How many are getting the solar option

[mggoulet]

I hope so too. What a pain. My wife got quarantined for going 30m into Vermont for 5 minutes to check the mail after she checked in first and they told her they wouldn't! And Vt. infections are about 1/4 Estrie's.

Can you fly into Florida?

My son (dr. Éric Lampron-Goulet, md spécialiste en santé public) and his wife, Md Urgentologue, imposent us NOT to go in USA as long as the situation will be under controlled... see: https://covid19.healthdata.org/united-states-of-america?view=total-deaths&tab=trend where you can choose other country and the result... Some friends- neighbor went by airplane (air Canada) in Fl... and they have their cars already in Fl... Yesterday, I had "une toux" and he imposed me to check for covid-19... today or tomorrow... I'LL know...Éric is under Alain Poirier, directeur de santé publique, and receives all calls for every "éclosion" in Estrie... So, we are very busy to keep the 3 grand-kids, 3, 6, 9 ans...!!! Will you try to go to USA (or after November 4th...!!!)

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[Frankenblob]

The solar option would be nice. Imagine the possibilities, camping, off grid building etc.
I am definitely getting it when available.
Also an option for vehicle to house or vehicle to vehicle would be nice

Even having an MC4 port connection wherein one can directly plug their solar panel (s) into and this port can then "step up or step down" (stabilize) the voltage to charge the battery.

 

[ajdelange]

Will you try to go to USA (or after November 4th...!!!)

Yes, we're heading south on the 3rd. We are in a medium area but know enough to wear masks, avoid contact with people to the extent possible, wash our hands etc. Hope the test comes back OK!

 

[Crissa]

Self-driving requires white lines on paved roads,

No, it does not.

-Crissa

 

[mggoulet]

Yes, we're heading south on the 3rd. We are in a medium area but know enough to wear masks, avoid contact with people to the extent possible, wash our hands etc. Hope the test comes back OK!

Mes amis de l'île Nettles m'ont confirmé qu'ils resteraient une semaine confinés après le 3 nov. à cause du résultat qui pourrait attiser les tensions...Donc, en plus du covid... soyez sur vos gardes...!!! In God we trust... in everything else we check...!!! stay safe...!!! pas encore reçu le résultat car pour les positifs... c'est très rapide... alors, selon les probabilités... je devrais être OK...!!!

 

[mggoulet]

Yes, we're heading south on the 3rd. We are in a medium area but know enough to wear masks, avoid contact with people to the extent possible, wash our hands etc. Hope the test comes back OK!

Résultat négatif... on appelle ça une grippe d'homme...!!! bon voyage... tu nous diras comment se comporte la milice...!!!

 

[ajdelange]

Résultat négatif... on appelle ça une grippe d'homme...!!! bon voyage... tu nous diras comment se comporte la milice...!!!

Felicitations!

 

[lqdchkn]

I live west of Seattle and our home has a 9.7kW solar system that creates ~10-11MW per year but we face due-south, towards the top of a (mostly) treeless hill. I would be interested in getting the solar panel option as I have seen how well our solar array works. There is no "if" about function. The only question would be how much it adds to the range. I would be happy to be part of the test group. Someone's got to do it and even at just 5-10 miles a day solar recharge that would be 150-300 miles a month or 1800-3600 miles a year. Considering my average yearly driving is 12K miles, the 30% "free miles" I'd be gaining at 10 miles a day is 30% off the cost of charging. Every little bit counts in my book.

As mentioned previously in this thread I believe Elon stated it could have a maximum capability of 15 miles per day. Given most likely would not encounter perfect conditions all day, I'd think in normal use expecting 3-5 miles per day is reasonable. For someone like me with a 16 mile per day commute 3-5 miles is more than acceptable for a little free power. It'd add roughly 1 free day of commute per week .

That being said I'm planning to add it. I additionally want it for camping. If I were to say run out of power in an emergency, I could see myself being able to manage for a couple extra days to get enough charge for 15-30 extra miles to be able to get to a place that would have cell service at least. With an EV it's not like you can carry an extra 5 gallon jerry can or 2.....unless you wanna pack a generator in there too, LOL

Even having an MC4 port connection wherein one can directly plug their solar panel (s) into and this port can then "step up or step down" (stabilize) the voltage to charge the battery.

It's not practical. You'd need enough solar to run a 2KW inverter continuously, minimum charge rate is 1.4KW AC.

If you tried to charge by the DC charge port the minimum V is 480V + so you'd need even more panels that will likely blow each other out at they exceed rated V or some super expensive high end panel.

 

[ldjessee]

That being said I'm planning to add it. I additionally want it for camping. If I were to say run out of power in an emergency, I could see myself being able to manage for a couple extra days to get enough charge for 15-30 extra miles to be able to get to a place that would have cell service at least. With an EV it's not like you can carry an extra 5 gallon jerry can or 2.....unless you wanna pack a generator in there too, LOL

It's not practical. You'd need enough solar to run a 2KW inverter continuously, minimum charge rate is 1.4KW AC.

