A Pacific Northwest homeowner turned to Reddit for advice on adding blackout backup to an existing 13.5-kW grid-tied solar setup with both APS and Enphase microinverters.
Here's what to know
As explained in their Reddit post, the issue centered on two existing microinverter arrays — one APS and one Enphase — and whether they could add a battery system so the home keeps making electricity during outages while also charging batteries.
With 13.5 kW already installed, the focus was on improving outage resilience rather than putting up more solar.
Adding battery storage is one of the best ways to protect your home during outages. It can also save money on energy and give homeowners more energy independence, especially when a large existing solar setup is already in place. Homeowners comparing options can explore EnergySage to learn about home battery storage solutions and get competitive installation estimates.
EnergySage has teamed up with electrification brand Qmerit to help homeowners get the best price on home battery storage solutions.
In the Reddit discussion, the leading recommendation was FranklinWH's aPower 2 battery paired with an aGate.
More background
Because the home combines two microinverter brands, the question was whether to add storage to the current setup instead of starting over. "Can I use any batteries (ac) wired into the panel to provide that capability or do I have to go with [Enphase]?" the OP asked.
In other words, the homeowner wanted to add backup to the existing rooftop solar equipment, not replace it. The goal was to keep producing and storing power during an outage instead of having a 13.5-kW system go unused when the grid is down.
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What can be done?
Homeowners with a similar grid-tied setup can ask installers about battery systems that can be added at the panel as a retrofit. In this discussion, the clearest community pick was FranklinWH's aPower 2 battery with an aGate.
A setup like that can keep essential power available during blackouts and help homeowners get more out of the solar system they already own.
For people who do not need a whole-home setup, Pila is another company offering strong battery backup options. Pila's plug-and-play batteries cost a fraction of a whole-home backup system.
Where can I learn more?
If you're trying to add backup to an existing solar setup, these stories dig into the same challenge many homeowners face when the grid goes down.
• Solar owners say whole-home battery backup keeps daily life running through blackouts.
• Homeowners are replacing gas generators with battery systems paired with solar for cleaner backup.
• Tesla faces tougher competition as homeowners choose next-gen backup alternatives built for blackouts.
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