Alternative Power Sources - Lesson 5 - Whole House Battery Backup Systems
Whole-house battery backup systems are possible, but they come with a substantial price tag. If you already have solar panels and are considering backing up your entire home with battery power, be prepared for a significant financial commitment. In some cases, total costs can exceed $80,000, depending on your home’s energy usage, the level of autonomy desired (i.e., how many days you want to run off-grid), and the complexity of installation.
The high cost isn’t just from the batteries themselves. A true whole-house backup system typically includes:
High-capacity lithium battery banks
Inverters to convert DC to AC power
Charge controllers for safe solar integration
System monitoring equipment
Additional solar panels to recharge the batteries efficiently
Professional installation and permitting
The goal of these systems is to seamlessly power your entire home, including high-draw appliances like air conditioning, ovens, well pumps, and electric water heaters. That requires not only storage but also rapid surge capability and enough solar input to recharge batteries during daylight hours.
