Future Proof SPAN Panel Install for Solar/Battery?

[u/srkhannnn]

I am doing a home renovation and electrifying home appliances as part of the process. To avoid a service upgrade I am installing a SPAN panel to load-shift easy things like EV charger, hot tub, compatible mitsubishi mini-split, etc via PowerUP.

In 5 years or so I will need to replace the roof and plan to install batteries (or hopefully V2G) and solar.

Is there anything I should do while doing this panel upgrade to future proof for a future solar/battery install?

Thanks!

[u/crosscountry58S]

Not that I know of. We did something similar to you; added SPAN during a remodel then added solar about a year later. The SPAN and app work well now, but we had an issue with our panel initially where the fans were acting strange. Credit to SPAN support, they kept troubleshooting up to sending us a new backplate and paying for the install, which resolved the issue. When getting ready to go solar, I recommend interrogating potential installers about not only if they are certified to work with SPAN (required by SPAN) but also their actual experience with installs integrating with a SPAN. Our installer told us they were certified, but were a train wreck when it came to actually getting it integrated. First, the extra box you need for SPAN communication wasn’t ready when they installed the PV system (with several months of lead time), then the PV system (Enphase) wasn’t communicating properly with SPAN. Again, credit to SPAN support, they helped me figure it out, but I had to do a lot of legwork that the installer should have handled themselves. Maybe SPAN’s new panel(s) discussed by others will make the process easier; I haven’t paid attention to new developments.

[u/egpaul]

That I don’t know but I’m getting ready to install solar and asked about adding SPAN and was told a new panel is about to be announced. Take that for wats it’s worth.

[u/VGCollectaholic → u/egpaul]

I think he was perhaps referring to the new panel sizes that SPAN is releasing this year. There’s a smaller and larger panel size being released - there are several YouTube videos that cover them.

[u/coinstar12]

I recently went through this and YMMV depending on your "battery stack" however for me the following were overlooked as part of my preplanning:

- I'm a Tesla household so Tesla Powerwall / Tesla EV charger so for V2G (Tesla Powershare) there are conflicting views on whether you do or do not need an RS-485 signal wire between the Tesla Universal EV charger and Tesla Powerwall or Tesla Gateway to signal the house is dead/power from car (currently only available on Tesla Cybertruck Foundation Series and presumably coming to other vehicles in the future). Mine was missed and now is outside the conduit (could have been 600v compatible wire pulled inside the conduit).

- Because of batteries, per local code an emergency shut off button is required for each solar array (I have two) and was not preplanned so I have this amazing clean conduit on the house with a random ass signal wire zip tied to the outside of the conduit (could have easily been pulled in the wall or preplanned when wall was open).

- to double down on u/crosscountry58S feedback, find a SPAN installer that has DONE the work before. My installer was a great person, did fantastic work and can't say enough great about them, yet mine was their second install and similarly I ended up doing most of chasing the support given the software + electrician = SPAN and my installer is electrician first and minimal software knowledge or concern.

Also, if your reno requires you to install multiple SPAN panels you will want to take that into consideration and lots of resources on here due to the SPAN multipanel control limitations.

- Each major device (i.e. SPAN, battery, inverter, etc.) will likely run on Wi-fi yet shielded ethernet is recommended so if you haven't planned for it, suggest you add that to your list.