PowerPacks/WallPacks

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Seven-Delta-FortyOne

Seven-Delta-FortyOne

Goin’ Down In Flames........
Location
Humboldt
Occupation
EC and GC
Haven’t done these yet. Just battery, charge controller, and inverter systems that I put together.

Im starting to get calls about these.

Im hoping for any basic info the great minds here would like to throw my way.

It seems that you must be a certified installer to do the Tesla packs.

Also, I have one where they don’t want or have solar. They want to basically run one panel with well and pressure pumps, charging the battery with grid power, and the battery powering the panel when power goes out. Just a big UPS.

Do the Generac packs only charge with solar, or can they be charged with grid power?

I appreciate any assistance.
 
That's a very general question.

The better systems can all charge from solar while monitoring whole or partial home consumption to do decide when to so. They can charge from grid if desired to, although they're usually not supposed to do that normally if they will also output power when connected to the grid.

Running something like a well pump with these kinds of batteries not the ideal application for them. Pumps may require high starting current and draw a lot of energy; requires you to have good knowledge about inrush and power factor and do your homework, and may cost more than is justifiable. It can be done, but...

Yes, you need to be certified by Tesla and most companies, some make it harder than others. In the past, with Tesla it was also a business decision (i.e. do they like you and want more installers in your area right now?), and also you're competing with their own in-house operation for product availability. Whereas in my experience with other manufacturers they just want to make sure you are a qualified electrician and/or get a minimum amount of training from them before installing, and you're only competing with your fellow installers.
 
Yes I understand it was pretty broad. Wasn’t sure if I should start wide and go narrow? Or vis-versa. 🤣

Usually I’ll put a power monitor on the system for either 7 days or 30 days. I use the TED. It’s nice because it gives me spikes (inrush), both peak and duration.

The owner has a VRBO (4 cabins) all on a common water system. He does not want renters having to fool with a generator, nor does he want a stand by. There’s no NG so he’d have to buy a LNG tank, then there’s maintenance on the genny.

He has Tesla packs at his own personal house ( not in my area), so he wants to do the UPS/power pack thing.

He’s sending me data on the pumps, and he knows I’ll have to size it large because of the motor loads.

I just want to intercept the feed to the sub panel, install a power pack, and then feed the panel through that.

I can easily design a system for that, but he wants and “all in one” wall pack style.

Im going to try and meet the sales manager at my supply house and get some info.
 
He has Tesla PowerPacks or PowerWalls? BIG difference. Powerpacks are not designed for home use. As of a year ago I was only aware of one home that had PowerPack for an off grid system and it was one of my projects in Woodside.
 
I assume powerwall. My bad, I’m not familiar with them.

His house is in Petaluma, I’m up here in Humboldt, so I’m just going off what he told me.

I can’t do a Tesla anyway, because I’m not a certified installer. I’m leaning towards the Generac Pwrcell
 
Mine too.

He doesn’t want a genny though.

Probably going to be twice as much for a fraction of the power, doing batteries.
 
Seven-Delta-FortyOne said:
Haven’t done these yet. Just battery, charge controller, and inverter systems that I put together.

Im starting to get calls about these.

Im hoping for any basic info the great minds here would like to throw my way.

It seems that you must be a certified installer to do the Tesla packs.

Also, I have one where they don’t want or have solar. They want to basically run one panel with well and pressure pumps, charging the battery with grid power, and the battery powering the panel when power goes out. Just a big UPS.

Do the Generac packs only charge with solar, or can they be charged with grid power?

I appreciate any assistance.
Click to expand...
The generac battery systems can be installed without PV. They would just pull from the grid to charge the batteries. Price is around $15k iirc for the transfer switch, inverter, and battery cabinet.

The inverter I've installed was limited to 7600 watts output but I believe they have a newer 10 or 11k inverter.

Wiring was basically the same as a generator transfer switch installation.

My only complaint was that generac knew less about their product than I did as I was installing the first one I put in. That and I had to rma an inverter and battery bmu on one of them
 
Seven-Delta-FortyOne said:
So the Generac system uses an ATS, it’s not like a UPS?
Click to expand...
Yes, you will need an ATS.

These are my current prices;

PWRCell ATS - $929.00
7.6kW Inverter - $3,469.00
Battery Cabinet - $2,890.00
Battery Bracket - $109.00
Energy Management Module - $999.00
3.0kWH Battery Module - $1,949.00 x3 of these at least (cabinet can hold six of these modules)

You're looking at least $15k in material.

The generac 22kw liquid cooled generator with a 200A transfer switch is less than $12k. And it will run for days.

Parts availability is another consideration. I would buy whatever generator brand has a well-stocked dealer nearby.
 
Thanks for that @brantmacga. My local Platt is a Generac dealer. 👍

Once I get all my pricing put together, I’ll give him the options. But he’s determined he doesn’t want a generator. If he wants to pay for it, fine by me.

Hes on propane as well, so it’ll be a long gas run, if the existing tank is large enough, or a new tank, which they will make him purchase.
 
Tesla systems are supposedly only available from legit authorized Tesla dealers, who have taken the courses and know how to install and wire and activate a Tesla system. Even if you picked up some renegade OEM Tesla gear and had it installed by a licensed electrician, Tesla might not accept it, you'd get zero tech support and the phone app won't work right....little pitfalls like that. You have to have bought it from one of their dealers so they have a reasonable expectation that it is setup correctly. A Tesla system is very different from many lower-priced systems and they aren't interchageable. If you want to go Tesla, and I certainly am glad I did, go to an authorized Tesla dealer. And ask a lot of questions.
 
Seven-Delta-FortyOne said:
Mine too.

He doesn’t want a genny though.

Probably going to be twice as much for a fraction of the power, doing batteries.
Click to expand...
You will need a generator at some point. Suppose there's a big storm, the grid is out and your battery is close to zero because there's been no sun for 4 days. What do you do then? And that's not an unreasonable scenario if you are in any kind of storm belt. Ask anyone in the Caribbean. We have a gen, we rarely use it but it's there if needed. This was an issue for the installer; he said we couldn't use our gen. I told him just figure it out, it's just a breaker and switch and we know you can't charge the battery from the gen, we won't try. No problem. One switch moves the whole house off the Tesla and onto the gen. There's no such thing as 'we have no power.' You can't live on the sun if there isn't any.
 
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