Troubleshooting Mysterious Energy Usage Spikes After Tesla Solar Installation
Tesla solar installation has been done for a month now, and the user is noticing major spikes in usage every day. The first spike usually occurs before the user and their family wake up in the morning, leading to confusion as to what could be causing it. With only 28.5 kWh used during the entire day, the middle spike of 10.4 kWh seems unusually high.
The conversation begins with asking if anyone has any ideas on what might be causing these spikes. Possible causes are suggested such as high draw equipment/appliances, a power grid ground rod not being deep enough, or switching power supplies like computers and servers. After ruling out certain appliances that could be using electricity, the idea is proposed that Tesla may have installed a new (second) ground which could be the cause of the reading error. To test this theory, it is suggested that the main breaker should be killed before one of these periods when the big spike presents itself.
It is then discussed whether there are any patterns to the spikes occurring at similar times each day, or if they change with outside temperature. A suggestion is made to make sure an old refrigerator has a fair amount of stuff in it since an empty fridge will cycle faster. It is also mentioned that 3x normal usage isn't actually relevant since it's like eating - three times a day you peak to 100 times your average but that doesn't mean anything abnormal is happening.
Finally, it is suggested that the spikes may have something to do with "No permission to export" and that there must be something in the calculation for the system expecting certain values and not getting them correctly.
In conclusion, although mysterious spikes in energy usage can seem alarming, it is important to consider all possible explanations and rule out potential causes before jumping to conclusions. If after taking all precautions and suggestions into account you still cannot identify the source of your energy usage spikes, contacting your local electrician or utility company would be a good next step.
What could be causing regular spikes in my power usage?
Possible causes include high draw equipment/appliances such as electric water heaters or AC, something with a motor turning on, such as a compressor or refrigerator, or an issue with the power grid ground rod not being deep enough.
What should I do to identify the cause of the spikes?
Try killing the main breaker before one of these periods and check for voltage between both grounds. Additionally, check for any equipment that have switching power supplies like computers and servers. Look at the times that they are occurring and what's going on in the house at those times. If you have an old refrigerator, make sure it has a fair amount of stuff in it.
Could it be related to "No permission to export"?
It is possible that this is related to "No permission to export". This may be caused by something in the calculation for the system that is expecting certain values and not getting the correct ones.
Is 3x normal usage abnormal?
3x the normal usage is actually quite irrelevant. It depends on how long it lasts and what type of power is being used. A high peak is often from motors and is caused by the inrush to start the motor, after it starts, the required current drops significantly.