Tesla’s Powerwall 2 solar battery is a high-performing and reliable solution for residential and light commercial applications. The energy stored in this battery helps maintain your electricity supply during blackouts and peak usage times. And with the intuitive Tesla mobile app, you’ll always be able to monitor your energy consumption.
The battery unit is an essential part of your solar PV system. It enables you to have grid independence and financial savings. With a reliable solar battery, you can power your home or business entirely through your solar panels’ clean energy.
When it comes to leading solar batteries, one particular brand is always in the discussion. As such, our review highlights everything you need to know about the Tesla Powerwall 2 solar battery and how it compares to other options in the market.
Read on to explore the Powerwall 2 features and specifications.
What is the Tesla Powerwall 2?
The Tesla Powerwall 2 is a fully integrated lithium-ion battery system for households and small businesses. It delivers energy storage to power your house during an outage, peak usage times, and at night. This AC battery is an ideal solution for self-consumption, time-based control, and backup.
In 2015, Tesla released the first Powerwall, and its current iteration entered the market in 2016. Its AC battery allows for easy retrofitting to an existing solar system for energy storage outside sunlight hours. Only one model is currently available, but you can stack up multiple solar batteries for increased storage.
Your home or facility will have a simple connection with the Powerwall’s electrical interface. The battery storage unit has a compact design which enables swift installation. With this market-leading energy density, you’ll quickly enjoy the benefits of solar power.
The Powerwall 2 recharges via solar panels or through the grid during off-peak hours to help you save on your electricity bills. Whenever there’s an outage, your panels will continue charging the Powerwall. You’ll no longer need to rely on bulky, expensive battery banks that drain excess solar power from your panels.
Is the Tesla Powerwall 2 Solar Battery Worth it?
The Tesla Powerwall 2 is undoubtedly helpful for those looking to reduce their energy expenses. In fact, this battery can eliminate your electricity bills altogether. Mid to large-sized households can potentially save thousands of dollars per month with it.
With Powerwall 2, you can produce excess energy through your solar panel system and feed it back to the electricity grid to earn feed-in tariffs. It also allows for energy independence as you won’t have to rely as much on grid power. This utility is great for people living in areas that experience frequent blackouts.
Pairing solar with your battery storage means you’ll also maintain a minimal carbon footprint by storing clean energy from your solar panels.
The Tesla Powerwall 2 charges with any electricity source and is an excellent way to save on electricity costs. It’s a lithium-ion home battery that can store DC energy from your photovoltaic panels.
How Much Storage does the Tesla Powerwall 2 have?
The Powerwall 2 has 13.5 kWh of solar battery storage. The solar battery can fully charge in 2 hours with a 6 kW solar system in perfect condition and free of loads.
With a solar power output reaching 5 kW, this battery can meet all your energy needs, even at peak hours. You can have multiple appliances running free of concern.
How Long Will the Tesla Powerwall 2 Power My Home?
The average household consumes 28 kWh per day, and a Powerwall has 13.5 kWh capacity of energy storage with a discharge rate of 5 kW.
Based on this, a Tesla battery could power your home for 12 hours straight. It can generate 50% of your home’s required power for the entire evening period.
With two Powerwall units, you can expect 18 hours of power supply. Three Powerwall units will keep your home running for 24 hours. So you have complete flexibility when it comes to measuring your off-grid ratio to traditional electricity supply.
Tesla Powerwall 2 Battery Technical Specifications
The Powerwall 2 is a DC electricity storage system with an original capacity of 13.5 kWh per Powerwall. You must purchase more Powerwalls in parallel for increased solar battery storage capacity. This way, you’ll have more stored power in the battery and be more prepared for an outage.
