Tesla Charging on Solar Explained 

That sounds really good, how quickly does ChargeHQ change the levels when a cloud comes over? Also does ChargeHQ only work with Teslas? I think I saw on their site that it works with other car types, but I couldn't be sure. Thanks

@@notacarguy_au it's not that quick, but faster with my Powerwall than it was with my fronius inverter before I had the Powerwall installed. If you've got a battery it doesn't need to be that quick to adjust as the battery can compensate. Charge HQ works with Tesla cars and smart evse that comply with OCPP. Its functionality is significantly better with Teslas as there is very limited communication between an evse and the car. Other than a circuit to detect disconnection and shut off the power the only communication is a signal to the car saying what the maximum available current is. The car cannot communicate its state of charge, charge limit or anything else. So with a non Tesla, charge HQ can make power available or not and change the max power. It can do this based on available solar or a schedule but cannot change what it does based on the car's state of charge. It can't seamlessly not charge overnight because you were home and there were 12 hours of sunshine and the state of charge is well over what's needed for the next day.

Yeah it's a shame that wasn't communicated in any way, but then again that could be said about most Tesla "communication". 🤣

Yes, probably not saving huge amounts, though I am a bit pedantic and ideally never want to draw power from the grid if I can help it. So it makes my OCD a bit easier. 🤣

Thank you. Yes, the battery is not cheap, but we have been very happy with it for the last 5-6 months that we’ve had it. I hope to have a video focusing on the battery out soon.

That’s odd, cause every now and then the app shows that the car is pulling a bit of power from the battery when it shouldn’t. Perhaps a glitch in what the app is displaying?

Few Wh here are there is to be expected, it's doing quite the balancing act. Need to run for a full day to see what performance looks like, but it does seem to be very responsive. If you are only adjusting every 5 minutes, you are going to miss things like the 2 kW kettle go on. I'm hearing Tesla Charge on Solar maybe adjusting every 10 seconds.

I actually recorded the powerwall video today too. Right after I recorded this one. Will edit next week. May have to redo it. I was all over the place. 🤣 but I did discuss cost. My very quick take is that I am not sure it’s a financial decision in regards to it making its money back. But it’s not just about that. 😀

Just think of the joy you will have when there is a blackout (and there have been plenty of those here in Melbourne lately). The Powerwall kicks in, and you don't even realise there is a blackout. I look out the window, and I am the only one with lights, TV, and internet access. The cost? OK it was a lot, but it doesn't wipe the smug grin off my face ;-)

@@greghudson9717 Totally agree, though we have been really lucky and have not had more than 2-3 power outages in the 9 years we've lived here. I really do enjoy having the backup of being able to be "off grid" if needed for possibly days at a time. Also, our power bill has been in credit since we got the battery. So not sure how much that has saved us, but it would be a decent amount of cash. This is thanks to not using any power overnight and our feed in tariff during the day covering the cost of the daily "you should pay us just to be connected" charge, they charge.

@@notacarguy_au You get 2-3 outages in 9 yeras? I get that many EVERY YEAR !!! Maybe even more (some years)

I'm not 100% sure, but I think the smart chargers can do this. So for example Zappi and Wallbox, I think have a feature like this. Also if you are able to use the app ChargeHQ, then that does it too, I think

I saw it on a few online forums that I follow on the topic.

Have you checked that everything is on the latest software version and you're based in Australia?

I don't think there is a way to set that directly, I think if you wanted the car to not drain the Powerwall, you would need to set the Powerwall reserve power to higher. Of course then it wouldn't power the house either as you've set it to reserve. So in this setup we generally never plug in the car after dark. Luckily, we haven't had a need to.

@@notacarguy_au yes, using powerwall as a major source to charge is not a good practice. Unless used in the day time so both solar and powerwall can work together to charge it, which may also need a bit of top up from grid. Thanks for your advice.

Not sure what's going on there. I do remember that the inspector who certified our Powerwall mentioned that sometimes because the Powerwall is a Tesla device and so is the wall connector, the wall connector will sometimes "take priority" over that. But the charge on solar function is pretty much supposed to not do that at all. I'd reach out to your installer or Tesla with screenshots of it happening and see if they can help.

I don't think that slow charging really degrades the battery that much. Though I am far from an expert on this topic. There was a paper a little while back that showed a whole bunch of Teslas that were used as taxis and supercharged a lot didn't degrade nearly as much as expected. Luckily for us our car has a LFO battery ands so I believe they are a bit more resilient than the NMC batteries.

I'm sorry, I don't know what to tell you. It's there in my app. Perhaps uninstall and re-install the app?

You know, I didn't even read that it said that. 🤣 I just did the ol "click and not think". I've had a look at the app again and it seems like all my data is back after I signed back in. For example my solar history and such. Perhaps check with Tesla as I am not an expert on this, but my experience was that it was fine.

Mine was fine as well. Kept all my history.

@@notacarguy_au After signing Out, then back In, my history etc was not affected either, but other weird things are happening...

Cool, will look into doing a bit of that.

Double bonus if you get into Home Assistant, if not then I may be able to assist.

One of them is a big system so it uses a lot but the others don’t draw too much.

Not really. But the house was pretty cool all morning and so I guess the AC didn’t need to work too hard. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Yeah, we didn’t get it for the pay back, but it helps. 😉

Thank you, I didn’t know that.

@@notacarguy_au Tesla told me I needed a Wall Connector version 3 (which I have - no thanks to the installer who told me it was a version 2).

I'd say it's between a 7 and an 8. It's not perfect, but it's really good and most software updates improve things. Most. 😉🤣

@@notacarguy_au I agree. 7-8 is about right. My biggest wish is that my Model Y had grab handles above the doors.

I have heard that and was going to look into it, but could never find the time. I guess another advantage of this Tesla option is that it really simply to setup and being integrated into the system is good too.

. I’d never heard of that. It s that an App and a wall connector or just an app on its own?

@@notacarguy_au Hi, it’s an app relating to the EV Charger. Used it on our first EV (MGZSEV) and now Tesla. As big as Zappi in the UK l believe

Yeah, it is a big chunk of change of the Powerwall. Of course this charge on solar is just a bonus as we got the Powerwall for loads of other reasons.

That’s very kind of you to say. 🤣 I have a lost a fair bit of weight this last year. But still a ways to go. 😉

No, left the wrong take in the video. 🤣 Sorry about that. 🤷🏻

😂😂😂😂

bravo!