Tesla Powerwall 3 or (1) EG4 18kPV + 1 x EG4-WallMount Indoor Battery | 14.3kWh Capacity or (2) EG4 6000XP + 1 x EG4-WallMount Indoor Battery | 14.3kW

[someguyondiysolarforum]

tesla powerwall 3 is $11,200 after incentives installed.
(1) EG4 18kPV + 1 x EG4-WallMount Indoor Battery | 14.3kWh Capacity is $9400 without installation.
(2) EG4 6000XP + (2) x EG4-WallMount Indoor Battery | 28.6kWh total capacity is $10,725 without installation.

i think i need higher output of the 18k because i have a electric dryer that uses about 5500w and i need to charge my tesla. i don't want to have to plan a time to do one of these things with the 6000k. i know the 13-14kwh of battery storage is very little. so i'm thinking in order to keep the cost low maybe i can get two 6000k with total 28.6kwh of battery. how much would it be to find an installer to install the EG4 system in the bay area in CA?

which one would you guys rather do? when you buy EG4 systems, do you get a tax credit? please help me decide. thanks.

 

[chrisski]

If you can do the install yourself, a system besides Tesla lets you have more control.

To me, I could not do the permitting or climb on the roof to do the install in any reasonable amount of time, So I had an Outback system installed.

 

[chrisski]

i think i need higher output of the 18k because i have a electric dryer that uses about 5500w and i need to charge my tesla. i don't want to have to plan a time to do one of these things with the 6000k. i know the 13-14kwh of battery storage is very little. so i'm thinking in order to keep the cost low maybe i can get two 6000k with total 28.6kwh of battery. how much would it be to find an installer to install the EG4 system in the bay area in CA?

For planning, I go with $12k for 10 kWh of Battery pack installed, and then $15k per 5 kW of battery installed.

I don't recommend having someone install an EG4 for you unless that is something they install. They may be unfamiliar with the equipment for the strategies it uses.

For my install, cost of equipment was such a small factor compared to labor, design, and permitting, so I don't think you will save that much by going with a cheaper system since most of the cost is elsewhere.

 

[time2roll]

My last system was Solar City installed and was done very well. Currently in process to install a Tesla system.
I recommend 1 or 2 battery expansion modules to go with PW3.

For the other options I would talk to a few installers and get a quote. I don't recommend buying equipment and having someone else install. Let them quote the whole package. Otherwise there is no practical warranty.

Virtually any working system will qualify for the credit.

 

[someguyondiysolarforum]

My last system was Solar City installed and was done very well. Currently in process to install a Tesla system.
I recommend 1 or 2 battery expansion modules to go with PW3.

For the other options I would talk to a few installers and get a quote. I don't recommend buying equipment and having someone else install. Let them quote the whole package. Otherwise there is no practical warranty.

Virtually any working system will qualify for the credit.

i contacted signature solar and they told me to find a installer from this website

NABCEP Professional Directory - NABCEP

NABCEP is a global certification company. Begin by searching on a professional's name or certification number, or choosing an item from the drop-down menus above.

directories.nabcep.org

 

[robby]

I went the Sol-Ark route. If your going to DIY in Ca I highly suggest that you make sure everything you buy is on the approved list for Ca. If an installer is putting it up then he will make sure that it can pass inspection.

 

[Marcello with 2 Ls]

tesla powerwall 3 is $11,200 after incentives installed.
(1) EG4 18kPV + 1 x EG4-WallMount Indoor Battery | 14.3kWh Capacity is $9400 without installation.
(2) EG4 6000XP + (2) x EG4-WallMount Indoor Battery | 28.6kWh total capacity is $10,725 without installation.

i think i need higher output of the 18k because i have a electric dryer that uses about 5500w and i need to charge my tesla. i don't want to have to plan a time to do one of these things with the 6000k. i know the 13-14kwh of battery storage is very little. so i'm thinking in order to keep the cost low maybe i can get two 6000k with total 28.6kwh of battery. how much would it be to find an installer to install the EG4 system in the bay area in CA?

which one would you guys rather do? when you buy EG4 systems, do you get a tax credit? please help me decide. thanks.
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After tripping my Growatt 12kw inverter multiple times when running the dryer + charging my car @level1, + running the microwave, I realized that the 6000XP could NEVER handle my small house. So, don't do it! Unless you have the space on your wall to install 2 of them. And the patience to do extra wiring.

Btw, these systems are actually very easy to install once you learn how to hoist heavy objects up your wall. If you don't want to tackle the install yourself, maybe go with Tesla. My 2 cents!

 

[Gold Country Russ]

You should consider the EP Cube too. I bought a big one yesterday from Signature & it shipped today. I'm getting the 15.2KW with 39.2KWH battery version. I will get a 30% Federal tax credit & $200. per KWH rebate.

 

[Marcello with 2 Ls]

You should consider the EP Cube too. I bought a big one yesterday from Signature & it shipped today. I'm getting the 15.2KW with 39.2KWH battery version. I will get a 30% Federal tax credit & $200. per KWH rebate.

