Setting Up Group power management

Group power management is a firmware feature that allows up to six Gen 3 Wall Connectors to limit their total grid current draw to a specified maximum current. This enables more connector installations and higher charging throughput by allowing individual Wall Connectors to be installed at their full current branch circuit capability, while setting a total allocated current so that the electrical service is not overloaded.

Firmware

Wall Connector firmware version 21.18.0 or higher is required for Group power management operation. Connecting a Wall Connector to local Wi-Fi will allow for automatic firmware updates.

Terms

Table 1.
Group power management network A set number of Gen 3 Wall Connectors commissioned for wireless communication. A group power managementnetwork shall consist of one Leader and multiple Follower Wall Connectors.
Leader Refers to the Wall Connector unit that is set up as the sole controller of current allocation in a group power management network. Acts as the primary controller of Follower Wall Connectors.
Follower A Wall Connector under the control of a Leader.
Network Limit The maximum total current a group power management network is allowed to consume in amps.
Network Current The sum total current of all Wall Connectors set up in a group power management network, in amps.
Network Size The total number of Wall Connectors configured in a group power management network.
Fallback (Fair) Limit The maximum safe fallback current for a unit if communication is lost. Equal to (network limit) / (network size) bounded to within a single unit's capability.
Pilot Current The current limit advertised to a connected vehicle by a single Wall Connector in amps.
Vehicle Current The actual measured current consumption of a vehicle connected to a Wall Connector in amps.
Branch Circuit The circuit conductors between the final overcurrent device protecting the circuit and the Wall Connector.
Shared Panel A load center with multiple Wall Connector branch circuits, in additional to other unrelated electrical loads.
Dedicated EV Panel A load center which is fully dedicated to Tesla Wall Connectors installed for group power management.

Installation Options

Electric vehicle branch circuits can be installed in shared panels or dedicated EV panels.
Table 2.
Example 1: Dedicated EV PanelExample 2: Shared Panel

Setup Instructions - Order of Operations

  1. Confirm each Wall Connector has firmware version 21.18.0 or higher to enable group power management. In the Wall Connector Commissioning wizard, this can be found under the 'Software' card.
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    When connecting to multiple wall connector, disable the auto-join network feature to ensure that your device does not re-join a Wall Connector you are no longer working on.
  2. Once firmware version is confirmed, in the 'Installation' card of the commissioning wizard, set the country and power level for each Wall Connector. It is recommended to install each at the max circuit capacity; however, the branch circuit can be set to a lower output.
  3. Designate a leader Wall Connector and add its follower units - see next page for more details.
  4. Tap the 'Enabled' button on the leaders group power managementconfiguration page.
  5. Connect the leader Wall Connector to the local Wi-Fi network, the leader in a group power management network will share the Wi-Fi credentials with the follower units.

Group Power Management Commissioning

To begin, connect to the Commissioning Wizard for one of the Wall Connectors. This Wall Connector will become the “leader” unit and will be responsible for communicating available amperage to the network.

  1. Select Power Sharing from the Commissioning Wizard:
  2. Select Add Follower to begin pairing process:
  1. Follow on screen instructions to add a second Wall Connector by either scanning QR code from Quick Start Guide or manually entering the SSID and WPA2 info:

    SCAN QR CODE

    Locate Quick Start guide of the Wall Connector you want to add to the network

    ENTER MANUALLY

    Input SSID and WPA2 info from the Wall Connector you want to add to the network

    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    The Wall Connector you are adding must broadcast its own Wi-Fi SSID signal. Press and hold the handle button for 5 seconds.
  2. Repeat process to add more Wall Connectors to the network. All added Wall Connectors become followers in the network.
  3. Select “Power Sharing Settings” to program a network limit.
  4. In the field, input the network limit:
  5. Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    This is the maximum total current a group power management network is allowed to consume in amps. This represents the continuous current which the network will not exceed. An electrician will need to determine the correct amount of amperage and confirm that the load center has appropriate overcurrent protection

Expected Behaviors

  • SSID access point of all Wall Connectors in a group power management network will continue to broadcast.
  • Removing a Wall Connector from a network will temporarily set that device’s max output to 6 amps. Cycle circuit breaker to reset Wall Connector to original configuration setting.
  • Leader Wall Connector will share site Wi-Fi with follower Wall Connectors.