A Los Angeles homeowner hoping to improve a solar-plus-battery setup ran into an annoying surprise after learning the system could not keep the home powered during a blackout.
What to know
"I have an existing system + battery, but no backup capability. I would now like to add that capability but prefer not to use the existing installer," the original poster wrote in Reddit's r/solar community. "... Any risks I should consider before getting bids from other installers?"
The homeowner also described the equipment already in place, including a 10T battery, an IQ Combiner 4, 15 QCell panels rated at 400 watts each, and Enphase IQ8 microinverters.
People responding to the post generally supported the idea of hiring a different installer.
"Switching installers here is reasonable, and the warranty question is simpler than it sounds," one commenter wrote. "Enphase's equipment warranty stays with the equipment as long as the new installer is Enphase-certified. What you lose is the original installer's workmanship warranty, which sounds like it was not worth much anyway given your experience."
The most upvoted response added: "It's all going to come down to the new installer and how they chose to handle things. Some are just trying to crank out sites; others prefer the loyal customer and great service business model."
Another user agreed, saying: "Sounds like your original installer sucked anyway. Best thing to do now is build a decent relationship with a new installer."
When properly configured for backup power, battery storage can keep a home running during outages. It can also lower energy costs and give homeowners more independence by storing solar electricity for later use.
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Homeowners can also look into EnergySage for information on home battery storage options, along with competitive installation estimates. EnergySage has partnered with electrification brand Qmerit to help homeowners find strong pricing on home battery storage solutions.
For those interested in a smaller option, Pila offers other battery backup products. Its plug-and-play batteries cost far less than whole-home backup systems and can keep individual appliances, such as a refrigerator, running.
Where can I learn more?
This homeowner was not the only one to discover that solar panels and a battery do not always mean backup power during an outage.
• A homeowner with 8 kW of solar still needed gas cans and extension cords during blackouts.
• One homeowner bought solar and a battery, then learned blackout backup costs extra.
• Another homeowner discovered their solar panels went dark when the electrical grid went down.
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