Think back to the last time the power went out in your house for more than a couple of minutes. Did you have to throw out all the food in your fridge? Were you stuck in a hot, uncomfortable house with a dying cell phone, worried about your kids’ or parents’ safety?
If you live in California, this isn’t an uncommon occurrence and as extreme weather continues, it’s only going to happen more frequently. Installing solar panels with battery backup is the best way to prepare your home for long-term power outages so you can stay calm, safe, and comfortable the next time the grid goes down.
Keep reading to learn more about solar battery backup for power outages.
How Solar Battery Backup Works
A solar battery works by storing the excess electricity your solar panels generate. Here’s an overview of the process:
- Production - Your solar panels capture sunlight and convert it into electricity.
- Use - Your electrical panel distributes the solar electricity throughout your home as needed.
- Storage - If you produce more electricity than you need, the excess is stored in your solar battery.
- Discharge - When your solar panels are not producing electricity—at night, for example—your battery will discharge and power your home with stored electricity.
- Recharge - When the sun comes up, your battery will recharge automatically so the cycle can continue.
How Solar Batteries Work During a Power Outage
Solar batteries don’t just store electricity for later use—they also make it possible for you to keep your solar panels on during a power outage.
Solar batteries allow your solar panels to operate in “island mode,” which is something solar panels can’t do on their own. This is important because most rooftop solar panels are connected to the electric grid. The grid connection allows you to send electricity to the grid and pull electricity from it. During a power outage, this connection is dangerous because an unexpected surge of power coming from your solar panels could seriously injure utility workers who are out repairing power lines. A solar battery solves this problem by allowing your solar panels to temporarily disconnect themselves from the electric grid. When the grid goes down, your battery will automatically detect the outage and your solar energy system will “island” itself from the grid so you can continue generating power while the grid is down.
During a daytime power outage, your solar panels will power your home and charge your battery. At night, your battery will provide emergency battery backup power so you can keep your essentials running until the sun comes up and your solar panels can get back to work.
Don’t Wait to Install an Emergency Backup Power System!
Extreme weather and an unstable electric grid are becoming all too familiar to California homeowners. If you want to make sure you’re ready the next time the power goes out, install solar with battery storage now. A solar battery system will protect you and your family from future power outages and give you invaluable peace of mind knowing that you don’t have to worry about a storm or wildfire knocking out your power access.
How to Find a Solar Battery Installer in California
The Clean Energy Connection makes it easy to find reliable solar contractors near you in California. Our free online directory features the best clean energy contractors in California who have undergone a thorough vetting process that includes regular license checks and customer satisfaction surveys. The results are prioritized based on real-world results and customer feedback, making it easy to find a contractor you can trust. You can filter the directory by services, location, incentives, languages spoken, and more to find the perfect contractor for your project. Learn more about how our process works and find a solar installer today!