New Backup Switch from Tesla

[Carlos Thomas]

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and my installer is Willow Glen Electric. I believe they are the primary installer for the Home Backup Gateway that came with the Foundation Series Cybertruck. I got an interesting email this morning from them.

As background:

• Cybertruck delivered February 2024
• Home Backup Gateway, Wall Charger and Backup Switch installed March 2024
• Home Backup Gateway was not enabled and the Backup Switch was not put behind the meter. Waiting for Pacific Gas & Electric to approve/complete the install.
• Delay, delay, delay. Tesla offers one year of supercharging in July 2024
• January 28, 2025, I got this email below about the approval (finally), but take a look at the Backup Switch mention.

Good morning Carlos,

I hope this email finds you well. At long last the Tesla Backup Switch is approved for use with Powershare. To complete your project, WGE will be coordinating with PG&E to have a technician install the Backup Switch under your electrical meter.

In order to begin the PG&E application process, I will need the following information which can be found on the "Details of Electric Charges" section of your PG&E bill. See attachment.

1. ELECTRIC SERVICE AGREEMENT NUMBER
2. METER NUMBER

Additionally, per Tesla's request, WGE will also be installing a newer version of the Backup Switch prior to PG&E's arrival at no additional cost. The new version will allow for a faster transition to backup power. Installation of the new backup switches will take place over the next several weeks, our scheduling team will be reaching out to help get this work on the calendar.

We will update you with timelines once PG&E provides them to us after the application is submitted.

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[CyberGus]

It literally goes under the meter

 

[mongo]

It literally goes under the meter

Literally inline (or beside) with the meter ??

 

[CyberGus]

Literally inline (or beside) with the meter ??

You're literally mongo

 

[Carlos Thomas]

My point is that I already have a backup switch and they are going to change it out for a newer one that does the switching process faster.

 

[mongo]

My point is that I already have a backup switch and they are going to change it out for a newer one that does the switching process faster.

Where does your original posts say they are changing (switching) the switch?

Home Backup Gateway was not enabled and the Backup Switch was not put behind the meter.

At long last the Tesla Backup Switch is approved for use with Powershare. To complete your project, WGE will be coordinating with PG&E to have a technician install the Backup Switch under your electrical meter.

 

[Carlos Thomas]

“Additionally, per Tesla's request, WGE will also be installing a newer version of the Backup Switch prior to PG&E's arrival at no additional cost. “

They installed the original switch in March 2024. They are going to come out and install a “newer version” prior to the electric company doing the final step and turning it on. So it is clear that what I have physically installed at my house now is an older unit and Tesla has developed something better. According to the email, “The new version will allow for a faster transition to backup power.”

So I am not sure what that means for the other customers that already have this installed. My assumption is that Tesla is going to potentially change out everyone if they are swapping out mine. Willow Glen Electric told me when they first installed everything back in March 2024, that I was the second non-Tesla employee to get everything installed. So my guess is that I am early on the list to get a newer Backup Switch.

 

[Crissa]

'Faster' makes you appreciate it.

So I wonder what they're changing it for that makes them need to change it aside that.

-Crissa

 

[MajorVictory]

Beta test at best. What a fiasco. Sorry to hear of your long wait and time wasted.

 

[mongo]

“Additionally, per Tesla's request, WGE will also be installing a newer version of the Backup Switch prior to PG&E's arrival at no additional cost. “

They installed the original switch in March 2024. They are going to come out and install a “newer version” prior to the electric company doing the final step and turning it on. So it is clear that what I have physically installed at my house now is an older unit and Tesla has developed something better. According to the email, “The new version will allow for a faster transition to backup power.”

So I am not sure what that means for the other customers that already have this installed. My assumption is that Tesla is going to potentially change out everyone if they are swapping out mine. Willow Glen Electric told me when they first installed everything back in March 2024, that I was the second non-Tesla employee to get everything installed. So my guess is that I am early on the list to get a newer Backup Switch.

Ah gotcha, for some reason that section is white on white text on my phone and looked like blank space. Are you running dark theme?

 

[mongo]

Going out a limb here, I'm guessing the original switch only had an indicator for the grid connected state and was relying on a time delay after that to engage Powerwall export. They then changed to status switches for both positions (or only off grid) so Powerwalls can export as soon as the off-grid switch closes.

 

[Carlos Thomas]

Ah gotcha, for some reason that section is white on white text on my phone and looked like blank space. Are you running dark theme?

Sorry, yes I am. I also changed the color of the bolded font to white. Sorry. I thought everyone runs dark theme on the boards and in their Tesla

 

[mongo]

Sorry, yes I am. I also changed the color of the bolded font to white. Sorry. I thought everyone runs dark theme on the boards and in their Tesla

Harumph, I paid for all these pixels and I'm gonna use them! ?

 

[Carlos Thomas]

Being we are all EV folks, one would think about conserving energy.

 

[mongo]

Being we are all EV folks, one would think about conserving energy.

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