Can You Charge a Tesla Powerwall with a Generator? Ultimate Explanation
With 13.5 kWh of power storage, Tesla Powerwall can act as a backup power supply for your home for days. This often is more than enough to survive an emergency with plenty of electricity. But, since charging through a solar panel may not be an option in case of an emergency and you never know how long the power grid can stay offline during those moments, it’s always wise to take precautions.
This begs the question, can you charge a Tesla Powerwall with a generator? Well, in the past, you needed to be on Storm Watch mode to charge your Tesla Powerwall from the grid power. This was automatically activated by Tesla. But now you can do it manually. So, to charge a Tesla Powerwall with a generator, all you have to do is connect it with the same feed input as the generator and turn on the Storm Watch mode. For a more detailed guide, read on.
Considerable Factors to Charge a Tesla Powerwall with a Generator
Before you get too excited, you should know that Tesla Powerwall batteries are rated for almost 14 kWh, and providing this much power with a regular-sized home backup generator is in no way possible. You need to spend at least 5 grand to get your hands on that sort of generator and most of those are powered by gas.
1. Compatibility
The Powerwall 1 charges or discharges at 2 kW by a 400-450V system. So, you need to ensure that your generator is compatible with that input requirement. In our experience, that sort of power can only be delivered by a gasoline-powered generator. Failing to ensure that can damage your Tesla Powerwall severely and shorten the lifespan of the batteries.
2. Connecting The Powerwall to the Generator
To do it safely, you need to make sure a few things.
- First, your house should be wired for partial generator power prior to connecting the Tesla Powerwall.
- You need to have a separate breaker panel in the house with a feed input for a capable portable generator. Preferably for 4 to 8 kW.
- When the Powerwall is being installed, mention to the installer person that you want it set up in a way so that the Powerwall can be charged via the panel you have installed for your generator.
- To charge the Powerwall, all you need to do is, plug the generator in and switch the panel to generator mode instead of grid feed.
3. Enable the Storm Watch Mode in the Tesla App
Once you are done with the physical setups, you need to enable Storm Watch mode from the Tesla app. Tesla Powerwall is designed to receive charge only from solar panels or the power grid. It’ll only consider other power sources when it’s in Storm Watch mode. So, to enable it, do the following:
- Open the Tesla app and open the Settings menu from the home screen.
- Scroll down until you find Storm Watch. Enable it.
- To turn it off, tap on the Storm Watch banner on the home screen
- Then tap on Opt out for this storm.
That’s it, you have now successfully set your Tesla Powerwall to charge with a generator. However, there are some limitations that require you to take some necessary precautions.
Limitations and Precautions
Keep in mind that without proper precaution and proper installation, you risk damaging not only your Tesla Powerwall but also your home’s entire electric system. So, here’s a list of limitations and precautions you should keep in mind when trying to charge your Tesla Powerwall with the generator.
- The actual charging speed will largely depend on your generator’s capacity. So, make sure that you use a high-capacity generator to efficiently charge the Powerwall.
- Using a generator to charge the Tesla Powerwall, which itself is a very power-hungry high-capacity power bank, can take a lot of time and fuel. Therefore, keeping the cost and availability of fuel in mind is essential if you are thinking of preparing the setup for an emergency situation.
- Gasoline or natural gas-powered generators are often noisy and they emit a lot of exhaust fumes. Consider doing this for days in an emergency for days and you get a house with unbreathable air. Take those into account and maybe place the generator away from your home where it’s accessible but not too close to your house.
- Don’t turn on the generator to charge the Powerwall with the main grid line is still on. This will lead to overcharging and damage to the Powerwall batteries.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
How many watts does it take to charge a Tesla Powerwall?
On average, you need at least a 6 kW system to charge a single Tesla Powerwall. If you are considering solar panels, you will need 20 of them.
Is it possible to charge a battery with a generator?
Yes, you can charge a battery with a generator, using a generator and a battery charger. If you have a home or cabin with an off-grid system that depends on batteries, solar power, or a generator, you can utilize a generator to replenish those batteries.
Can I run AC with Tesla Powerwall?
Certainly, a Tesla Powerwall is capable of powering an air conditioner. However, the extent to which it can do so depends on whether you have a partial or whole-home backup configuration and the specific circuits you designate for battery backup during the installation process.
What is the useful life of a Tesla Powerwall?
On average you can expect your Tesla Powerwall to last around 15-20 years. However, it can vary depending on your usage habit and intensity.
In Conclusion
To conclude, yes, you can charge Tesla Powerwall batteries with a generator. Take extra care to make sure that things are connected properly. Never use the generator and the power grid at the same time and you should be okay. Always take professional help as the consequence of any mistake can be very fatal.
Good luck and thanks for reading.
