This is a review of the General PWRcell solar system, from a system owner. The inverter and solar batteries and discussed and compared some to theTesla Powerwall 2. Cost, expand-ability and the what I like about the system is discussed.
Thank you for taking the time to make this video! Like you, I have been looking for a Generac power cell video! I wanted to see the actual set up and how much wall space was going to be needed. Thank you for disclosing the cost.. great job on the video!
Thank you so much for this video. The company itself has a lot of information, but no personal information that I've found so far. I just heard about Generac this morning from a relative. We are due to have our solar panels installed next month and I wanted to investigate storage for it. I really appreciate the information you've given here and look forward to more videos from you. Of course, like everyone else, would love a ballpark figure for the unit, but understand it varies depending on your solar panels and needs.
Excellent Video sir! Thank you so much for taking the time to do this video to tell us about the Generac brand. I am researching solar and was looking for honest opinions from owners, not sales people or affiliates. Keep them coming! I am looking forward to seeing more!
I love this video! I had the same thought - there are very few vids talking about the generac offering of battery backups. Thanks for filling the need!
I've been interested in having a similar system installed for several years now. Every time you contact a company for information, they want to come out so they can do the "hard" sell and I find that counter-productive. You answered most, if not all the questions that have been at the forefront of my decision and I thank you for being so thorough and helpful. If this is any indication of future videos, your going to do great! Thanks for all the help!
My problem has been contacting a place to come out and install give me like the low down and install, And they try to sell me a finance plan . When I say when I say I want to pay cash they don't seem to know what to do with that
In fairness to you sir, for this being your FIRST vlog...12k views is NOT bad; on the contrary, it's quite a performance actually! Great job! Even i can appreciate after watching this, and i'm not one easy to sell
I live in Texas and am looking into a battery backup for my existing SolarCity/Tesla panel array, so yeah, i've been looking at Generac & Power Wall and all of that, and I found this very helpful!
Thank you for sharing. I am doing research on the Generac generator vs. backup battery. I live in an area with limited sunlight in winter months. This year has been a particularly snowy season. I look forward to watching more of your videos. Excellent presentation. I am particularly interested in the larger battery storage and I think I understood you to say you did not get this unit.
Great job. The wife and I are going going to build our retirement home in a few years and I am researching solar / backup energy options. This was really informative. Thank you
Thank you for the video. I just had my system installed last week and the power company inspected today. You talked about the PV link string optimizer. They are capable of connecting up to six panels per PV link. I've got six panels on each of two PV links and five panels on the third. One comment I would like to share about my install is for people to test their internet connectivity early to where the Generac system is being installed to prevent delays. The installers tried three different Range Extenders on three separate visits to connect to connect the Generac to my wireless network and none of them worked. The house I own was build in three sections with two of them upgrades to the first and my have more obstructions. Since I'm a network engineer I just ran a temporary CAT5E line out to the garage and plan on putting it in the wall for my next project. Wireless is convenient, but I prefer a hard line instead.
PV Link input is limited by open circuit voltage (Voc) Max 420VDC. In most environments, depending on PV module you could connect up to 10 Panasonic 330W modules or 8 400+W 72 Cell modules.
We spent about that much in 2009 and didn't get backup for grid outages. People told us it took too long to get a return on investment. Ten years +/-. I plan to add battery backup at some point with a SMA Sunny Island and as much battery as I can reasonably afford. Enjoyed the video.
well done, please keep giving us info on how the unit is working in terms of savings on your energy costs as well as any challenges you run into that the rest of us should know about.
Good first video! Lots of good info. Keep up the good work. More experience leads to better videography, audio and editing. Makes family videos even better.
You are absolutely correct, I have not been able to find any other reviews from ACTUALL customers of this system. So Thank you. I am currently evaluating both the Tesla and Generac systems and looking to get one of them installed within the next month or so. As a matter of fact, I have received a quote from Generac already and it came in at $34,160 before ITC which I thought was reasonable and more so now that I know what your system cost as mine would have 15 panels to your 14 panels. To supply 7,252 kWh Annually. I don't think you mentioned the state you are in but I am in Florida and although we do have cloudy days, we never have "winter" which would effect the performance as well. Finally, I know you have only had your system for about 6 months at this point, I would be interested in learning about any MAINTENANCE this system requires as compared to an actual gas powered generator. Thanks again. Will look forward to more of your videos.
FYI, the Generac PWRCell system is the Pike Energy REBus system. Pika (the company) was purchased by Generac and re-branded. You can find some videos of older Pika installations, although they were still a fairly new startup when they were bought.
Excellent, Excellent, Excellent, thank you for posting. You helped us make a decision on generator vs solar. We will be going solar thanks to your video. Please keep posting my friend, Thx
Great first video! And very helpful. I just found out about Generac’s battery a few hours ago and I’m excited about it. I hope it puts more pressure on other solar/battery providers like Tesla and Enphase to start integrating backup generators also. I’ve had a grid only Powerwall for several months now and have been very pleased how it radically reduced my use of peak power rates while giving several hours of emergency backup when needed. Tesla currently limits you to charging Powerwall from either PV or grid in the U.S. so I’m looking for emergency generator options in case of longer outages.
It's actually not Tesla's call, it's your utility company's interconnection agreement, and also part of the ITC requirement: your battery has to charge from your solar, unless in the event of storm watch.
