Electrasolar are the nominated, approved and certified installers for Tesla Powerwall Battery storage systems in East Anglia, so we were put in touch with Barry following a direct sales order of a Tesla Powerwall 2 to their European Operation in Amsterdam. Following my completion and submission of a comprehensive Tesla Self-Survey, including all the technical details, of our existing, large (6kW) Solar PV system, Barry was immediately in touch over the phone to discuss our requirements and book a date for installation. This was all made and accomplished within 5 weeks of us placing the order with Tesla, which is remarkably quick given the currently quoted lead-time of 4-6 months (March 2018).
Barry and his technical assistant Jon, duly arrived just after 8am on the installation day to be greeted by appallingly bad, wet weather – not good for major electrical installations, outdoors. Not to be beaten however they pulled out a large gazebo from the van and set about establishing a workbench and dry working area to do the installation. They then proceeded to work tirelessly and efficiently to wall mount the Powerwall 2 unit (an achievement in itself as they weigh some 150kg!) and then to wire it and connect it to our existing Solar PV system and our consumer unit. Great care was taken to ensure all wiring, trunking, mounting and hardware were not just screwed to the wall wherever, but carefully and meticulously located and installed to look neat, professional, safe and well designed. Working with existing hardware in sometimes difficult to reach places and confined roof-voids, they managed to wire everything up seamlessly and neatly. They then connected and updated the Gateway (the system’s central control unit) to our domestic Wi-Fi LAN and hence to the Internet to link with Tesla’s servers. Finally, they commissioned the unit to the DNO’s Standards (in our case UK Power Networks) in order to self-certify its output and meet the numerous regulations in this area. Barry works very closely with the relevant DNO and knows many of the crucial team members for Registration of Microgenerators by name, so that the whole process of obtaining DNO approval, either via the so-called G59 or G83 processes depending on the output rating of the system, is seamless and stress free. They were finished by 5pm, so around 8 hours altogether with a break for lunch.
Barry and Jon are highly professional, efficient, knowledgeable, creative at problem solving and most of all, highly skilled electricians, as well as being immaculately tidy and considerate (even in monsoon conditions!). They also have a great sense of humour and are fun to have around. Their customer service is second to none and their various certificates, commendations and accreditations are all testament to their knowledge and skills in the Solar PV market, which can sometimes be somewhat of a minefield. The installation of our Powerwall 2 was a textbook operation in every sense and I have no hesitation in recommending Barry and Electrasolar to anybody who is considering investing in a new Solar PV system, or is considering upgrading an existing system with a storage solution, like the Tesla Powerwall 2. Brilliant & faultless, can’t recommend anyone better.
RDH, Thaxted
01480 896 137
07818 074 055