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Thread: Is the amps limitation a killer for Tesla batteries

  1. #1
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    Is the amps limitation a killer for Tesla batteries

    I have been following a discussion in Business Spectator by green enthusiast Tristan Edis.

    His recent articles discuss going "Off Grid" with solar panels and a battery bank and the entire discussion seems to be about KWh demand etc.

    However my very incomplete understanding of electrics leads me to believe that the 5amp output of a 7Kw Tesla panel is a big problem for non enthusiasts to run a house.

    According to a specialist electric web site I looked at a home grid connection generally has an output of 100amps so that you can run a jug, fridge , dryer, and air conditioner at once, however 5amps enables you only to run a jug or risk a circuit breaker drop out.

    Am I correct in this?

    I note that the AGL site does not even mention amp capacity of their battery systems.

    I see this a BIG inhibitor to the currently very popular idea at inner city parties to go "off grid". I cannot imagine the lady of the house would be too impressed if she had the jug running, turned on the microwave and everything went dark.
    Can someone with greater knowledge of electricity please set me right If my assumptions are incorrect.
    Regards Philip A

    .

  2. #2
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    There is no way such a profligate energy user would end up with just one Tesla battery pack. They are designed to be racked in groups until they are big enough to meet your load. To run a single pack you would have it wired so that the biggest loads are left out and you would have lights and some critical circuits only. I have a small battery backup system (about 2kWh) in my house, and the first thing I do after a significant power failure is to switch off the wall plugs of any hungry appliances so junior or the wife don't use them. The battery will happily run the fridge and freezer so long as they don't come on at exactly the same time, or the inverter browns out. Cooking and kettle boiling continues on the gas stove and the evaporative a/c can be used if the sun is shining on the backup battery's solar panels. And we don't have an electric clothes drier, I didn't think anyone could afford to run one of them these days.

    One time we had a major failure I forgot it was near bed time and the wife had her electric blanket on. The battery was flat in an hour or so, it won't happen again!

  3. #3
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    As above...

    In our case, for the cost of connecting to the grid on a rural property in WA (power already on block, just need western power to install a stepdown transformer), we could install a 5 kW solar system and about 50 kWh battery system.

    As solar and battery prices come down the power companies are in danger of pricing themselves out of the market...!

  4. #4
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    The Tesla job by is only good for a hybrid system, you would need too many to go fully off grid, I can't see it being financially viable.
    I am about to install a full off grid system at a customers house, 5.5kw of panels, 750ah batteries and still needing an auto start gene for days of autonomy. That's costing $35k, how many Tesla panels can you get for $35k?

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Vern View Post
    The Tesla job by is only good for a hybrid system, you would need too many to go fully off grid, I can't see it being financially viable.
    I am about to install a full off grid system at a customers house, 5.5kw of panels, 750ah batteries and still needing an auto start gene for days of autonomy. That's costing $35k, how many Tesla panels can you get for $35k?
    Tesla are like apple. People will buy them for the styling and the name. However i expect they will be good quality.
    Costs i have seen are 3500 for 10kW and 3000 for 7kW. Not sure if that is au or us pesos.

  6. #6
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    The Tesla batteries are designed to earn their keep with daily deep discharge, something that lead acid doesn't do so well at. I can see how a hybrid system of some lithium capacity to cover the expected daily use and lead acid for longer term backup would be an economical way to design a stand alone system.

  7. #7
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    Costs i have seen are 3500 for 10kW and 3000 for 7kW. Not sure if that is au or us pesos.
    I have seen a report that the 7Kw will cost AUD 11500, adding in the Australia tax, GST, greedy distributor etc. Remember that in the USA Musk is very heavily subsidized by the USA government to the tune of $4 billion.

    BTW I have noticed recently that the cost of Automotive style Lithium batteries has increased quite a lot recently from AFAIR $1195 to $1400+ for a 100+AH..

    So what makes us think that Lithium batteries are getting cheaper other than pronouncements By Musk? ( who was reported recently as losing over USD4000 on each car sold and being in a race to profitability to fend off insolvency)

    Regards Philip A

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    Quote Originally Posted by PhilipA View Post
    I have seen a report that the 7Kw will cost AUD 11500, adding in the Australia tax, GST, greedy distributor etc. Remember that in the USA Musk is very heavily subsidized by the USA government to the tune of $4 billion.

    BTW I have noticed recently that the cost of Automotive style Lithium batteries has increased quite a lot recently from AFAIR $1195 to $1400+ for a 100+AH..

    So what makes us think that Lithium batteries are getting cheaper other than pronouncements By Musk? ( who was reported recently as losing over USD4000 on each car sold and being in a race to profitability to fend off insolvency)

    Regards Philip A
    Firstly, I think you are confusing retail price for the system and installed prices.
    Press Kit | Tesla Motors Australia
    www.teslamotors.com/en_AU/presskit
    Tesla Powerwall is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery designed to store energy at a ... Tesla's selling price to installers is $3500 for 10kWh and $3000 for 7kWh.
    Though these prices were probably set before the $AU took a nosedive.

    As to the rest of your post - the $AU took a nosedive, which explains the price increases on everything we import.

  9. #9
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    Hmm,yet I seem to see that laptops have not increased in price at all or not much.

    They come from the same place.
    And if the batteries are getting cheaper ie there is downward pressure on the wholesale prices I would expect that the batteries would also stay near their previous prices.

    Regards Philip A

  10. #10
    DiscoMick Guest
    Bradfords were promoting Tesla 7kw systems with solar on Facebook for $15,000 or the battery pack alone for $10k. Think I'll wait for the cost to fall.

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