Design Considerations

Supported Configurations

  • Up to (4) Powerwall 3 units with (1) Backup Gateway 2, with or without AC-coupled solar
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    Third party MLPE solutions, such as optimizers, are not compatible with Powerwall 3
  • Powerwall 3 is not compatible with the following:
    • Neurio remote energy meters
    • Other batteries (Powerwall 2 or third party batteries)
    • Stacked units (Powerwall 3 must be mounted in a side-by-side configuration)

System Tie-in

  • Only Tesla devices are compatible with Powerwall; no third-party equipment in lieu of Backup Gateway 2
  • Backup systems must be one of the following:
    • 230 V single phase service
      • 100 A or smaller service, or (in absence of a service rating) maximum 100 A of loads downstream of Backup Gateway 2
    • 230 / 400 V three phase service
      • 80 A or smaller service, or (in absence of a service rating) maximum 80 A of loads downstream of Backup Gateway 2
      • Follow all local requirements for balancing the system equally across the available phases
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      Note
      Regardless of the number of Powerwalls installed, only one phase (L1, L2, or L3) will provide backup during a grid outage.
  • A breaker is always utilized for Powerwall 3 tie in; see Install Powerwall and Generation Breakers in the Backup Gateway for breaker size
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    Note
    In line with relevant standards, Powerwall must be wired to support the maximum continuous current of the system.
  • Powerwall 3 must always be connected to the Home terminals downstream of the Backup Gateway 2
  • Recommend that total Powerwall supply is able to power the single largest automatic load in the backup circuit (see Backup Loads Supported per Powerwall Quantity)
  • Any/all backup load centers are adequately protected with an overcurrent protection device
  • All three phase loads or solar must be excluded from the backup phase on the Home terminals
  • All single phase loads in the backup circuit must be sized appropriately for the configured power output of the Powerwall (see Install Powerwall and Generation Breakers in the Backup Gateway for power output options)
  • Site and solar monitoring must be installed to capture overall power flow to/from the site, as well as all solar production
  • Powerwall and Backup Gateway 2 are rated for 10 kA of fault current.

Powerwall 3 Solar

Powerwall 3 has an integrated inverter and 3 MPPTs, with a maximum solar input of 20 kW DC.

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Note
See AC-Coupled Solar System Sizing for information about sizing AC-coupled solar with Powerwall 3.