The number of blackouts and power outages is increasing. Because of extreme weather events and deteriorating grid infrastructure, you must be prepared for your home’s power to go out. A home backup battery solution is one of the most effective ways to keep the lights on during a power outage. This article will tell you what you need to know about the best home battery backup system, its cost, and DIY home backup battery.
Home Backup Battery
A home backup battery gives you a safety net in case the power goes out and you need to protect your family. It produces clean power, as opposed to a home backup generator, which uses fossil fuels. You receive energy security and peace of mind with battery backup options.
The appliances that must run during an outage determine the ideal home power backup battery solution. Depending on your home, income, and how much electricity you use, a targeted backup or a whole-house solution may make more sense.
Read Also: How to Fix iPhone Black Screen of Death: EASY Ways
Home Backup Battery System
If you have frequent power outages, a battery backup system may be worth investigating. You could use a home generator that uses air cooling and runs on gasoline or propane, or you could spend more money on a liquid-cooled generator. But if you want a long-term solution, you might want to add a set of dry or wet backup batteries. The following are the best home backup battery systems:
#1. Tesla Powerwall Plus
The Tesla Powerwall is the best battery backup system that makes it easy to switch to battery power as a backup. When the power goes out, you can use the saved solar energy that you can charge using solar PV panels.
The Powerwall + can store 13.5 kWh of energy and has a power rating of 7.6 kW. It can provide a steady power of 5.8 kW when there is no sun. It has a ten-year warranty and an app that can be used to check on and control it. But you can only buy a Powerwall if you buy solar panels from Tesla as well.
You can connect up to 10 Powerwalls to make sure you have enough batteries for your home. For the best results, you should use the Tesla Powerwall with a solar panel setup. A Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit is also available in some states, like Washington (22%), to help with prices.
#2. Generac PWRcell
The three 3.0 kWh lithium-ion battery units in the Generac PWRcell system add up to 9 kWh of storage space. The system comes with an inverter and a cabinet for storing batteries, making it a complete backup power option.
One benefit of the PWRcell is that it works with solar panels made by different companies. This gives you options and keeps you from being stuck with one company. Its flexible design helps you add more storage space in 3 kWh steps, up to a maximum of 36 kWh. It also has a ten-year limited warranty and can be easily managed and watched through its app.
Read Also: HOW TO REMOVE A HACKER FROM MY PHONE: Full Guide
Best Home Backup Battery
Choose the best home power backup battery option for your needs. Here they are:
#1. EcoFlow DELTA 2 Portable Power Station.
The DELTA 2 Portable Power Station is a plug-and-play power station with a middle capacity that can be used for long power outages. You can change the power output and storage capacity from 1 kWh to 2 kWh or 3 kWh, depending on what you need.
With the higher capacity values, you can keep most appliances and electronics running for a long time even if the power goes out. The DELTA 2 charges quickly with AC (household) electricity, going from 0 to 80% capacity in just 50 minutes, which is the fastest in the business. Like all EcoFlow portable power sources, it can be charged using solar panels.
With various charging options, you’ll always be ready for a power outage. And since it’s movable, it’s easy to store and bring out when the lights go out.
Specifications
- It has a capacity of 1 kWh and can be increased to 3 kWh
- can hook up solar panels to charge with the sun
- It takes 50 minutes to charge to 80%
- Solar gets charged in 3–6 hours
- 6X battery that lasts long
- Warranty for 5 years
Pros
- AC charging is fast
- Just plug-and-play technology
- 90% of appliances are powered by it
- Compact for simple storage and access
- Using the EcoFlow app, you can control the device from anywhere
Cons
- Solar panels are not included in the price
- Less capacity than other choices
#2. EcoFlow DELTA Pro Portable Power Station
The EcoFlow DELTA Pro Portable Power Station has more power than the DELTA 2. It starts with 3.6 kWh and can be expanded to 25 kWh. The DELTA Pro can run more than one high-wattage gadget at once and can grow into a backup battery power system for the whole house. It has the same plug-and-play features as the DELTA 2, but it has a much larger volume, so it can power more of your devices and systems for a longer time.
The DELTA Pro is the best choice for addressing needs for home backup battery power and is at the center of the EcoFlow home ecosystem. Even though the PRO has a lot of power and storage space, it is still movable. The 45 kg (99 lb) DELTA Pro is the best small power option. It has wheels like a suitcase and a handle.
Specifications.
- 3.6 kWh capacity that can be increased to 25 kWh.
- 3600W to 7200W of AC power.
- Charges with up to 6500W.
- Solar panels are available for a charge.
- It takes 1.8 hours to fully charge.
Pros
- Huge amounts of power and storage.
- Powers a whole house.
- Works as a stand-alone device or with your home’s current wiring.
- Charges at EV stations around the world.
- Portable for off-grid trips.
Cons
- Solar panels are an added cost.
- DELTA 2 is more expensive.
