A rooftop solar array may sound like built-in backup power, but one homeowner discovered that during their first blackout, the panels shut off right along with the rest of the neighborhood.

On Reddit's "r/SolarDIY" forum, the homeowner described an 8-kilowatt solar setup that still leaves them falling back on "a 7500w portable running off of extension cords through the window with gas cans sitting in the garage."

Here's what to know

The original poster summed up the frustration: "My grid tied inverter dies with the grid for anti islanding. So my 8kW array is just a dead weight at exactly the time where I need that power."

The homeowner noted that their backup generator reliably covers outages "4-5 times per year," including one winter outage that lasted "up to 22 hours." They were trying to figure out how to add a battery backup that could "island" the house so the solar panels could still function during those events.

With summer electricity use typically landing between 25 and 30 kWh per day, the bigger question was whether 12 kilowatt-hours of battery storage would actually be enough for outage backup.

Going solar is one of the best ways to save money on home energy, but a proper setup is still essential. Homeowners comparing systems can use EnergySage to get free solar installation estimates and compare quotes.

One commenter explained: "The solar inverter will stay in indefinitely as long as the inverter it is ac coupled to is on."

What can be done?

Homeowners who want to compare home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates, can explore EnergySage.

EnergySage can also help shoppers look beyond a single installer pitch. With EnergySage's help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations. And EnergySage's solar map shows the average cost of a home solar panel system on a state-by-state level, along with details on solar panel incentives for each state, so homeowners can get the best price for rooftop solar panels and access available incentives.

Solar that is unusable during a blackout is understandably frustrating. As the original poster put it, "It's more that I'm standing there burning gas with 8kW of panels doing nothing on the roof." One commenter replied plainly: "That's why you need a battery bank."

Where can I learn more?

These stories highlight the difference rooftop solar makes when paired with equipment that can operate during an outage. They focus on home batteries, solar backup systems, and households that stayed powered through long blackouts without leaning on gas generators.

• A rural homeowner rode out a 42-hour blackout with a solar backup system instead of burning gasoline.

• Across the U.S., families are turning to home battery storage to keep essentials running through outages.

• For at-risk homes, pairing rooftop panels with backup batteries at home can carry critical loads through blackouts.

• After a 48-hour storm outage, one family said an off-grid battery enabled them to go about their daily lives.

Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.