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What a whole-home battery does
A home battery is a permanently installed battery system, usually 10–15 kWh per unit, wired into your electrical panel. When the grid fails it disconnects your home from the grid and keeps selected circuits, or the whole home, powered, usually within a fraction of a second. Paired with solar, it recharges from your roof every day.
Two ways to set it up
- Essential-loads backup: a sub-panel with the fridge, lights, outlets, internet and maybe a well pump. Fewer batteries, longer runtime.
- Whole-home backup: everything, including central AC. Usually needs two or more batteries and a soft starter on the AC compressor.
Options to compare
Installed systems include the Tesla Powerwall, Enphase IQ Battery, Franklin WH and others, installed by solar contractors. A growing middle ground is large expandable power stations from EcoFlow, Anker SOLIX and BLUETTI that connect to a transfer switch or smart panel installed by an electrician, often at lower cost.
| Installed home battery | Expandable power station + transfer switch | |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic switchover | Yes | Depends on system; some need manual switching |
| Typical capacity | 10–15 kWh per unit | 3–12+ kWh with expansion packs |
| Can unplug and take it with you | No | Yes (most) |
| Installation | Installer, permit and utility approval | Electrician for the transfer switch/inlet |
| Federal tax credit | The 30% residential clean energy credit (Section 25D) ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. Check current rules with a tax professional. | |
EcoFlow home systems
Partner link coming soonAnker SOLIX home backup
Partner link coming soonBLUETTI home backup
Partner link coming soonQuestions to ask an installer
- Which circuits will be backed up, and for how many hours at my usage?
- Will my AC start on battery? Is a soft starter included?
- What is the warranty on capacity and years?
- Who handles permits and utility interconnection?
- Can the battery join a virtual power plant program with my utility or provider?
Thinking about solar too? See our sister site Texas Solar Quotes.
Frequently asked questions
Is a home battery worth it without solar?
It can be for backup, but it only recharges from the grid, so it won't help in a long outage. With solar, it can recharge every sunny day.
How long does a 13.5 kWh battery last?
It depends on load. Essentials like a fridge, lights, internet and fans may use 5 to 10 kWh a day, so a day or more. Central AC can drain it in a few hours.
Can I get paid for my battery in Texas?
Some Texas retail electricity providers and utilities run virtual power plant programs that pay or credit owners for letting the grid draw on their battery during peaks. Availability depends on your utility and provider.