Read Also: How To Turn Off Safe Mode On Samsung: Step-By-Step
Home Backup Battery Cost
The size or capacity of the battery, which is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), and the type of solar or hybrid inverter used affect how much a home backup battery system costs. Depending on the type of battery, installation site, backup power needs, and type of inverter used, the average cost of a backup battery for a home can range from $4,000 for a small 4 kWh battery to $15,000 or more for a large 12 kWh battery. Costs have been going down slowly, but not as fast as many people had thought.
To give you an idea, a typical home with three bedrooms uses about 20 kWh of power per day. But some of this energy is used during the day when it could be powered directly by sunlight. With this in mind, a 10 kWh battery, which is a pretty average size, would usually be big enough for the evening and night. In fact, every home is different, and the way people use things can vary a lot. Those who are more energy-conscious and use energy-efficient machines may be able to get by with a smaller 5 to 6-kWh battery, which can still provide enough backup power for lights, computers, and fridges.
Basic Backup Battery Cost Guide
As a general rule, it costs about $1000 per kWh to build a backup battery system in Australia, and closer to $700 per kWh in the US. For example, the Tesla Powerwall 2 with 13.5 kWh of storage capacity will cost about $15,000 fully installed, while the 9.8 kWh LG RESU battery costs about $6,000 plus the cost of a suitable hybrid inverter and installation. There may also be extra costs and changes to the switchboard, especially if specialized circuits need to be backed up in case of a blackout. The position of the battery is also important, and some homes may need to install special enclosures or covers to keep the battery safe from extreme weather and direct sunlight, which could cause the battery to overheat and shut down. If the battery isn’t put in a semi-protected place, the guarantee may be void in many cases.
DIY Home Backup Battery
The DIY home battery backup is ideal for emergency use and for prepping households. During a power outage, this device can run a refrigerator and a few lights for several hours.
To keep things easy, the system doesn’t have solar panels.
Explanation Of The System
Parts List
- 12V battery with 100Ah capacity
- 500W inverter
- 12V, 5-Amp Battery Charger
- 2 ft. 6AWG cable
- ANL fuses
- Optional voltage monitor
#1. Required Fuses
Let’s start by looking at which fuses you’ll need. A 10-amp fuse is required for the charger (F1). We chose 10 amps since it is the closest to 5 amps. The charger we’ll be using already has a 10-amp inline fuse. So we don’t need to add another.
The inverter has a power output of 500 watts. Divide 500 watts by 12 volts to get 42 amps. 50 amps (F2) is the fuse that is closest to 42 amps. We’ll use an ANL fuse because the M8 screws on the battery terminals match. These will be screwed directly onto the battery terminal.
#2. Selecting Wire Sizes
We shall now look at the wire sizes. The charger charges the battery at a rate of 5 amps. The inverter’s current is 42 amps. In the table, the closest match is 50 Amps. We can see that we can utilize a 6 gauge or 16-mm squared wire if we keep the length of the wire under 6 feet.
#3. C-Rate Explanation
How about the C-rate? A lead-acid battery’s usual C-rate is 2C. This indicates that our 100 Ah battery is capable of supplying a nominal 20 A charge and discharge current. This just uses 240 watts, as far as we can tell.
To complete the system, you will need to connect another battery in parallel to maintain the battery’s C-rate. If your load exceeds 240 watts, the battery’s capacity will be lowered.
#4. Charge And Discharge Time
Let’s look at the charging and discharging times. There are 1200 watt-hours in the 12-volt, 100-ah battery. But you can only use 50% of that. If not, the battery will die quickly. We’re left with 600 watts. If the fridge or load is 100 watts, you are able to use the battery for 6 hours. When the battery is down to 50%, we need to charge it.
To charge 600 watt-hours, we split it by the amount of power the charger gives. This means that it will take 10 hours to charge. In these calculations, there are no losses stated. Battery drain results from continuous inverter use. Turn the inverter on only when you need it.
Which Battery Backup Is Best for Home?
A 150-Ah inverter battery can provide adequate backup power for a home with minimal power requirements and can run numerous items for several hours during a power outage. A 200-mAh battery, on the other hand, would be better if you need to keep your devices powered for a long time.
Are Home Battery Backups Worth It?
Most of the time, battery backup solutions are the best. In short, they are better for the environment, easy to set up, and cheaper to run over time. Plus, they come with longer warranties than engines that are always on.
Do Battery Backups Use a Lot of Electricity?
No, using an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) or battery device in this way doesn’t save energy. In fact, it uses more energy because the circuitry that charges the battery and gives useful AC voltage levels is not as efficient as it could be.
Can I Run My House on a Battery?
During a power outage, it is possible to run a home on a battery, but the controls on a typical home battery are not good enough. If they don’t work 100% perfectly, there is still a risk of electrocution, and if the battery doesn’t work right, it doesn’t “fail-safe.”
What to Look for When Buying a Battery Backup?
Whatever sort of UPS system you purchase, you must ensure that it has the capacity to sustain the wattage of the devices you connect to it, as well as enough battery duration to safely shut down. It’s also important to think about how many plugs your UPS has.
References
