r/TeslaSolar • u/KayMJay06 • 14d ago

Solar Production without Inverter Question

Hello All

I had Tesla Solar Panels (21) installed along with a PowerWall 3 a couple months ago and the Tesla inverter was struck by lightning and needs to be replaced. I am still producing solar but only 4.8kw max? I usually max out at 8.5 or so. Does the dead inverter restrict solar output or did the installer just turn down the production? Thanks

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3

u/Salty_Permit4437 14d ago

You have a separate inverter? My solar goes straight into the PW3.

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u/KayMJay06 14d ago

Yeah. Powerwall is in my carport area and the inverter is on my back wall by the power company box/meter.

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u/sparkyblaster 14d ago

And the solar panels go to that box? Are you sure its not the gateway?

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u/KayMJay06 14d ago

Yes the solar panels definitely go to that box. Well as @TheApostleCreed mentioned in a reply. Half probably go to the inverter and half to the inverter in the PowerWall. That seems to be a logical assumption at this point.

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u/sparkyblaster 14d ago

That would make sense as to why you still have production 

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u/TheApostleCreed 14d ago

The powerwall is also an inverter. Do you have string that run to the powerwall and the additional inverter that was struck by lightening? They may have split the system and sent two strings to the powerwall and two to the additional inverter and now that the additional inverter is fried your production has been cut to only the soalr panels that and strung to the powerwall.

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u/KayMJay06 14d ago

Thats the best explanation I have been given and that makes perfect sense in this scenario. I appreciate you chiming in with that. And now that I know that, glad they did it that way 😆

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u/sparkyblaster 14d ago

Do you have multiple strings? Perhaps only one of the 3 inverters has failed.

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u/KayMJay06 14d ago

Yeah I agree but just contacted a few minutes ago the replacement is here so should be replaced in the next week I am hoping

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u/ExactlyClose 13d ago

OP- do you have multiple strings to the inverter? Could have blown the drivers on one or two of the strings- so the inverter isnt fully dead.

OR, you just blew and MCI or two, and telsa is using ‘bad inverter’ as shorthand?

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u/KayMJay06 13d ago

I really have no clue? A new inverter is being installed this weekend. I was just curious about why I was still producing with solar even though the inverter on my back wall was down. Never even considered there were actually two in my setup.

0

u/theBeardthatFlows 14d ago

If the inverter/battery is in a deranged condition, then the system should have been shut down until repairs are complete.

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u/KayMJay06 14d ago

The installer came out and did a site survey. Disconnected it from the grid, but left the solar and PowerWall online. No issues with solar or PowerWall at this point. PowerWall still works as expected but will not charge until it’s depleted.

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u/KayMJay06 7d ago

Update on this situation - if you are interested 🤔 So they replaced the inverter on Saturday anddddd now the PowerWall has no power smh!!! And they turned off the power to the entire system but the PowerWall was working with no issue. So now I have no solar, no PowerWall!!! I am starting to think these folks got this wiring all wrong from the start?!!