7 Home Battery Systems You Can Buy Right Now
It does not matter how amazing your solar array or wind turbine might be if you don't have a reliable home battery system that can store up that energy for those times you really need it. Home battery systems can give your home backup energy that can allow you to pay for power only when it's cheap, and keep your energy running in an emergency.
What are the best home battery systems you can start using right away? Take a look at the systems you can buy right now and start using them immediately.
Tesla Powerwall
When you're working on adding solar energy to your home, one name will keep popping up again and again: Tesla. The Tesla Powerwall is an incredibly popular battery backup option that is easy to find just about everywhere that solar energy items are sold.
The Tesla Powerwall has good reviews and it's designed to work with other elements in a Tesla solar power system, so it's very easy to add this to your home if you're already using Tesla solar power items.
One tech website rates the Tesla Powerwall as the best option overall when it comes to home battery systems. This battery backup has a 10 years warranty and it's known for good power distribution.
The drawback to this option is, as with many Tesla products, it's expensive. The Powerwall is also designed specifically to work with the total Tesla solar system, which means it can be tricky to get it to work with other solar systems created by different manufacturers.
Panasonic EverVolt
The Panasonic EverVole has a modular design with an integrated controller. This battery option has a 10-year warranty and it works well.
However, this Panasonic EverVolt is not very adaptable when it comes to working with different solar systems. If this battery works with your existing panels, great, but this is often not the case.
Generac PWRcell
Made in a modular design, the Generac PWRcell works with many different solar panels and it's very user-friendly. Multiple reviews rank this consistently as one of the best because it’s so efficient and adaptable.
This battery option has a 10-year warranty and it works very well. This design is powered with lithium-ion batteries, which are a low-maintenance option.
However, this is an expensive option in battery backup systems. The Generac PWRcell is a pricey product, and this turns many homeowners away.
Enphase IQ
The Enphase IQ Battery 10T is sized and designed to be used in the home. It automatically updates remotely, so the technology stays up to date, and it has a good warranty.
This battery design uses passive cooling to avoid overheating. This means it has no moving parts, which is a lot less that can go wrong.
Huawei LUNA2000
Ranked by one review site as one of the best high-voltage modular systems, the Huawei LUNA2000 has a sleek design that's easy to integrate into the home and it works very well.
This is also one of the more affordable options on the backup battery market.
LG Energy Solution
Sold with a 10-year warranty, the LG Energy solution battery can stand on the floor or be mounted to a wall. It can also be installed indoors or out, so you have a lot of options when using this battery system.
The design is also pretty sleek and compact, which is something that homeowners like. The efficient design works well and this has been rated by independent reviewers as one of the best battery options for home solar energy.
sonnenCore
Selling solar batteries in the U.S. since 2017, sonnenCore is an established name in the solar energy industry because this technology hasn't been widely available or affordable for home use prior to the 2010s.
The sonnenCore battery is powered by lithium-ion batteries. It works with smart home energy systems and it has a variety of operating modes.
This battery also comes with a 10-years warranty and it's highly affordable, an option that consumers really love. This battery system does have to be installed indoors, as it is not designed at all for outdoor use.
How Home Battery Systems Work
Clean energy really is a marvel of the modern world that is truly astounding. Imagine installing something on the roof that can harness the natural power of the sun, or the wind, and somehow feed that back into your home to make the microwave work.
It's stuff that truly boggles the mind. But the wind doesn't always blow and the sun doesn't always shine and you need power all the time, rain or shine or wind or still.
This is where the home battery system comes in. This system is designed to store up the energy harnessed from nature and then give it back to you when you need it, even on those days when the sun and the wind don’t generate quite enough energy to cover your needs.
Home battery systems connect to the electricity in the home through an electrical outlet. It connects to the grid, the source of the power you're harnessing, and to the main distribution panel that controls where electricity is routed.
The main distribution panel is connected to everything electrical in your home. The home battery system is connected to this and ultimately feeds to the distribution panel, which then routes the electricity where it needs to go.
This all sounds pretty simple and straightforward. The problem is, it's not.
When it comes to a home battery system, there's a lot to consider and a lot of work to do.
There are different types of battery systems that perform in different ways and they come in all different sizes and designs. And even once you narrow down these choices, you'll have to start looking for the home battery systems you can use right now.
Why Do You Need a Home Battery?
