Thread: Tesla Powerwall - battery for your house

Originally Posted by Vern

Plenty of systems out there like this already. That's why I ask what's so special about the Tesla?

It's pretty to look at and hangs on the wall so it must be better...

Has anyone made the jump and got one now they are available

How many kwh is this powerwall?

Been talking with a few of my solar suppliers, and as I have never researched it, they have filled me in. Its just a battery, that battery is either made by lgchem or Samsung or the likes, it still needs an inverter, its just great advertising. People should look at local manufacturers like Redback, who make the same, as if not a better product for a much cheaper price.

Originally Posted by Tombie

Think of it as the Power equiv of the Model-T production line

This, I think, is an appropriate simile, and is in fact one I have used myself. However, I would temper it by saying "it may be the home power storage equivalent of the Model T". But at present we are about where Ford was in 1908, and it was about 1912 before the success of the Ford even began to change the face of motoring (in 1909 Ford built about 10,000, by 1912 it was nearly 70,000, and the price had dropped by about 25%; but by 1914 price had almost halved, and production was over 200,000.

It took six years for the price to halve, and I seriously doubt that Tesla can do as well - Ford introduced to the motor industry mass production methods that had never been conceived of in the industry, but today batteries are already mass produced. The easy gains have already been made.

And it should be emphasised that the Model T was a runaway success, not because it was mass produced, but because it was well designed and well made, while being designed for the middle class, not the wealthy. It was mass produced because it was so successful, and this multiplied its success.

John

Originally Posted by muddymech

Has anyone made the jump and got one now they are available

There have been a few installed in Oz since the start of February. A good analysis by Choice magazine is here:

https://www.choice.com.au/home-impro...l-payback-time

Originally Posted by bee utey

There have been a few installed in Oz since the start of February. A good analysis by Choice magazine is here:

https://www.choice.com.au/home-impro...l-payback-time

Interesting. From the article, pay back is 24 years.

You know the unit has a 5000 cycle life so you will be replacing it about every thirteen years.

Its an interesting topic, but I for one am unconvinced of the economic benefits of solar for the house holder.

I moved into a house recently with 23 solar panels on the high north facing roof in two groups, with two switchboards under the house. No idea of the cost but expensive I think. 8000$ ?

quarterly figures;rounded for simplicity.

1600 kw hours produced during the day time peak power- purchased by e.....x at 6 c per kw hour = $100.

800 kw h consumed, ie we generate twice the power we use, in peak time when the generating authorities need it most. that power is sold back to us a 4 times the cost during the day and double at off peak times.

300 kw/h peak power ; billed at 24 c per kw h..........75$


500 kw /h off peak power ( hot water) billed at 12 c kw h.......60$

a service
provision fee about 120 $

A fee to read my solar meters etc.

the short story is I'm saving about $100 per quarter or $400 per year.

20 years to get a payback with zero maintenance costs, that sounds like a con.