What this covers
A home battery stores electricity from the grid or from solar panels and supplies it when needed, including during an outage. The installer reviews the electrical panel and the loads you want to keep running, sizes the battery, and often sets up a separate backup panel for those circuits. Where the local code requires a permit, the installer pulls it, and where the battery connects to the grid or to solar, applies for the utility's approval. The battery is mounted with the clearances the code and the manufacturer's terms call for, wired through a disconnect and transfer equipment, commissioned and inspected.
When to call
- Outages that last long enough to affect refrigeration, medical equipment or a sump pump.
- A solar system you want to pair with storage.
- A preference for quiet backup with no fuel to store.
What to expect
- Plan loadsYou and the installer choose which circuits the battery will back up.
- Design and permitsThe battery and wiring are designed, permits pulled and any utility application filed.
- InstallThe battery and backup panel are mounted and wired with the required disconnects.
- CommissionThe system is set up, tested, inspected and explained to you.
Get a certified company
Look up a certified company by ZIP code. Every company's license, insurance and trades are verified before it is listed, and placement is never paid.
Questions people ask
Does a battery need solar panels?
No. A battery can charge from the grid and supply backup power on its own. Paired with solar, it can also store power the panels produce.
Can a battery run the whole house?
It depends on the battery's capacity and the home's loads. Many systems back up selected circuits; larger loads such as central air may need more capacity or are left off.
Where can a battery be installed?
Often in a garage, on an exterior wall or in a utility area. The code and the manufacturer's terms set clearances and limit some locations, such as bedrooms.
Related: Solar panel installation · Standby generator installation · Electrical panel upgrades · All insulation and energy
This page describes what the service involves. The company you hire sets the scope, the schedule and the price, and your contract is with that company. We verify credentials and collect reviews from real jobs. We do not guarantee any company's workmanship. Safety steps are general guidance. When in doubt, leave the home and call 911.