Getting your Tesla solar system connected to the Tesla app is a neat benefit that all sunny Tesla solar system owners enjoy. The app pairs your Tesla solar inverter and allows you to view power usage and power output from the panels. But what if your system does not have a Tesla solar inverter? Well, you need the Tesla Gateway.
The Tesla Gateway is an internet gateway that connects a non-Tesla solar inverter to your network so you can monitor your solar system in the Tesla mobile app. It is only used in homes that have a Tesla solar system installed with a third-party solar inverter.
If you have a solar system through Tesla, one of the many benefits they offer is being able to monitor it with their app through the Tesla solar inverter. However, if you have a third party inverter, you cannot connect to a network directly to link it up with the app. Read on to learn how about the Tesla Gateway and how it helps with that problem.
Tesla Solar Gateway
The Tesla Gateway is a network gateway that connects a third party (non-Tesla) solar inverter to your home network. It is only used if you have a solar inverter that is not a Tesla brand. The solar inverter is the electrical box that is typically installed next to the fusebox/electrical panel in your home.
The inverter converts DC energy from your solar system to AC energy for your home. It will also direct your solar energy where it needs to go. For example, it will provide solar energy to your:
- Home
- Tesla Powerwall battery (if you have one)
- Back to the power grid (if you produce more energy than you can use)
You can tell if you have a Tesla solar inverter or a third party inverter by taking a look at it. The Tesla inverter has a distinct white color and has the words “Tesla” printed right on the front. If your inverter does not look like this, you have a third-part inverter.
How the Tesla Solar Gateway Connects to Your Home Network
The Tesla Gateway connects to your network through an ethernet connection. Unfortunately, the Gateway does not have wifi connectivity, so you will have to make sure you have a spare ethernet port available on your router. You can connect the Gateway to your router a few ways:
- Directly, with an ethernet cable (use a CAT5 or higher cable for faster data transfer speeds).
- Through an ethernet wall plate. Connect an ethernet cable from your Gateway to the wall plate. The wall plate should be wire to your network.
- Utilize a wifi router extender that includes an ethernet connection. The Tesla Gateway connects to the wifi extender through ethernet, and the wifi extender connects to your network.
Once the Gateway is tied into your network, you will need to pair it with the app. However, you will first need permission to operate (PTO) from your local utility company before you can even turn on your solar system.
After the installation of your Tesla Solar Roof or solar panel system, Tesla will work with your utility company to get permission to operate. Once they receive the permission, they will let you know ASAP so that you can turn your solar system on and start enjoying the benefits of solar energy.
After everything is up, running, and connected, your home will begin absorbing solar energy and converting it to electricity. You will now be able to monitor this energy production in the Tesla app!
How the Solar Gateway Connects to Your Solar Inverter
The Tesla Solar Gateway can only connect to your home network through an ethernet cable. The cable must be connected to your Tesla Solar Gateway and your router or modem.
Again, it does not have wifi connectivity, so you will have to use a cable. However, it does communicate with your solar system wirelessly, so that is at least one less cable you will have to worry about.
What to do if Your Solar Gateway Disconnects
If your Solar Gateway disconnects, you will want to do some basic troubleshooting to determine why it disconnected. Losing connection can be frustrating, but knowing these steps to try to fix it could help:
- Make sure the router or modem is still connected. Check both the power and the ethernet input connections.
- Check that the solar inverter has power.
- Make sure that the Gateway is in range of the inverter.
If your Solar Gateway is too from the solar inverter, you should try to move it closer. This can be difficult to do since it also has to be connected to an ethernet cable back to the router.
If you have cable connection limitations, consider a longer ethernet cable or hiring a contractor to install an ethernet wall plate closer to the inverter. You can also purchase a wifi extender that has an ethernet port to connect to the Gateway.
If you are still having connectivity issues, you can try to power cycle your router or modem. Unplug it, wait just a few moments, then plug it back in. If you still have issues, you can select “Get Support” in the Tesla app for additional assistance.
Where do You Get a Tesla Solar Gateway?
The Tesla Solar Gateway is provided with your Tesla solar system during the initial installation. You do not have to worry about having to buy one yourself! Tesla makes things easy by giving the Solar Gateway to you if your installation does not include the Tesla solar inverter.
Whether you get Tesla solar panels or the glamorous Solar Roof installed on your home, you will be paired with a Gateway!
With the Solar Gateway connected to your home network, your third-party solar inverter will now work with the Tesla app. You can now have hours of fun monitoring your system from anywhere with an internet connection!
Monitoring Your Solar Energy with the Tesla App
As long as you have the Gateway, all you need is the Tesla app, which is available on the App Store and the Google Play Store for Apple and Android devices. You might think that the Tesla app is only used to pair with the Tesla cars, but you can monitor all your Tesla products within the same application! With the Tesla app, you can:
- Monitor your solar system
- Monitor the charge level of your Tesla Powerwall(s)
- Monitor your Tesla vehicles (and utilize all the neat car controls too)
To view your solar system on the app, navigate to “energy products.” If your solar system is not popping up, you may have to hop over to “settings” in the app to configure a few things. In settings, select “switch products” and refresh the list by pulling down on the screen. This should cause your solar system to show up now.
If you would like to monitor your Tesla solar system through your laptop or desktop computer, you are out of luck. Tesla only supports monitoring of their products through their mobile application.
Conclusion
In summary, the Tesla Solar Gateway connects your Tesla solar system to your network to be able to monitor the solar system with the Tesla app. The Solar Gateway is only needed if you have a third-party solar inverter (i.e., not the Tesla inverter).
When your Tesla solar system is installed, the Tesla Gateway will be provided to you during installation (only if a non-Tesla inverter is installed). You do not have to buy the Gateway separately.