Wow you should be hired as an advisor or something for indorse this product and explaining so very well how it works and pros and cons honestly. They should have you in a commercial getting paid. Thank you so very much for all the great I information god bless
Great video! Just a side note if you add batteries make sure to call generac and have them drain the cabinet to the voltage level of the battery you're putting in
Thanks. Great details. First ever quote was $70k in MO. Will not walk away from solar yet thanks to your info but will know when to walk away from installer!
I am glad you are considering the PWRCell system. Tesla Powerwall 2 does have some nice features, but PWRCell maybe a better fit for what you want! Thanks for the comment.
Thanks for the video. Good job. We have the same system and cost us the same. I have had trouble with the generac app on my phone so i deleted it. I use the web info but dont know what all i am looking at. maybe you could do a video on what the details and breaking down the info step by step so we know what we are looking at. An overview of what each item is and means would be great.
Hi! You did an AMAZING job on your first video! Thank you so much for the information AND the cost you paid. Guess what? I have a dealer here in Louisiana that wants us to pay $67,000 (and that's WITH a military discount) for a 15 panel/battery backup solar installation. (that supposedly includes permits, actual installation, etc.) but to hear what YOU paid really now makes me think we DEFINETELY have to "shop around." Also, I love how your battery looks and the fact you can ADD your own batteries is really user-friendly! Because of you doing this, Generac is now in the running, and I am waiting on a call back to get someone out to go over what our cost would be! So happy that you did this again and keep the vids coming! :)
Please remember I did that video 3 years ago, so prices have changed. I do think you should "shop around", but I still like Generac. Solar panel prices are cheaper now also.
I'm glad they have gone down in price. Once they come out to assess then I will know what the real deal price wise is BUT that other company right out of the gate saying pretty much over $65,000 is a tad costly I think and Generac sounds like they will still be cheaper even 3 yrs later! Thanks again!
Joe Q Public reviews are best, you seem like the type to gather as much information as you can before you pulled the trigger and maybe your some kind of engineer? I’ll agree with the practicality of having power if the grid goes down, I’d like to think during non emergency situations one could run the electric thats on all day while your not home would save money? over the years. 30K is a lot of money and for me feeling good by going green wouldn’t cut it but your honest, contrasted two systems and took the time to make the video, thanks.
Thank you so much sir for your video I have to say you need to keep making more videos because you’re very to the point you don’t waste time and you answer all the questions that I had. The go green part I’m not really too concerned about because those lithium battery cells they have to severely strip mine the earth to collect everything they need for that so in one way it is hurting the environment. Me and my family are about to have a Generac 22 kW generator installed we live in southeast Texas we get hurricanes in the summer and we typically go several months without power. It would be nice to add two of these power walls giving me a total of 12 batteries and double the solar panels because I really don’t want to have to pay for some thing that should’ve been free the first place we have the worlds biggest power plant up in the sky it’s called the sun I run almost everything off of solar I’ve been big into it since I was six at that time I understood that you could power things free of cost
Just went through Hurricane Laura. Now researching solar options. Found your video informative and well done. Thank you. Would like more information on cloudy days...will it run A/C, refrigerator...speaking about no public power available...using generator only. Currently running 6.6 kw generator...with extension cords to window A/C. How would Generac system compare over 7 day period?
Thank you for the informative video! I wish that I had seen it earlier. I am having a solar system installed by another company within the next couple of weeks but I opted out of the batteries they offered because I wanted the Generac batteries. I had seen the infomercial for the Generac batteries only once in my area but it didn’t mention that they also install solar systems. Like you, I like the option to expand the system capabilities but I had no idea that there was such a HUGE difference in the price between Generac vs Tesla. Sounds like I made a sound decision and I appreciate you verifying it for me. I look forward to more content from you!
Hey Don, thanks for the video. Have you had experience during a power outage with the system yet? Just wondering about charge time/keeping the home running during an outage.
THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!! the price is awesome as well. I'm wondering if they have a quick disconnect to remove the solar panels off the roof in case of a hurricane ? I know insurance ect but that not going to work when i need them asap after a storm
Thank you for the video. If you are using a smartphone and tripod to video, invest in a Bluetooth phone remote. It will control both iOS and Android. Will save time on editing later. I use one for photos and videos. Just click to start or stop. 2 might cost $8. Good luck. Looking forward to future videos.
I really appreciate your video. I am seriously considering this exact system. My wife got a second opinion and a quote for a grid tied system and the cheaper cost turned her to think grid tied with a backup propane generator is more cost effective. (Apple vs Oranges, I know) The GridTie Installers are still claiming that batteries are ‘no good’. What are your feelings about this comparison?
I don't have a PWRcell system but as an EE I do have my propane generator. Your decistion depends on the power load (all your appliances) and how to use the system. For continous power savings, and quiet operation, go for the battery storage (for night usage). For power outages, it may not be engough so a generator will help produe power if the solar energy isn't enough during the outage, especially if the sky is cloudy or during a hurricane. I survived two months with my generator after Hurricane Maria in September 2017. A PWRcell system could had helped after the storm passed.
The generator is more cost effective for back up power. It’s not even close. But the battery is more versatile. On a decent day we can run a large house on just the batteries and a 7.2 kw system for about 12 hours and still have lots of juice left.
