Converting a Tesla Model Y battery pack into a whole house battery backup
I'm currently in the process of turning a couple Tesla model Y batteries into whole house backup power. I have both the original long range battery model, as well as the newer structural pack. I should mention that both of these packs are defective. I've only dug into the original long range pack so far. I have a build log spanning ten Imgur posts so far and I wanted a place to consolidate and update the evolution of my project.
I plan to cover all the steps I come across. Including battery acquisition and tear down, solar shed building, solar panel mounting and installation, inverter installation and related electrical work. As well as any Central New York permitting hurdles I encounter.
IMGUR POST TABLE
| IMGUR POST # | DATE | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | 01-20-2026 | Model Y Battery Pickup, Battery Disassembly, Diagnosing, Storage. |
| 02 | 01-25-2026 | Battery Terminal Removal, Solar Battery System Sketch, Aluminum Soldering Test, Bus Bar Cutting, Battery Terminal Tinning |
| 03 | 02-02-2026 | BMS Shipping Delay, Cell Section Labeling, Battery Balance Terminal Tinning, Cell Specification Graphs, Solar Panel Specs |
| 04 | 02-15-2026 | Terminal Removal, Cell Sections Diagnostics, Bus Bar Cutting, Cell Diagnostic Charging |
| 05 | 02-21-2026 | Bad Cell Identified (false positive), Parallel Cell Group Charging, Wire Spaghetti, Current Solar Install |
| 06 | 03-01-2016 | Charging Progress Graph, Cell Diagnostics, Bad Cell Group Identified (true positive), Terminal Removal, Stock Balance Lead Removal, Bus Bar Cutting Prep |
| 07 | 03-08-2026 | Bad Cell Disconnected, Stock Balance Leads Removed, Bus Bar Cleaning, BMS Balance Lead Labeling |
| 08 | 04-12-2026 | Pallet Acquisition, Pallet Cart Build, Pallet Storage, Cell Wire Repair, Terminal Tinning, Cell Section Labeling, BMS Monitor Preview |
| 09 | 05-01-2026 | Model Y Structural Pack Acquisition, Cement mixer Build, Winching Structural Pack To Shade, Lawn Rut Repair, Bus Bar Cutting, Terminal Tinning, Cell Section Labeling, New Soldering Gun Acquired |
| 10 | 05-17-2026 | Weighing Battery Modules, Bowling Lane And Scrap Wood Acquisition/ Disassembly/ And Storage, Cordless Drill Repair, Pallet Tower Blueprint, Pallet Tower Assembly, Pallet Tower Roof Tarp Securing |
If you want to comment about a specific Imgur post, Please specify Imgur post number and optionally post image number.
e.g. (Imgur Post #)-(post picture #), "question content"
- Regarding Post 03-13, Pretty handy battery charging graph. Where did you find it?
- 03-13 Pretty handy battery charging graph. Where did you find it?
Feel free to ask questions without referencing the Imgur posts too. I know there are a lot of them now.