Tesla Solar Panels & Powerwalls: Charge on Solar

The Charge on Solar update is here for our Tesla 12.24 kW Solar Panel and 3 Powerwall system! I go over the basics of this highly anticipated update, what you need to do to set it up, and behaviors and expectations from the system. Tell me what you think! I think this is a great update.
This month I'm using a new microphone.- let me know how you feel about the sound!
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[@ianpatrick23]

These are such great videos!

[@TheMahkus]

Thank you :)

[@brandonapperson9505]

I still wish they’d add this functionality without powerwalls. I have tesla solar and I manage all my energy distribution myself. Great video!

[@TheMahkus]

I agree!

[@TinkerTry]

Dang, you are doing such good work. Can’t wait to get my PTE (utility holdup) so I can get this ability (assuming the other software updates meet minimums by then too)! Like you, I have FSDBeta on one of my Teslas so that car will have a longer wait.

[@TheMahkus]

Thanks for the compliment! Hopefully you'll be up and operating soon! I love FSD beta but at the same time I think prior to this past update is waaaaaay behind for the longest time.

[@MC-bm3cy]

Got it to work by signing out of my Tesla app and signing in again.

[@TheMahkus]

Perfect! Glad it's working now.

[@gracemalley6821]

Super informative, thank you as always Mankus! I did have a question; Is 40% the lowest percentage you can set the lower slide adjustment for the charge source?

[@TheMahkus]

Hi Grace! I believe a recent update has lowered the minimum percentage to 30% from 40%. Wish you could adjust it however you want it, but seems like they don't want us to do that!

[@jajahuggins]

If you update the tesla wall charger, it will show the zoomed out view even if the car is not connected. The garage door doesn't close tho.

[@TheMahkus]

Ah man! I wish they would add little touches like this, but the app is buggy enough currently as it is...so I doubt it'll happen!

[@LongDucDong42]

Do you know if this feature requires you to also have a Tesla vehicle? Or would it be possible to run your system charging on excess solar for an alternate brand EV providing that you have the tesla gateway, powerwalls, and wall charger? Thanks.

[@TheMahkus]

Unfortunately it requires you to have a Tesla EV at this point. We use a non-Tesla charger, so it definitely relies on the car.

[@GilbertoFonte]

Great review. Thank you!! I don't have this available in Europe (sadly) but I've developed an app for myself to charge my Tesla on solar power only :) I always had some questions about how often I could change the charge power (A) in my Tesla depending on the solar power or house load. From your review, I can see it changes quite a lot of times and also pauses the charging when there is no excess from the solar power. Could you just say a bit more about how long it takes for the car to adjust the charge power when the house load changes? Also, does the charge power change from 32A to 5 and return to a higher value after a few minutes? Basically, I only would like to know how often I can change the charge power and if I can change to any value Amps at any time. Thanks

[@TheMahkus]

Thank you! I believe it changes the output every 10 seconds. Yep, with Charge on Solar active it will charge anywhere from 5 to (whatever your charger is wired for/you have panels to support).

[@Jose-Hdez]

were did you connecte the power charger. does ir connect to the gateway. were does goes. can you make a video or the connection.

[@TheMahkus]

My EV charger is plugged into a 6-50 outlet in our garage. The EV charger is on our 100 amp subpanel in the garage on a 40 amp breaker (it's a 32 amp charger). It's actually a Chargepoint unit too, doesn't have to be a Tesla charger.

[@mikedawson1392]

Is there anyway to drop the lower sliding bar below 40 percent? I'd like to start the "excess solar only" charging at lower car battery levels but the sun icon will not slide below 40 for me

[@TheMahkus]

With charge on solar active, unfortunately not. You'd have to manually stop charging after plugging in or turn off charge on solar (either through the ellipsis on the main screen, through the schedule section, or from the car's screen). I personally wish that you could set the lower and upper charging limits to the same number (or closer than 10% at least!)

[@egshane]

hi. does all of this require the tesla charger? is that somehow linked to all of this? i may, or may not have had a 240 plug installed and just use the travel charger.

[@TheMahkus]

It does not require the Tesla charger. We use a Chargepoint Home while utilizing Charge on Solar. Mobile charger should work just fine!

[@keithknight3167]

After 9 months, has there been any functionality updates? Any additional feedback? Also, how about a video on charging your 3 PWs - How long does it take, average kW, etc... Seems like you use 100% overnight based on this video.

[@TheMahkus]

Not too much in functionality updates - they have allowed the two sliding charge level bars to be set to higher/lower percentage levels now. Still hoping they add the ability to prioritize a Powerwall charge level (ie. fill it up to 100% then start Charge on Solar) in the future. I will keep the Powerwall charging video suggestion in mind in a future video! Depends on the season but we use anywhere from 30% or so a night in winter to pretty much draining the Powerwalls during summer nights if the AC is running all night.

[@angeltavares8937]

Does your Powerwall needs to be charged before it will give you charge on solar options? Because I can’t get the options to show up and my Powerwall at 30%. From you video you made it sound like the car is favored but it seems my Powerwall is being favored first.. but not sure when I’ll get the charge on solar option. And I’m definitely producing more then my house need.. but it still focusing on the house and Powerwall. So when they say excess does my Powerwall need to be at 100%?

[@TheMahkus]

It will initiate Charge on Solar regardless of your Powerwall state of charge. I turned off Charge on Solar to try out something with scheduled charging and Charge on Solar disappeared and I'm not able to find it to reactivate. Seems like something on Tesla's side.

[@angeltavares8937]

@@TheMahkus so today we got our batteries to 100% and still the sun dial never showed up.. but I can see the charge on solar switch next to the bar.. but I dnt get the sun dial..

[@KevinGian94]

@@TheMahkusi lost the charge on solar option as well! 🥲

[@TheMahkus]

@@KevinGian94Try checking the car charging menu. When I lost it from the app, I had to retogfle it from the car. I'd force quit the Tesla app too.

[@TheMahkus]

@@angeltavares8937I'd definitely check the car to see if you have toggle in the charging menu there to turn kn charge on solar. If not, sounds like you might want to submit a ticket for support!

[@eduardoflores1603]

How many powerwalls are required for this feature to work?

[@TheMahkus]

Should just need one Powerwall/Gateway

[@MC-bm3cy]

Have all the updates….not getting the capability on the phone app. Bummed.

[@TheMahkus]

I just turned it off to try out something with scheduled charging and it disappeared and I canmt reactivate it. Currently it's really buggy.

[@TheMahkus]

Actually make sure to check your car when it's plugged in. There may be a slider for Charge on Solar you have to turn on in the car (that's what I had to do to reactivate it)

[@That-Guy_]

It would not let me charge both Tesla cars at the same time. Possibly on a fully sunny day but I'm not sure yet.

[@TheMahkus]

Not enough spare solar? Or just didn't want to? Honestly it's a little buggy at this point.

[@That-Guy_]

@@TheMahkus The one not charging said something like " another car charging" so it may only do one at a time. It may be a bit until I can test it again. It's too hot here for at least the next 10 days 101° - 105°.

[@TheMahkus]

@@That-Guy_ Very interesting! I hope yo see some additional functionality fleshed out to it. It's pretty good but not perfect!

[@MC-bm3cy]

Now how do you turn it off?

[@MC-bm3cy]

You go into “Schedule”

[@TheMahkus]

Yep, you can either turn off via schedule, or the ellipsis points by the charge slider from the main screen. Or the toggle in the car.