Choosing the right battery for your home solar system is just as important as choosing your solar installer. Sun Light & Power’s team in the Berkeley, CA area has put together this simple guide to help Northern California homeowners compare Tesla Powerwall, Enphase IQ, and FranklinWH systems and find the best fit for their home.
What All Solar Batteries Have in Common
No matter which brand you choose, all of the home solar batteries we install are designed to do three main things:
- Store extra solar energy produced during the day to use later
- Provide backup power when the grid goes down, helping keep your essential loads running
- Help you manage time-of-use rates and rising electricity costs by shifting when you use battery power
From there, the differences come down to capacity, power output, software features, and how easily the system can grow with your home.
Quick Specs
While exact configurations can vary by model, this table gives you an idea of what to expect from the different solar battery brands we install.
|
Battery |
Usable Capacity (kWh) |
Max Continuous Power |
Ideal for… |
|
Tesla Powerwall |
13.5kWh per unit, scalable up to 3 units for Powerwall 3 |
11.5kW per unit |
Whole‑home or near‑whole‑home |
|
Enphase IQ |
10kWh per unit, scalable up to 9 units |
7.08kW per unit |
Flexible, modular systems |
|
FranklinWH |
15kWh per unit, scalable up to 15 units |
10kW per unit |
Larger loads & all-electric homes |
Tesla Powerwall
Tesla Powerwall is a strong choice for homeowners who want an all‑in‑one, easy‑to‑use battery with a polished app experience.
- Integrated Design: Powerwall combines the battery, inverter, and energy management into a single, compact unit that mounts to your wall, which can simplify installation and save space.
- Advanced App Controls: The Tesla app lets you see real‑time solar production, battery level, and home usage. You can also choose between operating modes like “Backup,” “Self‑Powered,” or “Time‑Based Control” to match your goals.
- Scalable System: Multiple Powerwalls can be stacked together, so you can start with one unit and add more later.
- Seamless Backup Power: When the grid goes down, Powerwall automatically takes over in a fraction of a second, keeping your lights and essential circuits on without you needing to flip any switches.
Enphase IQ Batteries
Enphase is a strong choice for homeowners who want a modular, safety-focused system.
- LFP Safety: LFP chemistry reduces the risk of overheating, provides more usable energy than lead-acid batteries, and has a lifespan of up to 20 years.
- Modular Design: Enphase batteries are available in stackable sizes, so you can start with a smaller unit and add more capacity as your needs grow.
- Weather-Ready: These systems come equipped with features like Storm Guard, where your system automatically monitors local National Weather Service (NWS) alerts and prioritizes charging the battery to 100% when a storm is predicted.
- Robust Warranty & Performance: Most systems come with a 15-year warranty, which is among the best in the industry. They are also NEMA 3R rated for indoor/outdoor installation, resistant to harsh weather like rain, sleet, snow, and strong winds.
FranklinWH Energy Systems
FranklinWH is a strong choice for homeowners focused on whole‑home backup and advanced energy management.
- Whole-Home Focus: FranklinWH batteries are designed with enough power and capacity to support many household loads, including larger appliances, making them well‑suited for broader backup coverage.
- Solar Energy Management: FranklinWH batteries optimize and manage loads to meet your energy goals. It intelligently decides when to use solar, when to charge or discharge the battery, and when to pull from or export to the grid.
- Future-Ready: The system is designed to be scalable, supporting multiple batteries and integration with other energy sources, which is helpful if you plan to fully electrify your home in the future.
- “Black Start” Backup: Provides automatic backup during power outages, and includes "Black Start" capability. This feature allows the system to restart using solar energy during prolonged outages, enabling continued operation even when the grid is down.
Sun Light & Power: Your Local Solar Battery Experts in Northern California
Specs and features matter, but the right battery ultimately depends on your home and your goals. Our team will look at your usage patterns, utility rate structure, outage history, and future plans, then recommend the battery platform that best supports what matters most to you.
Find the right solar storage solution for your home with Sun Light & Power. Call 510-845-2997 or contact us online to get started today.
Why Go Solar?
When it comes to combining solar energy with your business operation, think of solar as an investment that actually provides a return. A custom designed solar PV system or solar thermal hot water heating system will reduce your operating expenses, protect you from volatile utility costs, show your commitment to the environment and the green business movement, and can even increase the reliability of your electrical system.
More Solar Projects
Here are some examples of recent projects we are honored to have been chosen to complete for our customers.
