Tesla Backup Switch
Utilities throughout the U.S. have experienced unprecedented reliability challenges over the past several years. Extreme weather conditions resulting in longer grid outages have left hundreds of thousands of customers without power for days at a time. In response to this reality, and the resulting increase in demand for backup power, we have developed Tesla Backup Switch.
Tesla Backup Switch is a component in a Powerwall system that facilitates backup power functionality by quickly and safely disconnecting your home from the grid when a power outage is detected. The system then automatically shifts your home’s energy use to backup power from your Powerwall. Backup Switch can be installed in whole home backup systems and cannot be installed in partial backup systems.
Note: Find your state to see if Backup Switch is approved by your utility. Backup Switch is not yet approved in any utilities for Powershare installations.
Why Backup Switch
- Whole Home Backup by Design: Backup Switch is designed to be easily installed in your home’s existing meter socket and to safely disconnect your home during grid outages.
- Sleek Aesthetics: Backup Switch slips seamlessly behind your utility meter and can be installed with fewer additional electrical components compared to standard Powerwall installations.
- Faster Powerwall Installation: Use of Tesla Backup Switch cuts Powerwall installation times by more than six hours, resulting in installer and customer savings.
- Avoids Extensive Rewiring: For homes where the utility meter and main panel box are combined as a single piece of equipment, whole home backup requires the relocation of every load circuit out of the original main panel and into a new backup load panel – this unnecessary work and an additional panel on the wall are avoided by using Backup Switch.
Product Overview
Tesla Backup Switch is designed to simplify installation of your Powerwall system. It plugs into your meter socket, with the meter plugging directly into the Backup Switch. Within the Backup Switch housing, the contactor controls your system’s connection to the grid. The built-in consumption meter provides energy usage monitoring, providing you with precise, real-time data of your home’s energy consumption.
Backup Switch Installation
See how quickly a system with Backup Switch can be installed compared to a system with Backup Gateway.
Safety and Reliability
Safety is of paramount importance. Backup Switch is part of Tesla’s energy storage system which is designed to provide backup power to the home. Tesla’s energy storage system and Backup Switch meet the following relevant safety requirements:
- IEEE 1547 intentional and unintentional islanding
- UL 1741 Power Control Systems (PCS)
- UL 414, UL 2735 and UL 916 safety standards
- Certified for use with any meter socket at full rate capacity of 200 A
We understand that reliable operation of this device is critical to customer experience and to the availability of electrical service. Tesla Backup Switch is designed for a service life of 21 years and is designed with the same reliability standards and experience accumulated from 500,000+ Powerwalls deployed globally.
For more information on operating your system with Backup Switch, see the Owner’s Manual for your system.
Utilities That Have Approved Backup Switch
Tesla Backup Switch is allowed in the following utility service territories in the United States. Customers ordering directly from Tesla or from Tesla Certified Installers can benefit from reduced installation pricing.