Tesla PowerWall2 Can Not Backup All 3-Phases | Ludicrous Feed | Tesla Tom

[@LudicrousFeed]

Correction: At 2:07 I stated that you will only get 1/3 of your 3-phase solar array charging to PW2. This is incorrect. Via net metering, you’ll get full charging as it will import the amount from the grid the same amount exported back from the other 2 phases from the panels. Clarification: At the time of this post, GW2 has not yet been officially released in Australia. Hence we can only speculate the reason for 3x PW2 not being able to simulate a true 3~ in backup. The most likely reason being that the PW2 inverters cannot reliably replicate being 120 deg out of phase with each other (which normally occurs in 3~ grid supply). It’s probably for safety reasons that Tesla has not enabled this function. Updates to come when more information comes to light. TT

[@mgutkowski]

Thanks for this comment, I raised an eyebrow at this bit and came looking to post :)

[@LudicrousFeed]

@@mgutkowski No problem 🙂

[@scotty9946]

Also 3 phase 400V is measured across phase to phase, you still get 240v phase to neutral.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Scott Cassidy It’s interesting isn’t it ... electrically it IS possible to have 3x 240V supply in the form of the battery that COULD simulate L-L voltage of 415V thus enabling a 3~ appliance like a solar inverter. Then the question becomes why doesn’t Tesla allow this? Is it a safety issue? We shall find out more in time. TT

[@MattHyne]

Not sure I really understand your point regarding the 400v 3Ø feed to the inverter. Firstly, phase to phase is 415V and 3 power walls if they are outputting at 120º phase offset will happily generate the right voltage to power any 3Ø appliance. Not sure where the inverter gets involved as it wont be generating any power in the event of a blackout.

[@jackbrown5269]

I don't understand: Supposing you have 3 x PowerWall2 each installed on each phase of a tri-phase line you said that they cannot power a tri-phase device (as an heat pump for ex.) and that all the tri-phase devices will draw energy directly from the grid ANYWAY and the PW2 will sent back kWh to the grid to balance that Now, since you have 3 x Powerwall2 each on a phase, will ALL THREE PW2 sent back the kWh in the phases, or just the ones that are on the 1st phase ?

[@LudicrousFeed]

As I said the gateway doesn’t function truly as a three phase device and in a grid failure event, only the phase that which the gateway is on will provide backup to the house

[@ppha0244]

Hi Tom, great video. Still new to this, will probably watch it a few times to understand it much I can. I have a question. I am building a new home and have designed it to my best ability to be energy efficient eg living rooms facing north, utlitity rooms on the west to reduce need to run AC etc. I plan on installing a 5kw PV system (most likely using LG with microinverters) but I can't afford the PW2 at the moment. What provisions should I make?

[@LudicrousFeed]

Peter Phan I would see how things are after 12 months with regards to your energy usage and power bills. A battery is great for reducing grid usage and also for backup in case of grid failure. TT

[@genintray]

What about the Powerwall 3 just released in Australia?

[@LudicrousFeed]

Stay tuned I’ll do a video soon about it

[@genintray]

Do you think the PW3 will be able to backup a 3-phase load?

[@LudicrousFeed]

According to this article: www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/powerwall-3-launch/ - When is native 3 phase support available? “PW3 can support loads on multiphase sites through net metering with backup on a single phase”.

[@markushahnenkamm]

05:02 No - principles of a rotary voltage system 230V*sqrt(3) = 400V en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-phase_electric_power

[@alanl6105]

Hi Tom, I have a solar system from Tesla. It has 3 inverters, 3 power wall 2. Does this mean this is a 3 phase system backup? Let us know...Thank you very much. Alan

[@LudicrousFeed]

Linda L L Hi Alan thanks for the question. Categorically I would say No, because a 3-phase backup solution for the PowerWall2 does not currently exist (at the time of this post). TT

[@robertobaglioni1406]

thx Tom for this video! I have a question for you... In my house I have 3-phases from grid, but all devices in the house are single phase. I'm going to install sunpower panel (14kw peak) and 3-phases solaredge inverter plus 2 powerwall2 with backup gateway 2. The supplier told me i can have the back up only on one phase. In you opinion (considering i have only single phases devices) is it possible to bak up 2 phases (one for each PW2)? thx

[@LudicrousFeed]

Hi Roberto, unfortunately you can only back up one phase currently with the PowerWall 2 and gateway. Also take note that because you have a three phase inverter, in the event of a blackout, your solar panels will not supply your home nor charge the PowerWalls.

