How much disruption should a home solar installation really cause, and what does a good one look like when the crew leaves? One Tesla customer tried to answer both questions by shadowing installers for roughly nine hours and documenting the result.
Here's what to know
The daylong project, described in a Reddit post, involved Tesla installing a 24-panel array rated at 10.08 kWh, along with a Powerwall 3 + Expansion Pack. The homeowner told the r/TeslaSolar subreddit that the crew arrived at about 8:00 AM and finished around 5:20 PM.
Instead of stepping away during the work, the poster stayed on-site the whole time and closely monitored the conduit routing.
Describing the experience, the homeowner wrote they "stayed with them the entire time just observing and making sure everything was fine," and later said that after going over the conduit layout, "from what I can tell did a pretty good job."
They also emphasized that appearance mattered, while sharing photos that appeared to show a tidy exterior setup.
"I told them I want it neat, tight and discreet as possible," they wrote. "Was impressed with it."
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More background
The installation also raised a practical question of how long the power would actually be out during an install. That topic came up in the comments, after the original poster said it was out about an hour.
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One commenter said: "That is amazing. My install is next week. They said power will be out up to 8hrs. Makes no sense. Its a direct Tesla install."
The original poster replied that "the guy installing the powerwall said no idea why they still say that but said it probably just in case of any issues" and added that he "said normally doesn't take long to get power back on."
Comments on the post suggested that battery placement can also shape the final look of a system. One commenter noted, "My dual Powerwalls had to be three feet apart , CA code I assume," showing that even carefully planned setups can end up looking different depending on site constraints.
The original poster said the batteries were not fully charged at the outset, which helps explain why a new system may not show its full performance immediately after installation.
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There was also some discussion about the OP's decision to watch the install, but they said they "mostly stayed out of their way" and "had a really good conversation" with the installers.
What's being done
EnergySage can be especially useful for shoppers who want pricing transparency before committing to a contractor. With EnergySage's help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations.
Homeowners can also use EnergySage's solar map, which shows the average cost of a home solar panel system on a state-by-state level, along with details on solar panel incentives for each state; together, those tools can help homeowners get the best price for rooftop solar panels and access available incentives.
To compare home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates, explore EnergySage.
Where can I learn more?
Other homeowners have shared how Tesla Powerwalls perform during outages, what alternatives buyers consider, and how some homeowners even earn money from stored energy.
• One homeowner tested how long the setup could keep his house running on a Tesla Powerwall.
• Homeowners asked whether Tesla's Powerwall is worth it and compared competing battery options.
• A California homeowner showed how his Tesla Powerwall earned $600 in a virtual power plant.
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