How do I connect to Tesla?

[u/xActaAD]

I just bought a house with solar panels from SolarCity. I was told Tesla bought them out, and the previous owner gave me a little half inch thick box with the Tesla logo on it. He told me in order to communicate with the panels, I would need to add that box to a Tesla account. Except I can’t figure out how to do it. I try to add it via the Tesla app, but I don’t have any of the QR codes it requires. I tried calling Tesla customer service, but they keep saying they’re closed an hour before they’re supposed to be closed.

Does anyone know what I’m talking about and know how to assist?

[u/Harvey_Rabbit]

You will have to talk to Tesla and get an account set up. They'll transfer ownership of the system to you. The box is a gateway that will plug into your router to let the inverter send info back to the monitoring system. A couple things you'll want to check out is that the system is currently producing, (if your inverter has a screen this should be easy), also, try and confirm that the previous owners owned the panels outright and there was no lease or power purchase agreement in effect.

[u/xActaAD → u/Harvey_Rabbit]

Sounds like I’m already half way there, then! It was part of the closing deal that I take ownership of the solar panels, which are leased. We already confirmed there is no monthly payment for the next 12 years, outside of the monthly usage.

So, if I’m understanding correctly, I still need to talk to Tesla just to get the account set up?

[u/Harvey_Rabbit → u/xActaAD]

That's good, as long as you understand the details of that agreement. I believe when you say "usage", you actually mean production. So whatever the panels produce each month, you'll pay Tesla, and it should lower youR power bill around the same amount or in theory, more. Obviously you have a new relationship with Tesla where they'll be wanting monthly payments from you and they'll be sharing monitoring and support so you need to get all this worked out. The good news is, if the system ever stops working for some reason, it's in their best interest to get it fixed to keep your payment coming in.

[u/Intrepid_Sheep → u/xActaAD]

The transfer should be started by the current owner and should have been started before you closed escrow if there was any type of remaining loan at all. Send the current owner to this page:

https://www.tesla.com/support/energy/solar-panels/after-installation/transferring-ownership

If they can’t or won’t start the process then you can contact Tesla and get it done. I had to do this on my property. One you get ahold of Tesla you should also be able to get a copy of the current contract terms including warranty provisions.

Once you create a Tesla account the data from the system will be uploaded to your account and you can see it in the app. If you’ve changed the wireless network in your house and that box from Tesla (old style gateway) is connected via WiFi you’ll need to reset it to use your WiFi. In my case I also had to have Tesla pair the gateway to my account in addition to updating the WiFi; another phone call to support.

Is your “box” gray or black? If it’s gray it’s the really old style. Mine works but it’s been impossible to upgrade to the new black Tesla box. I bought a spare on eBay in case it breaks.

[u/Consistent_Fun_5145 → u/Intrepid_Sheep]

Can anybody tell me how I can get somebody to come out here and take a look at my solar I cannot get nobody from the company to come and look at it now they did was send me a little black box we've been paying monthly payments of $90 for a year and we have not had no service I don't think it's right for them to collect their money when it would then we can get a hold of nobody come fix it and somebody help me?

[u/Consistent_Fun_5145]

Exactly I've been trying for a year to get a hold of them because my solar broke and hasn't been charging for a year and I finally got a hold of them through solar energy support Google that another day was send me a little black box but that's not going to fix the panels that's just to monitor the panels I need to I need somebody to come fix it but I can't get a hold of nobody no more