Below are the technical specifications for the Tesla Powerwall 2 battery. More information is available in the unit’s datasheet:
| Performance Specifications | Tesla Powerwall 2 |
|---|---|
| AC Voltage (Nominal) | 230 V |
| Feed-In Type | Single Phase |
| Grid Frequency | 50 Hz |
| Total Energy | 14 kWh |
| Usable Energy | 13.5 kWh |
| Real Power (Continuous) | 5 kW (charge and discharge) |
| Apparent Power (Continuous) | 5 kVA (charge and discharge) |
| Maximum Supply Fault Current | 10 kA |
| Maximum Output Fault Current | 32 A |
| Power Factor Output Range | +/– 1.0 adjustable |
| Internal Battery DC Voltage | 50 V |
| Round Trip Efficiency | 90% |
| Warranty | 10 years |
| Environmental Specifications | Tesla Powerwall 2 |
| Operating Temperature | –20 °C to 50 °C |
| Recommended Temperature | 0 °C to 30 °C |
| Operating Humidity (RH) | Up to 100% while condensing |
| Storage Conditions | –20 °C to 30 °C (up to 95% RH non-condensing), State of Energy (SoE): 25% initial |
| Maximum Elevation | 3,000 m |
| Environment | Indoor and outdoor rated |
| Ingress | Rating IP67 (Battery & Power Electronics), IP56 (Wiring Compartment) |
| Wet Location Rating | Yes |
| Noise Level @ 1 m | < 40 dBA at 30 °C |
| Mechanical Specifications | Tesla Powerwall 2 |
| Dimensions | 1,150 mm x 753 mm x 147 mm |
| Weight | 114 kg |
| Mounting Options | Floor or wall mount |
Tesla Powerwall 2 Battery Key Features
The Tesla Powerwall 2 features an app where you can choose between three different battery modes. It operates at a great temperature range between -4 to +122 °F. Other key features include battery stack up, a built-in AC inverter, and more.
The Tesla Powerwall includes a built-in AC inverter, making it extremely easy to install.
- Its AC-coupled battery will continue operating even when your solar inverter malfunctions. If your battery also experiences a fault, the Powerwall 2 allows your photovoltaic panels to continue supplying electricity to your home through their own inverter.
- The Tesla Powerwall 2 has a liquid cooling system. It is the only residential battery system on the market with such technology. This feature allows the battery to work at a temperature range of -4 to +122 °F.
- Unlike many lithium solar batteries, the Tesla Powerwall 2 doesn’t reduce its power output at ambient temperatures above 104 °F. The unit can disperse more heat under high loads thanks to its liquid cooling ability.
- It has a thermal management system for the battery to charge normally at temperatures below freezing point. Other lithium solar batteries suffer from significantly reduced charge rates in this situation.
- The Powerwall 2 preheats the lithium-ion batteries at low temperatures, enabling them to charge at a standard rate. Tesla solar batteries use grid power to preheat the lithium cells, but during off-grid operations or a blackout, they use some residual energy to achieve that.
- Tesla’s Powerwall 2 comes with a user-friendly app for you to monitor and control your electricity consumption. With its Power Flow screen, you can see exactly where your stored energy is coming from and where it goes.
This app allows you to choose between three battery operation modes:
1. Self-powered mode
This mode allows you to use stored energy to power your home after sunset. You can also select the percentage to reserve for unexpected outages.
2. Backup-only mode
This mode reserves 100% of your Powerwall for backup in case of an outage.
3. Advanced mode
In this mode, you set up time-based control to save costs on electricity consumption. For example, you can set your Powerwall to avoid charges from the grid at peak hours to maximise savings, as energy is most costly from 5 to 8 pm (Peak hours).
Another inclusion is the Storm Watch function. This feature allows the app to communicate with the National Weather Service. It will collect data from the service and update you if bad weather is imminent in your area.
The Storm Watch will charge your Powerwall 2 for peak power output. A blackout won’t have any significant impact on your daily life, as the battery can provide reliable backup power.
Is the Tesla Powerwall 2 Easy to Install?
You should first choose the optimal location to install the Tesla Powerwall and determine if you want it mounted on the wall or the floor. The correct site provides adequate protection for the device. It’s advisable to choose a location close to the solar panel.
With the Powerwall 2, you have installation flexibility as it’s water-resistant, touch-safe, and dust-proof. If you live in a region with extreme temperatures, installing the Powerwall 2 inside your garage would be the best option.
Be sure to choose an expert installer to avoid issues such as wiring, local code, or even flooding. You may need special transportation equipment to move the Powerwall 2 to your desired location.