That looks awesome. Not really clear on tax rebates, so how much will it cost after you do next years taxes?

 

[Gold Country Russ]

That looks awesome. Not really clear on tax rebates, so how much will it cost after you do next years taxes?

$5,651.& I should add shipping was free too, My shipment of 1,550lbs will be here early next week & includes a EG4 24K hybrid mini split.

 

[Will Prowse]

You should consider the EP Cube too. I bought a big one yesterday from Signature & it shipped today. I'm getting the 15.2KW with 39.2KWH battery version. I will get a 30% Federal tax credit & $200. per KWH rebate.

EP cube good compromise and needs to be mentioned in these comparisons. Loving mine so far. I'm running entire house off-grid for a while now. Very diy friendly.

 

[jpwhit]

You can install the Tesla Powerwall yourself if you want. If you do the PowerWall 3, you shouldn't add extra Tesla battery expansion yet. The cheaper to add DC coupled battery expansion will be out in the next few months.

The Powerwall's are amazing. And they support the new initiative for providing power to the grid during grid black start scenarios and other emergency situations. My power company will give bill credits if you let them have temporary access to your Powerwall for short periods of time. The credit is $52 per month per PowerWall 3 you have. And the credit will offset more than just energy usage charges. It'll offset the other fixed fees as well. I'm sure other utilities are in the process of rolling this out as well.

 

[someguyondiysolarforum]

thank you guys for the replies! will look into EP cube too now

 

[murmeister]

I, too, got the list of installers to select from when I purchased from S2. Very few people wanted to even talk to me! You may have to wade through the list for quite a while before you find someone willing to install products not purchased through them.

As someone else mentioned, it's important to find an installer that is familiar with the system you choose. EG4, specifically, is a very nice system that has so many ways to configure it that it can be somewhat daunting. The installer I hired was thankful that I was wiling to do the "programming" myself. I now understand why.

As for the tax credit, the dirty little secret is: it's a tax credit. If your tax liability isn't higher than the credit, I don't think you'll get paid back more. Perhaps I'm wrong here, as I just used tax software and didn't really dig into it. I think the solar tax credit is a non-refundable credit meaning it will lower your tax liability but won't trigger a refund if it takes your "tax due" below zero. Someone else can chime in on that one if I'm wrong.

 

[jpwhit]

As for the tax credit, the dirty little secret is: it's a tax credit. If your tax liability isn't higher than the credit, I don't think you'll get paid back more. Perhaps I'm wrong here, as I just used tax software and didn't really dig into it. I think the solar tax credit is a non-refundable credit meaning it will lower your tax liability but won't trigger a refund if it takes your "tax due" below zero. Someone else can chime in on that one if I'm wrong.

It has nothing to do with how much of your tax you've already paid or still owe. It's a tax credit that offsets any tax liability. If you've already paid some or all of the tax liability then you will get money back in the form of a tax refund.

If you don't have enough tax liability to use the credit in the year you claim it, then you can roll the credit forward to offset any future tax liability.

 

[murmeister]

Ahh, I never thought about being able to roll it forward. It's still not refundable, though. If your income isn't high enough to require payment of taxes that exceeds the credit, you won't see immediate benefit - or any benefit at all. I'll keep the rolling forward strategy in mind. Great tip!

 

[someguyondiysolarforum]

hi everyone i just saw Wills video about the Aptos bi-facial solar panels. I was wondering if i currently have Canadian Solar panels on my roof like the one pictured below, how easy would it be to replace it with the Aptos 370w ones which is roughly about the same size?

 

[nifty-stuff.com]

EP cube good compromise and needs to be mentioned in these comparisons. Loving mine so far. I'm running entire house off-grid for a while now. Very diy friendly.

Great to see you post this update, and that you're still happy with it! I recently purchased a full-stack from EPCube and am looking forward to seeing how it performs!

 

[perryj1979]

You can install the Tesla Powerwall yourself if you want. If you do the PowerWall 3, you shouldn't add extra Tesla battery expansion yet. The cheaper to add DC coupled battery expansion will be out in the next few months.

The Powerwall's are amazing. And they support the new initiative for providing power to the grid during grid black start scenarios and other emergency situations. My power company will give bill credits if you let them have temporary access to your Powerwall for short periods of time. The credit is $52 per month per PowerWall 3 you have. And the credit will offset more than just energy usage charges. It'll offset the other fixed fees as well. I'm sure other utilities are in the process of rolling this out as well.

I live in NC also. I am considering the Tesla units. Who did you buy it from? and who installed it for you? Also, what was your total cost with installation?

 

[perryj1979]

can you tell me where you bought the tesla units from, and who installed it for you? I live a couple hours from you.

 

[Recovering EE]

I live in NC also. I am considering the Tesla units. Who did you buy it from? and who installed it for you? Also, what was your total cost with installation?

Yesterday and the day before, we had "grid events", and SCE pulled 10kWh from my two PowerWall2 each day to help support the grid. There are over 2,000 PW owners in my region, and during grid even days, we can provide enough power to offset a decent-sized natgas power plant.