Do you even need a backup system like this for your home? If your home is already connected to a municipal power grid, you will have access to energy when your renewable energy source cannot provide power.
Using a home battery system can eliminate the need to draw energy from the municipal power grid. This will make you energy independent and protect you from blackouts and outages that can occur even in municipal power grids.
Types of Home Batteries
What type of battery system should you use in your home? Get to know the main types of home batteries to make the best decision for your property.
Lead acid
Lead acid batteries were once a popular backup system but these batteries are not widely used in solar energy systems anymore. Batteries made of lead acid have actually been in use since the 1800s, so they are very reliable and time-tested.
These types of batteries are highly affordable, which does make them an attractive option. However, there are some drawbacks to using lead-acid batteries.
Lead acid batteries require regular maintenance because they are prone to leaking. They also have a somewhat short lifespan compared to other systems, lasting only about five to 10 years.
Lithium-ion
Lithium-ion batteries have become one of the most widely used options in backup battery systems. They need very little maintenance and they last for around 10 years or longer.
Lithium-ion batteries are very commonly used in home battery systems because these batteries are highly efficient and don’t need to be maintained. They’re also long-lasting, which is a great feature.
However, this is one of the more expensive options in battery storage and for some, this is a major drawback.
Nickel-cadmium
Though not widely used, nickel-cadmium batteries have been around since the 1800s. These types of batteries are widely used in the aircraft industry but they are less common when it comes to home energy storage.
The main drawback of these batteries is the cadmium, which is incredibly toxic. Cadmium is banned in some countries because of its toxicity.
They are highly durable batteries and are starting to be used more for solar energy storage. The toxicity associated with these types of batteries can be a dealbreaker for some, however.
Flow
Flow batteries are made with two separate chambers and liquid that flows between them. Because of this technology, flow batteries are somewhat larger than other types of batteries.
The larger size makes these batteries a little more expensive as well. Flow batteries have a very long lifespan, however, lasting up to about 30 years.
These batteries are also very low maintenance. They have a low storage capacity, which is why they are not widely used in home energy storage.
Home Battery Systems FAQ
The home battery system is not a necessary addition, as you can get power even without it. But without the battery, there may be times when you can't get power from your renewable energy source and must rely upon municipal power instead.
Adding a battery system is a great way to be independent and use only clean energy to power your home. You won't pay anyone for power because you'll be making your own, and that's pretty sweet.
Home battery systems do make a difference and though they do cost some money upfront, they will pay for themselves in stored energy over time. You will be glad to have this backup in place during severe storms and other conditions that could otherwise leave you powerless.
How difficult is it to install a home battery system?
The installation for home battery systems varies depending on the type of battery used and the type of solar panels and control panels being used, as every single product varies and has its own design. If your solar system was already designed to be connected to a battery system, it should not take longer than a couple of hours and require not a ton of effort to install this system.
But if your solar grid was not already designed for a battery system, the installation will be difficult and could take you several hours or even days while you consult with a professional.
How much does a home battery system cost?
The price of home battery systems varies depending on the size of the battery and the amount of tech involved. Batteries made to work within a smart home system, for example, tend to be more expensive than other options.
Home batteries for solar systems range in price, typically from as little as $300 to as much as $15,000.
What size home battery system do you need?
How big does your battery need to be? That depends on how much energy you use.
Energy usage is measured in kilowatt-hours. One kilowatt hour is equal to about 1,000 watts of electricity at 24 volts of power.
However, the temperature around the battery also affects how efficiently the battery stores power. If you live in an area with extreme temperature changes, you will want a battery with a larger storage capacity.
How much energy do you use? Look at your past electric bills, the ones you had before you were using renewable energy.
You will be able to see a monthly kilowatt-hour output on the bill. To know how much energy you use daily, divide this number by 30 (for the days in a month).
Now, multiply that number by 1000 to convert it into watt-hours. This will tell you how many watts of power you typically use in an hour.
When you have this figure, you will know how many hours of energy your battery system can store based on its size. If you need more energy, you'll need to size up the battery storage capacity.
Further Reading
6 DIY Solar Projects for Your Patio
6 Ways to Optimize the Efficiency of Solar Panels
10 Solar Panels You Can Buy on Amazon
Building An Effective Solar Generator
Collect Solar Power on Your Patio or Deck
