Plan battery backup at the main electrical service rather than only a small essential-load panel. High-demand circuits such as HVAC, EV charging, pool equipment and electric cooking may require multiple batteries, load controls or operating limits. Whole-home backup requires the right battery capacity, electrical configuration, and LADWP or SCE utility planning. We design Tesla Powerwall and Enphase IQ Battery systems around the approved loads and operating goals. Tesla Certified Premium Installer.
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Whole-home backup generally means the battery system is connected to support the home's main electrical service instead of only a small essential-load subpanel. Actual simultaneous loads remain limited by the approved battery output, electrical configuration, controls and operating settings. That distinction has real implications for sizing and cost.
Right-sizing is the most important decision in a whole-home backup project. Undersizing means the battery cannot handle peak loads; oversizing means unnecessary cost. Our approach:
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Compare essential-load backup, battery sizing, backup load panel planning, and battery permits and inspections before finalizing scope.
Load analysis, system sizing, panel assessment, permit coordination and current SGIP status review. Tesla Powerwall and Enphase IQ Battery. Tesla Certified Premium Installer. CSLB #1055444.
Whole-home backup generally means the battery system is connected to support the home's main electrical service rather than only a small essential-load subpanel. It does not guarantee that every high-demand circuit can run simultaneously. HVAC, EV charging, pool equipment and electric cooking may require multiple batteries, load controls, operating limits or exclusion from backup.
Battery quantity depends on peak demand, daily energy use, backed-up equipment, desired reserve, outage goals, solar recharge and electrical configuration. One battery may support a limited whole-service configuration only when the approved loads and power demand fit its capabilities. Many homes need multiple batteries or load controls. We size from actual interval usage and equipment data.
We do not guarantee backup duration. Runtime depends on battery capacity, your home's total electrical load, whether HVAC is running, whether solar is recharging the battery during the outage, and weather. We model estimated performance scenarios during your estimate so you understand what to expect based on your specific system and usage.
Solar may recharge the battery during a daytime outage when the approved solar, inverter, battery and control configuration supports islanded operation. Recharge depends on sunlight, array output, battery state of charge, household demand, equipment limits and system settings. It may extend runtime, but no duration is guaranteed.
For whole-home backup with a compatible electrical panel, a separate backup load sub-panel may not be required — the battery system can back up the entire main panel. However, some electrical configurations do require a transfer switch or panel upgrades. We assess your existing panel during the estimate and specify any required electrical work upfront.
SCE's ratepayer residential budgets are closed and its state-funded RSSE allocation is exhausted and waitlisted. LADWP participates only in income-qualified AB 209 RSSE, and new applications are automatically waitlisted. Other administrators may differ. Whole-home backup should be priced without SGIP unless written reservation approval exists.
Electrical requirements vary. The written proposal should identify the observed panel, controller, breaker, load-control and permit scope. Concealed conditions, agency corrections or customer-requested changes may still require a written change order.
Both can support whole-home backup configurations. Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5 kWh per unit, integrated inverter) is well-suited for whole-home backup with its high continuous power output. Enphase IQ Battery 5P units are modular (5 kWh each), allowing you to scale capacity. The right choice depends on your existing solar setup, electrical configuration, and backup load requirements. We review both during your estimate.
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Tesla Powerwall · Battery backup planning · Battery estimate
