A homeowner who expected a rooftop solar upgrade to make blackouts easier to manage instead discovered a frustrating limitation.
The batteries kept the lights on, but, as they told the r/solar subreddit, the solar panels appeared to stop producing power whenever the grid went down.
Here's what to know
The issue surfaced in a Reddit thread from a homeowner with a 17-panel, 5-kilowatt rooftop system built around a SolarEdge SE5000H inverter.
After that setup was expanded with a GM Energy package, two 17.7-kilowatt-hour battery banks, a GM Home Hub, and an inverter, outages still brought an unexpected result. The batteries took over, but the system showed no solar production, so the panels were falling short.
The homeowner summed up the back-and-forth: "GM Energy says to call the installer because it 'should work' and the installer says call GM because it shouldn't work."
They also said elsewhere in the thread that the original SolarEdge inverter was still being used and that the added battery backup was connected to it through AC coupling.
Outages are a key part of the equation for many homeowners. Despite this holdup, going solar is one of the best ways to save money on home energy, especially when utility bills are high. Homeowners considering a new system or an upgrade can explore EnergySage to get free solar installation estimates and compare quotes.
More background
A common point of confusion came up in the replies. Having panels and batteries does not always mean solar generation continues during a blackout. Under standard safety rules, many rooftop systems shut their inverters off when utility power disappears so they do not send electricity back onto lines crews may be repairing.
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To keep making power after the grid drops, the battery system, inverter, and backup controls typically have to be set up to run in a self-contained mode.
Several commenters suspected that part of this integration may be missing here, even though the solar array can charge the batteries during normal grid-connected use.
"When power goes out the solar edge shuts down bc it doesn't see the simulated grid made by the GM inverter," a user guessed.
Others pointed to an installer error.
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What can be done?
A practical next move is to pin down both the promised functionality and the actual installation layout. That can mean checking manuals, reviewing the contract language, and asking the installer to confirm whether the solar inverter is connected on the backup side of the system.
"The solar system is definitely supposed to continue working when paired with the GM Energy system," a user said. "GM is correct and you need to take it up with the installer."
EnergySage's free services can be especially useful for homeowners trying to compare equipment, installer promises, and total project costs. With its tools, the average household can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations.
Free planning tools can also help shoppers avoid expensive surprises. EnergySage's solar map can help readers compare rooftop solar options and access available incentives.
When done correctly, adding battery storage to a solar setup is one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and go off-grid. It can also help you use more of your own electricity.
If you're comparing backup options, explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
Where can I learn more?
Homeowners and utilities are finding success using solar panels and batteries to keep the power on, lower bills, and weigh different setup options.
• One homeowner said the whole street lost power while a solar-and-battery setup kept running.
• Homeowners are installing battery systems so the lights stay on during outages.
• In Utah, Rocky Mountain Power tested backup power at home through a grid-connected program.
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