed only by Tesla Energy Certified Installers. Tesla Energy Certified Installers have been trained on proper installation of Powerwall and compatible inverters.
Do I need a permit when installing Powerwall?
A standard electrical permit is generally required when installing Powerwall. Further, the utility may need to provide interconnection approval. Please contact your local permitting agency and utility for more specific details.
Can multiple Powerwalls be connected together?
Yes, multiple Powerwalls can be connected to a single inverter. Owners can also use multiple inverters to allow for even more Powerwalls to be installed. System design will depend on the chosen inverter and installer.
Can Powerwall be connected to existing solar installations?
Yes. Retrofit options will vary based on the existing solar inverter. It may be possible to upgrade the existing solar inverter to tie directly to Powerwall, replace the existing inverter with a new compatible inverter, or add a new dedicated inverter to serve Powerwall and retain the existing solar inverter.
How long does installation of Powerwall take and who will install it?
Installations will be performed by Tesla Energy Certified Installers and will be completed in a matter of hours.
How does Powerwall mount?
Powerwall mounts to two studs using an included wall bracket. Powerwall can be installed indoors or outdoors, and on wood, brick, concrete and most other materials. Electrical conduit enters Powerwall from the bottom centre of the cover.
Does Powerwall require any ventilation?
No, Powerwall does not require ventilation and can be installed indoors.

 

Technical

What amount of usable energy is contained in Powerwall?
Daily Powerwall contains 6.4kWh of usable energy. Weekly Powerwall contains 9.8kWh of usable energy.
What are the hardware differences between Daily and Weekly Powerwall?
Both versions of Powerwall use the same exterior cover and are the same physical size and shape. Each version of Powerwall contains lithium-ion cells specifically optimized for the use case. Weekly Powerwall contains approximately 10kWh of energy storage for backup and weekly cycling applications. Daily Powerwall contains approximately 7kWh energy storage for daily use applications and backup. In general, consumers who want to daily maximize their solar utilization should select Daily Powerwall and consumers who want pure backup should select Weekly Powerwall.
Can Powerwall software be updated remotely?
Yes, as with Model S, Powerwall software can be updated remotely.
Does Powerwall act as an uninterrupted power supply (UPS)?
At start of production, the compatible inverters for Powerwall will not support UPS functionality given that the switchover time from grid-connected to off-grid is a number of seconds.
Is Powerwall recyclable?
All components in Powerwall are recyclable.
Where is Powerwall manufactured?
Powerwall is manufactured at the Tesla Gigafactory in Nevada.

 

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