Why should I get a home battery backup?
A home battery backup system is more than just a convenience - it's your lifeline during power outages, protecting your family's comfort and safety while safeguarding essential devices and appliances. Whether it's keeping your food fresh during extended blackouts, maintaining critical medical equipment, or simply ensuring your home stays connected and comfortable during emergencies, a battery backup system provides invaluable peace of mind and resilience against increasingly unpredictable power disruptions. This investment not only offers immediate security but can also potentially save thousands in prevented losses from power-related damages and spoilage.
The topic in a nutshell
It protects essential devices like fridges, Wi-Fi, and medical equipment when the grid fails.
EPS provides long-term backup for whole-home coverage, while UPS ensures instant power for sensitive electronics.
A 5 kWh battery can power essential loads for ~10 hours—larger batteries extend runtime.
We can help you find the right battery and backup gateway to protect your home from power cuts.
What is a battery backup capability?
A battery backup capability refers to a system's ability to provide power to your home during electrical outages. This functionality works through a backup gateway that automatically disconnects your home from the main power grid when an outage occurs, allowing you to run exclusively on stored battery power and any solar energy being generated.
Unfortunately, many battery systems don't come with built-in backup functionality - a separate backup gateway is typically required. This gateway serves as the automatic switch that isolates your home from the grid during outages.
Backup capabilities can come in different tiers: Some support electricity consumption of essential items through emergency sockets (e.g. phone charging, emergency lighting). Others can power critical loads via a separate consumer board (e.g. home lighting, refrigerators, electrical outlets, etc).
The two key back power supplies homeowners should opt for are: EPS and UPS.
Emergency Power Supply (EPS)
An Emergency Power Supply (EPS) is designed for long-term power backup during extended outages, offering a higher capacity and longer runtime compared to other backup systems. It is often integrated with renewable energy sources like solar panels to enhance its effectiveness and sustainability. While the switchover time for an EPS is slower, typically taking a few seconds, it is better suited for whole-house backup, providing comprehensive coverage during power disruptions.
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Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
An Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) is designed for short-term power protection and ensures instant power switching within milliseconds. It is primarily used for sensitive electronics and computers, offering protection against sudden power interruptions. Although it typically provides only a limited runtime of minutes to hours, it includes additional features like surge protection and voltage regulation to safeguard connected devices.
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How long do I need to operate off-grid?
Before deciding on a system, homeowners should work out how long they need their battery to operate off-grid. There are a handful of factors to consider:
What do I need to consider before buying a battery backup?
When buying a battery backup, ensure that the inverter can discharge enough electricity to meet your household’s needs during an outage. An inverter with a low rating may struggle to handle the simultaneous demands of multiple appliances. If you rely on certain essential services like WiFi during outages, make sure to prioritise an inverter that can accommodate these requirements.
Some appliances, such as air conditioners and refrigerators, require a higher start-up surge, known as peak or surge power. It is important to verify that your inverter can handle these short-term power spikes to avoid system overload and ensure uninterrupted operation.
The choice between Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) and Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC) batteries depends on your specific needs. Each chemistry offers different advantages in lifespan, safety, and cost, so understanding your energy requirements and available space is critical when making this decision.
How much runtime do you need to support your appliances?
The runtime of your battery backup depends on the load it needs to support, which varies based on the number and type of appliances connected. Below are examples of typical power loads and their corresponding usage scenarios:
- (A) 1 kW Load: A system drawing roughly 1 kW (e.g., fridge, Wi-Fi, lights).
- (B) 2 kW Load: A system drawing roughly 2 kW (e.g., fridge, lights, plus a few other appliances).
Why choose us?
The InstaGen inverter comes fitted with a Backup Gateway, offering Emergency Power Supply (EPS) functionality. As the most affordable backup option on the market, our solutions ensure consistent coverage during the increasing blackouts predicted in the UK. With a 5 kWh battery, you can remain off-grid for approximately 10 hours, and you can extend this runtime by opting for a larger battery.
We offer two installation options to suit different needs:
Find out more about your options and connect with our experts to ensure you're protected from power cuts with a reliable backup gateway.
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