The Four Best Home Batteries And Backup Systems
A home battery and backup system are excellent methods to deliver clean, environmentally friendly electricity to your entire home all year. Furthermore, with modular systems, you may add storage batteries or solar panels as needed to meet changing energy demands.
If there is a power outage and it appears as if it will last for an extended period of time, you will require backup power from a battery system or battery backup unit. In this blog we will discuss the four best home batteries and backup systems.
You can either use an air-cooled home generator powered by gasoline or propane for a few hours, or you can purchase a considerably more expensive liquid-cooled generator that will keep your lights on for much longer.
However, if power outages are common in your area, you may want to consider installing a set of backup batteries to provide you with electricity when you are off the grid.
Types Of Batteries
There are four main types of batteries that you can use to store the power your solar panels produce.
Deep Cycle Batteries
This type of battery is used to store energy for later use. Deep cycle batteries are also known as sealed lead acid batteries. They have low internal resistance and are very efficient. This means they store more energy than other types of batteries.
Flooded Lead-Acid Batteries
Flooded lead-acid batteries are inexpensive and easy to maintain. They are not as reliable as deep-cycle batteries, but they are much less expensive.
Gel-Cell Batteries
Gel-cell batteries are also called AGM (absorbent glass mat) batteries. They are made from glass mats that absorb water and create an acidic solution. These batteries are reliable and are designed for short-term storage.
Lithium-Ion Batteries
The final type of battery is the lithium-ion battery. Lithium-ion batteries are the most expensive batteries. They have the best power-to-weight ratio, but they are also very heavy.
These battery storage systems can be made up of either dry or wet batteries. Lithium-ion batteries, which are extensively used in mobile devices, and lithium ferro-phosphate batteries, which are commonly used in solar battery backup systems, are examples of typical dry batteries. They don’t operate well in extreme heat or cold, and some won’t work at all if the temperature drops below freezing.
To generate power, wet cell batteries employ a liquid electrolyte. Lead-acid batteries, often known as acid batteries, use lead plates immersed in a sulfuric acid electrolyte. The gel can also be found in batteries. Gel batteries are a type of lead-acid battery in the VRLA category (value-regulated lead acid). The acid electrolyte is combined with a type of silica to form a gel that will not leak if the battery is knocked over.
Other batteries use AGM to keep the electrolyte in touch with the battery plates. However, AGM batteries can lose power in extremely cold temperatures.
Consider connecting a solar panel system to your energy storage system for a seemingly endless source of power. Your battery backup system will be charged with solar energy, ensuring a steady supply of solar energy from your solar batteries.
Solar batteries, often known as solar PV (photovoltaic) systems, use renewable energy to power your home battery system. How can you operate your vital stuff if you can’t afford a full set of solar panels, a 13.4kWh (kilowatt-hour) Tesla Power wall, and an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) that also functions as a surge protector and turns on during power outages?
If you only need to power a few low-power products, charge your mobile devices, or plug in a light, a portable battery with a solar charger may be more cost-effective. Some of these lower-cost items are toward the bottom of this list.
Before deciding on the size of your backup system, there are a few key considerations and calculations to do. You want your home battery storage system to be sufficient for your requirements. Keep reading as more information can be found at the bottom of this guide.
Tesla Powerwall +
Best Home Battery Overall
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Warranty period of ten years | Extremely costly |
| Stack up to ten | Only works with Tesla-branded solar panels |
| Dedicated power management app | |
| Excellent power distribution |
13.5kWh (kilowatt-hour) capacity | Solar panel power source | Controls: Dedicated app | Multi-unit configurations: Yes
The Tesla Powerwall, the market leader in battery backup systems, comes outfitted with all the bells and whistles to make your energy transition to backup battery power as straightforward as possible. Recharge using solar PV panels and use the stored solar energy when you’re off the grid.
The Tesla Powerwall Plus has a capacity of 13.5kWh and a power rating of 7.6kW (kilowatt), supplying continuous power of 5.8kW in the absence of sunlight. The Powerwall Plus comes with a ten-year warranty and can be monitored and managed via an app. A Powerwall may only be purchased if you also purchase Tesla’s own solar panels.
You can connect up to ten Powerwalls to guarantee your home has the appropriate backup batteries. It is recommended that the Tesla Powerwall be used in conjunction with a solar panel installation. Some states, such as Washington (22%), provide a Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit to assist with expenditures.
Generac PWRcell
Best Home Battery For Third-Party Solar Panels
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The modular design | Extremely costly |
| App and control units that are simple to use | Solar panels and installation are not included in the price |
| Warranty period of ten years | |
| Compatible with the majority of solar panels |
Capacity: Power source: solar panels | Controls: dedicated app and control unit | Multi-unit configurations: yes
The basic Generac PWRcell system delivers 9kWh of storage capacity via three 3.0kWh Lithium Ion battery modules. An inverter and a battery storage cabinet are part of the system.
The PWRcell is useful since it works with solar panels from most manufacturers, thus there is no vendor lock-in. Because of its modular construction, you can increase your storage capacity in 3kWh increments up to 36kWh. It comes with a ten-year limited warranty and can be administered and monitored using an app.