Depending on the solar battery’s usage case, you might also require additional equipment. For example, if your Powerwall 2 serves as a backup electricity source for essential loads, you must have a new sub-panel installed. This connects the unit to the circuits in your house that will back up during a power outage.
You can achieve 100% home backup wastage with the Powerwall 2, but this is only possible based on your home’s electrical load and usage patterns.
Is the Tesla Powerwall 2 Battery Reliable? Does it Include a Warranty?
The Tesla Powerwall 2 battery is a dependable solution during power outages. With a capacity of 13.5 kilowatt-hours, you’ll always have energy reserves at peak times and at night.
Thanks to the battery stack-up feature, you can combine several Powerwalls for more usage capacity. By stacking up two Tesla units, you can create your off-grid power system.
Powerwall 2 systems can provide 5.8 kW of continuous power on sunny days. Your Tesla home solar battery can produce enough energy for electrical power outlets and most 120-volt appliances.
Expect an output between 7 kW and 9.6 kW in a power outage. The exact amount depends on the weather conditions.
The Powerwall 2 is just as dependable as other Tesla products. It comes with a 10-year product warranty for peace of mind.
Is the Tesla Powerwall 2 Solar Battery Safe?
Safety is key when constructing the Tesla Powerwall 2, and the company is willing to put its battery system to the test. Designed to meet or exceed the most stringent safety standards, the Powerwall 2 won’t pose any fire hazard provided that you follow Tesla’s installation requirements.
Tests carried out by Tesla show that if a fire emits from the pod, it won’t spread to the rest of the Powerwall. Likewise, the surrounding batteries will be unaffected if there is a fire around one system.
Advantages
The Powerwall 2 is one of the most capable Tesla products on the market today. It has superior solar power storage to many other competitors. Expect a battery life of 12 – 15 hours for powering a few lights, the refrigerator, and your TV.
However, energy levels will deplete rapidly when using your dishwasher or HVAC. In this case, it will last for about 4 to 5 hours. While you may think this isn’t sufficient to last through a blackout, there’s a solution to this problem.
Thanks to the Powerwall batteries stacking up, you can outlast any power outage. Just tell your installer to connect additional units for increased capacity.
Other advantages of using the Tesla Powerwall 2 include:
- The biggest battery capacity available
- Solid performance at low and high temperatures
- Easy maintenance
- Three energy consumption modes
- Excellent round-trip efficiency
- Ability to stack up to ten batteries
- More off-grid power generation
- 10-year warranty.
Disadvantages
The only major shortcoming of the Powerwall 2 is that it needs an additional inverter. This may not be an issue for those who already have a system. However, it could turn off potential customers.
Unlike other technologies, the Powerwall 2 battery package doesn’t include an inverter. You’ll have to opt for the Tesla Powerwall+ battery if you want an integrated solar inverter.
At least two Powerwall batteries are required to go completely off-grid. This can be disappointing if you want to disconnect from the grid entirely with just one system. You should consider this when looking for an off-grid energy supply. It’s also an expensive unit compared to similar solutions on the market.
With that said, the Tesla Powerwall 2 is an excellent choice for consumers with the budget to accommodate purchasing two Tesla batteries.
Which Inverters are Compatible with the Tesla Powerwall 2 Battery?
The Tesla Powerwall 2 battery has numerous options for solar inverter compatibility. You can opt for Fronius, SMA, SolarEdge, Enphase Microinverter, ABB, or Delta and integrate it with your existing solar panel system. The company is constantly exploring compatibility with different inverter manufacturers.
The Powerwall 2 is an AC battery, so it requires a separate solar inverter to function with a solar array. All current solar inverters mesh well with the Tesla Powerwall. If there’s a blackout, the battery continues to work in what is called island mode.
This might be a problem if you don’t have a solar inverter that links directly to the firewall. In this case, your battery won’t recharge from your solar PV system when there’s a blackout. The entire system will be inactive until the grid is back online.
Instead, we recommend using solar inverters from top manufacturers like Enphase and SMA. Contact our solar experts if you’re unsure what brand to choose. They’ll provide a solution for your solar needs.
Next Steps…
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