Powerwall Installation Resources for Installers
Powerwall is a rechargeable home battery system that consists of at least one Powerwall battery and a Backup Gateway or Backup Switch. Powerwall, in conjunction with a Backup Gateway or Backup Switch, will power the home during a grid outage; when the system is installed with solar, Powerwall stores the excess solar energy produced to power the home when the sun isn’t shining.
Two important components in a Powerwall system are the Islanding Controller and the Islanding Contactor. The Islanding Controller is the computer that controls a Powerwall system. Depending on the system configuration, the Islanding Controller may be a Backup Gateway or a Powerwall+. Similar to an Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS), the Islanding Contactor detects grid outages and automatically disconnects the system from the grid so that Powerwall can provide backup power. Depending on the system configuration, the Islanding Contactor may be a Backup Gateway or a Backup Switch.
Installation should only be performed by a Tesla Certified Installer.
- Backup Gateway 2 Installation
- Backup Switch Installation
- Powerwall 2 Installation
- Powerwall+ Installation
- Metering Installation
- Commissioning a Powerwall System
Backup Gateway 2 Installation
Backup Gateway 2 functions as both an Islanding Controller and Islanding Contactor, meaning it controls system operation, detects grid outages and disconnects the system from the grid to enable backup power. Backup Gateway 2 also includes the internal energy metering which provides power measurements required by the system to operate properly, and for system data to appear in the customer's Tesla app.
Because Backup Gateway 2 does function as an Islanding Controller, it can be installed with Powerwall 2 or an Expansion Powerwall+ (neither of which functions as an Islanding Controller.)
Backup Switch Installation
Backup Switch functions as an Islanding Contactor, meaning it detects grid outages and disconnects the system from the grid to enable backup power. Backup Switch also includes the internal energy metering which provides power measurements required by the system to operate properly, and for system data to appear in the customer's Tesla app.
Because Backup Switch does not function as an Islanding Controller, it is only installed with a Controller Powerwall+ (which does function as an Islanding Controller.)
Powerwall 2 Installation
Powerwall 2 is a rechargeable home battery. A system may have multiple Powerwalls depending on the size of the home, the number of loads the customer wishes to back up during an outage and/or the size of the customer's solar system.
Powerwall+ Installation
Powerwall+ is a rechargeable home battery with a Tesla Solar Inverter. The Tesla Solar Inverter converts solar energy into power that is either immediately used by the home or stored in a Powerwall for later use.
There are two variants of Powerwall+: Controller and Expansion. Controller Powerwall+ functions as an Islanding Controller, meaning it is always installed with a Backup Switch. Expansion Powerwall+ does not function as an Islanding Controller, meaning it is always installed with an Islanding Controller (either Backup Gateway 2 or Controller Powerwall+.)
Metering Installation
Understand how to install both internal and remote energy metering for a Powerwall system. Energy metering is required by a Powerwall system to optimize energy consumption, determine when to charge and discharge and to display system data in the customer's Tesla app.
Commissioning a Powerwall System
To complete the installation of a Powerwall system, the Islanding Controller (Backup Gateway 2 if present, otherwise Powerwall+) must be connected to the internet and the system must be powered on. After powering on all equipment, open the Tesla Pros app to navigate to ‘Energy Field Work’ > ‘Tesla Device Setup.’ Follow the prompts from the Device Setup in Tesla Pros to get a Powerwall system up and running.
Download the Tesla Pros app to get started.