[@robertobaglioni1406]

@@LudicrousFeed thx Tom, just to be sure I was clear in my message, I will have 2 powerwall connected to 2 different phases and 1 gateway2 : even in such case is not possible to have backup on those 2 phases? Thank you again!

[@LudicrousFeed]

Even if you have two different Powerwalls connected to two separate phases, you will only get backup for one of them. So it doesn’t actually make sense to put them on two different phases. You’re better off stacking both onto one of the phases, that way in a blackout, you have potentially 2x 13.5kWh = 27kWh of storage for your use

[@robertobaglioni1406]

@@LudicrousFeed yes, it would be best solution in case of blackout, but i see a limit in my contract. I have 10kW 3-phases supply from grid, it means 6kW each phase(6,6kW allowed peak). This means i would limit the recharge speed of batteries to 3+3kW while connecting to 2 phases i would go at 5+5. Blackout are not so common and not so long in my region, so i prefer to be sure to load completely the PW2. Does it sound right to you?

[@scotty9946]

The powerwall will import on phase blue if phase red or black is exporting, so you can still get the full solar going into your powerwall via net metering.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Scott Cassidy Love that net metering.

[@scotty9946]

@@LudicrousFeed your video made it sound like on grid it wouldnt get full solar charging.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Scott Cassidy Apologies if it came across that way. For sure, on grid- net metering takes care of the maths.

[@scotty9946]

@@LudicrousFeed at 2 minute mark your sentence made it sound like you can only charge with 1/3 of your solar production.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Scott Cassidy Ah ok I rewatched my vid. Now I see what you’re saying. With net metering, you’ll import back to the PW2 what you’ve exported from the other 2 phases on solar. Again not a true green charging solution sadly. But the PW2 will be charged what the solar exported. Thanks for clarifying that point. I’ve made a pinned comment for that correction. Appreciate the honest feedback. TT

[@Miweatherspotter1]

What is your voltage supply Line to line and line to neutral?

[@LudicrousFeed]

Miweatherspotter1 being a 3-phase home in Australia, I would say I am L-L is 415V and L-N is 240V.

[@Miweatherspotter1]

Ludicrous Feed Then a power wall on each phase would give you the same voltage as you have now L-N and L-L as the power walk is rated 240v L-N which is what you have now.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Miweatherspotter1 In a previous video, I actually said it would be electrically possible to simulate an off-grid situation with 3x PW2. However, the GW2 specs sheet suggest they are only allowing single phase backup. Clearly there is something Tesla isn’t telling us with regards to simulating a 3~ grid with their batteries. Safety thing perhaps? TT

[@Miweatherspotter1]

My guess is that the gateway has a hard time knowing how to balance the three phases because if they get out of balance, different amps on each phase you get really weird things that happen. Interestingly where I am in the United States, you cannot get more than a single phase delivery to a home. you must be a commercial or industrial user to get three phase service. Our homes are run as two phases of 120 V so L-N is 120 V and L-L is 240v. I have installed battery back up here. but I can’t get a tesla power wall 2 because they don’t sell them in my state yet :(. I also went the AC coupled route.

[@alex54545]

Miweatherspotter1 currently gateway can only run a backup circuit on 1~ only. Possibly also the frequency differences on each phase would not be able to be replicated on a single phase inverter.

[@marktiller7760]

It all sounds bloody expensive to me , Tom go and buy a lotto ticket. You are making me happy, that I have a single phase home.