Install A Solar Battery Backup To Stay Powered In Blackouts
One of the most annoying things to happen to a homeowner is the power going out.
Your refrigerator stops working causing your food to spoil, lights go out, and suffering the despair of not knowing when your power will resume.
The good news is that this is all avoidable by installing a solar battery backup for your home.
Grid Tied Solar Battery Backups
Grid tied solar systems are tied to the public utility grid. The solar panels on your roof generate electricity that is transferred back into the grid. The grid then credits your account for the power you generate. This is a process known as net-metering. Grid-tied systems are usually the easiest and most cost effective type of solar system to install.
Being tied to the grid means that if they shut down the power, YOU go down with it.
Grid Outages
Everyday there are planned and dreadfully unplanned outages. Nothing is more annoying than being interrupted in the middle of washing / drying clothes or relaxing at home watching your favorite TV show when the power goes out! California has approved wide power outages to prevent wildfires in the near future.
It is a common misconception, that your house will stay powered just because you have solar installed. Your solar system is tied to the grid meaning when you will lose power when the electricity cuts out.
Installing a solar battery backup is your solar panels best friend! Batteries allow you to have emergency backup power during a black-out. During a outage, batteries kick in to power essential critical appliances. This is done by selecting “critical loads” that are most important to you such as outlets for charging devices, refrigerator, a few lights, etc.
If you live in an area that suffers from frequent power outages or harsh weather, solar battery backups provide peace-of-mind knowing you will stay powered when you need it most.
Why Are Grid Outages Happening
Due to recent wildfires in California, utilities are strengthening and hardening their systems to protect the line workers on the power lines. Weather conditions such as hot, dry, windy increase the risk of wildfires. Grid outages are happening more frequently and are lasting for longer durations of time.
Can I Install A Solar Battery Backup With My Existing Solar Panels?
YES you can, most solar systems are equipped with an inverter that allows a solar battery backup for your home to be easily added. Feel free to contact us at (619-743-9193) and we will be able to tell you if your existing solar configuration supports adding a battery
When adding a residential solar battery backup to a incompatible inverter, there are two different options:
- AC Coupled
- A Inverter Replacement / DC coupled
AC coupled
Under a AC coupled setup, the battery is installed with a separate inverter that is connected within your homes power system. The benefits of going with an AC coupled system is that you have the ability to keep your inverter, so you dont have to spend money on a replacement / new one. Choosing a optimal size that will work for your solar configuration is more lenient.
The majority of buildings and devices use AC power, solar panel systems generate electricity in direct current (DC) power. The job of the inverter is to convert the generated DC power to AC power. In the process of converting from DC to AC there is a small efficiency loss. AC coupled systems are less efficient than systems with a single inverter. Tesla Powerwall includes a built-in inverter that works alongside your existing solar inverter.
DC coupled
DC coupled is when you replace your old existing solar inverter with one that is compatible with your battery. The main benefit is that your system will be more efficient through losing less electricity through conversion. Going DC coupled means that you will incur a high cost up front due to replacing your existing inverter with a brand new one and installations costs.
Will A Battery Allow Me To Go Off Grid?
It is not financially feasible in most cases to go off grid with a hybrid solar system (solar+storage). Most home batteries in the US are designed to keep a small amount of backup power during an outage.
Due to seasons changing, your panels will produce less in the winter from less sunlight. Having less power stored may mean that it will not be enough to run your house powered year-round. To make it work you would need several batteries working alongside each other to ensure your house stays powered.
Batteries We Offer
Tesla Powerwall
Brought to you by one of the biggest names in renewable energy innovation, Tesla’s Powerwall uses the same batteries as their EVs, and brought home energy storage to the attention of mainstream residential customers.
- 13.5 kWh Storage Capacity
- 5 kW Power Output
- Lithium Ion (NMC)
- 10-year Warranty
NeoVolta NV14
This complete system is the next generation of home energy storage. Using Lithium Iron-Phosphate battery technology, a safer chemistry, it is extremely versatile and can be paired/retrofitted with a variety of solar configurations.
- 14.4 kWh Storage Capacity
- 7.68 kW Power Output
- Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP)
- 10-year Warranty
SonnenBatterie Eco
SolarTech offers the ECO line of products from Europe’s most trusted energy storage company. Using Lithium Iron-Phosphate battery technology, a safer chemistry, it is comes in a variety of sizes to fit your needs.
- 5-15 kWh Storage Capacity
- 3-8 kW Power Output
- Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP)
- 10-year Warranty