If you tried to charge by the DC charge port the minimum V is 480V + so you'd need even more panels that will likely blow each other out at they exceed rated V or some super expensive high end panel.

https://4patriots.com/products/patriot-power-generator-1800

OR

https://www.goalzero.com/shop/porta.../goal-zero-yeti-3000x-portable-power-station/

I assume something like this, a couple of solar panels (I would want as large as I could easily fit in my vehicle), and one of these (or other) battery, charge controller, inverter combination.

 

[ajdelange]

It's not practical.

That's true unless you have quite a stack of panels with you.

You'd need enough solar to run a 2KW inverter continuously, minimum charge rate is 1.4KW AC.

But that's not. For example I can charge my Jackery 1000 from a pair of panels at 140 - 150 W and then use the battery to charge my X at 1 kW (I think the lowest the car will allow is 5 A which is 600W).

If you tried to charge by the DC charge port the minimum V is 480V + so you'd need even more panels that will likely blow each other out at they exceed rated V or some super expensive high end panel.

The battery is 385 V but that's sort of besides the point. I have often though that a nice extra for Tesla to offer would be a bank of standard connectors each with a MPPT converter behind it. Such an arrangement would allow you to charge the battery from whatever panel(s) you plugged into it.

 

[ajdelange]

That Yeti is quite a piece of gear! Figuring 400 Wh/mi for the CT it would hold about 7.5 miles worth of juice which it could deliver to it at 5 miles per hour.

And they have a 6000 Wh unit in the works.

 

[lqdchkn]

https://4patriots.com/products/patriot-power-generator-1800

OR

https://www.goalzero.com/shop/porta.../goal-zero-yeti-3000x-portable-power-station/

I assume something like this, a couple of solar panels (I would want as large as I could easily fit in my vehicle), and one of these (or other) battery, charge controller, inverter combination.

They would work but the amount you'd get from them would be negligible compared to the time it takes to create it.

Basically the same as the solar tonneau itself... except you have to carry hella extra shi7 to make it happen.

So if you want it just get the solar tonneau

 

[lqdchkn]

But that's not. For example I can charge my Jackery 1000 from a pair of panels at 140 - 150 W and then use the battery to charge my X at 1 kW (I think the lowest the car will allow is 5 A which is 600W).

I just grabbed the spec from Tesla's basic charger. I couldn't quickly find specific's on the minimum the vehicle needed but yeah but Tesla's im pretty sure need to to be on pure sine wave too. There's a few youtube videos about people trying and it not working

The battery is 385 V but that's sort of besides the point. I have often though that a nice extra for Tesla to offer would be a bank of standard connectors each with a MPPT converter behind it. Such an arrangement would allow you to charge the battery from whatever panel(s) you plugged into it.

Im not sure MPPT would matter as much as getting the V high enough for the port to activate and then maintain it with the variability of the sun on panels.

 

[ajdelange]

I just grabbed the spec from Tesla's basic charger. I couldn't quickly find specific's on the minimum the vehicle needed but yeah ...

Various models have had different chargers from time to time. I'm now driving a long range X. The lowest I can set the charger is 5 A.

but Tesla's im pretty sure need to to be on pure sine wave too. There's a few youtube videos about people trying and it not working

No, they do not need pure sine wave. I've debunked that notion here and elswhere perhaps a half dozen times now. I have not been able to verify that they will charge from modified sine wave (because I can't find a modified sine wave inverter big enough to test with) but they certainly charge from generators with THD up to at least 5%. Where many who try to charge from generators fail is in not realizing that the car checks for 120 from the L1 connection to earth. If earth and neutral have not been joined in the generator (or an adapter) then the car won't charge. There should be no connection between earth and any other wire in a properly configured generator unless it is part of a "separately derived system" which it almost never is so neutral and earth are nearly always isolated as shipped.

There are also plenty of videos from people who know how to cofigure the adapter which demonstrate successful charging from a generator.

Im not sure MPPT would matter as much as getting the V high enough for the port to activate and then maintain it with the variability of the sun on panels.

Understanding how MPPT works might help. It is a DC/DC converter whose output voltage can be controlled. The computer starts off with a very low duty cycle in the chopper increasing it gradually, thus increasing the voltage output, to the point where current begins to flow to the battery. It then continues to increase the duty cycle, thus increasing the voltage and current until a further increase does not result in further increase in current. That point is the maximum power point for the particular panel. From time to time the computer will increase or decrease the duty cycle to see if it is still at the MPP and if it isn't search again until it is thus tracking the insolation.

 

[lqdchkn]

No, they do not need pure sine wave. I've debunked that notion here and elswhere perhaps a half dozen times now. I have not been able to verify that they will charge from modified sine wave (because I can't find a modified sine wave inverter big enough to test with) but they certainly charge from generators with THD up to at least 5%. Where many who try to charge from generators fail is in not realizing that the car checks for 120 from the L1 connection to earth. If earth and neutral have not been joined in the generator (or an adapter) then the car won't charge. There should be no connection between earth and any other wire in a properly configured generator unless it is part of a "separately derived system" which it almost never is so neutral and earth are nearly always isolated as shipped.

There are also plenty of videos from people who know how to cofigure the adapter which demonstrate successful charging from a generator.

This is really good to know