WHAT HAPPENS TO SOLAR DURING AN OUTAGE?
When the grid goes down, solar shuts off.
For safety, a typical grid-tied solar system shuts down when the utility grid goes down — even when the sun is shining.
Adding battery storage allows a properly designed system to continue powering selected loads independently of the grid.
PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE
Backup built around your life.
Battery capacity isn’t just a number. It’s about what you want to keep running, how much energy those things use, and how quickly your home uses it.
Solar can also help recharge the battery during daylight hours.
KEEP THE ESSENTIALS GOING
Your battery can power what matters most.
Selected loads can run for a certain amount of time depending on their wattage and your available battery capacity.
It’s a simple idea:
Power × Time = Energy
What you choose to power — and for how long — helps determine how much battery storage you need.
TWO COMMON APPROACHES
Critical loads vs. whole-home battery backup.
Most battery-backup systems fall into one of two approaches: protect the circuits that matter most, or provide enough capacity to support much more of the home.
Critical Loads
Lower cost, high impact
Fridge, lights, outlets, internet
Great first step
Whole Home
More capacity + integration
More circuits (HVAC optional)
Best comfort during long outages
*Whole-home capability depends on loads, panel configuration, and equipment selection. We’ll show the tradeoffs clearly.
ALREADY HAVE SOLAR?
Add battery backup to your existing solar system.
If you already have solar, adding battery backup is often easier than you think.
We review your existing inverter type, electrical panel, available capacity and wiring layout to determine a clean retrofit path.
Retrofit-friendly options for many modern grid-tied systems
Critical-loads subpanel or whole-home configurations
Designed to meet current code and utility interconnection requirements
WHY BATTERY BACKUP
Keep everyday life connected
Wind, ice and falling trees can interrupt utility power. Battery backup can help keep selected essentials running while service is restored.
Keep food cold
Back up your refrigerator and freezer to help protect the food you depend on.
Stay connected
Keep Wi-Fi, lights and selected outlets available during an outage.
Protect everyday comfort
Include pumps or heating equipment when your backup system is designed and sized for those loads.
No generator fuel runs, engine noise or exhaust.
HOW IT WORKS
From outage to backup power.
A properly designed battery backup system automatically responds when utility power is lost and returns your home to normal operation when the grid comes back.
Grid isolates during an outage
The system disconnects your home from the utility grid to protect utility workers and safely create backup power.
Automatic switchover
Battery power takes over based on your chosen backup circuits and available battery capacity.
Solar + storage
During daylight, solar can help power your home and recharge the battery while the grid is down, depending on the equipment and system design.
FAQ
Battery backup in Pennsylvania: quick answers
These are the questions we hear most from PA homeowners considering solar battery backup.
Will a battery run my whole house? It can, but “whole home” depends on your loads (HVAC, well pumps, electric ranges) and the battery + inverter capacity. Many homeowners start with critical loads and expand later.
Do I need solar to add a battery? Not always. Batteries can be installed for backup alone, but solar + storage provides the best resilience by recharging during daylight (equipment dependent).
Can you add battery backup to an existing solar system? Often yes. We evaluate your inverter type, panel capacity, and wiring layout to determine the best retrofit approach.
How long will a battery last during an outage? Runtime depends on your battery size and what you power. A critical-loads setup can run essentials for many hours, and longer when solar can recharge during the day.
Is battery backup better than a generator? Batteries are quiet and automatic with no fuel, while generators can run longer if you keep fuel available. Many homeowners choose batteries for everyday reliability and convenience.
Can solar recharge my battery during a power outage? Yes—when the system is designed for it. During a daytime outage, solar can power your backed-up loads and use available excess production to recharge the battery. At night or when solar production is low, the battery supplies the stored energy. How much the battery can recharge depends on sunlight, household loads, battery capacity, and system design.
Request a quote
Get battery backup sized for your home
Tell us whether you already have solar and what you want to power during an outage. We’ll recommend a clean, code-aware backup plan for your home.