Panasonic EverVolt DC Coupled Battery System
Best Modular Design Home Battery
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Warranty period of ten years | Other systems are more adaptive. |
| The modular design | |
| Stack up to three units | |
Capacity: up to 102kWh | Source of power: solar panels | Controls: dedicated app | Multi-unit configurations: yes
The Panasonic EverVolt EVDC-105-4 Standard is a 11.4kWh DC-coupled battery storage system. It has a modular architecture, a 5.5kW DC 120/240Vac inverter, and a PowerHub programmable controller. It offers a continuous battery output power of 4.8kW at 25A current and a backup time of 6 hours on average. It comes with a ten-year warranty and a monitoring and control app.
Enphase IQ Battery 10T
Best Home Battery For Small Homes
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Ideal for the majority of households | An extended warranty is an additional fee. |
| Remote updates that are automatic | |
| Excellent warranty | |
Power source: solar panels | Controls: dedicated app | Multi-unit configurations: yes
The Enphase IQ Battery 10T has an energy capacity of 10.5kWh and a peak output of 5.76kVA (kilovolt-ampere). It is made up of three Encharge 3T base storage units. This unit has a power rating of 3.84KW and the batteries are comprised of Lithium Ferrous Phosphate (LFP).
There are no moving parts or fans because it cools passively. It comes with a ten-year warranty and a smartphone app for monitoring and controlling the device. This battery storage device must be installed by a professional.
Best Home Battery Backup System
The Tesla Powerwall+ is our top pick for a whole-home battery backup system. It includes a 13.5kWh capacity, a 10-year warranty, and an easy-to-use companion app for monitoring energy distribution and use. To adapt to fluctuating energy needs, you may even set up a network of up to ten Powerwall+ devices.
| Home battery backup | Price | Modular | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Powerwall+ | $12,000 | Yes | 13.5kWh |
| Generac PWRcell | $20,000 | Yes | 36kWh |
| Panasonic EverVolt | $15,880 | Yes | 102kWh |
| Enphase IQ | $10,000 | Yes | 10.08kWh |
Which Backup Battery System Is Best For You?
You must determine your complete household’s wattage and voltage consumption. Fortunately, Lowe’s has a useful worksheet to assist you in determining your power requirements. Once you’ve determined how many watts and volts your appliances consume, add at least 20% to the total; that way if you add electronics, appliances, or anything else that consumes more power than usual, your system will be able to keep up.
If the retail and installation prices seem a little high, many places offer a payment plan that allows you to divide the total cost into more manageable monthly installments.
| Buy this home battery backup... | If you require... |
|---|---|
| Tesla Powerwall+ | A well-rounded and expandable home battery backup |
| Generac PWRcell | A home battery backup system that's compatible with third-party solar panels |
| Enphase IQ | A compact battery backup system for smaller homes |
| Panasonic EverVolt | A battery backup system that can be reconfigured to meet changing power requirements. |
What Factors Influenced The Decision To Purchase These Home Battery Backup Systems?
Apart from retail pricing and installation expenses, peak, start, and running voltage and amperage should be carefully considered. Because these are permanent installations, you must ensure that the system can handle the electrical demand of all of your appliances on a daily basis. If you choose a system with less capacity than you require, you risk frying your entire house’s wiring; however, if you choose something with more capacity, not only will everything operate smoothly, but you will also have room to expand as your power needs alter.
Check out: 5 Best Solar Battery Charges
What Kind Of Battery Backup System Do You Require For Your Home?
In most cases, backup battery systems are charged using either utility grid electricity or solar power. If you live in a region with plenty of sunlight, try using solar power to charge your batteries during the day. Alternatively, if your power outages are uncommon, consider topping up the batteries while the cost of electricity is cheap.
Requirement Of Power For Your Home
You should inspect the battery capacity. This is typically expressed in kilowatt-hours (KWh). An inverter’s output, for example, will be measured in watts or kilowatts. Typically, the battery capacity should be greater than the power supplied by your system, and it should ideally store enough power to last 24 hours.
You must also determine the surge current requirements of the equipment you need to power, particularly if you need to start something like a sump pump motor. Don’t expect to be able to run a pool filter or air conditioner for days on end.
Cost is also an important consideration, especially if your inverter power requirements exceed 15KWh or your battery power requirements exceed 30KWh per day. You must also account for inefficiencies, voltage drops, and other losses, and calculate to account for all possibilities.
How Much Power Does Your Battery Backup System Require?
When evaluating the size of battery power required, you must carefully examine the peak load in KWh per day. If your energy requirements are low, such as for lighting, most backup systems will be able to handle it. However, if you need to run devices such as sump pumps, air conditioning, or strong start-up loads, you must also consider peak loads.
Are There Any Other Options For Home Battery Backup Systems To Consider?
Sometimes a continuous supply of backup power is not required. This is where smaller, more emergency-oriented units come in to offer backup power only when it is required. Here is a list of emergency power plants that I thought were excellent choices:
EF ECOFLOW DELTA Max 2000
EGO Power+ PST3040 3000W Nexus
CyberPower PR2200LCDSL
