Winter storms are no joke, especially with a polar vortex making its way through the country. Blizzards, ice storms, and heavy winds can knock out power lines for hours—or even days—leaving you in the cold. But what if you could keep the lights on and your essentials running, no matter what Mother Nature throws at you? That’s where solar panels with battery backup come in.
While solar panels alone can’t keep the power flowing during an outage, pairing them with a battery system can make a world of difference. Let’s explore how this setup works, its benefits, and why it could be a game-changer during winter outages.
How Solar Panel + Battery Systems Work
Solar panels work by capturing sunlight and converting it into electricity, which is used to power your home. During the day, they will often generate more electricity than you can use at once. The excess is either sent to the electric grid or stored in a solar battery. If you store your excess electricity in a battery, you will have a reserve that you can tap into whenever you need it, including during a power outage.
How to Use Solar Panels During a Power Outage
Solar panels don’t work during a power outage without a battery. Rooftop solar panels are tied to the electric grid, and when the grid goes down, they automatically shut off. This is a safety precaution that prevents solar panels from sending unexpected electricity into the grid while it’s being repaired, protecting equipment and utility workers.
If you have a battery, however, your solar energy system will automatically disconnect from the electric grid during a power outage instead of turning off. You’ll be able to use your solar panels to power your home and charge your battery during the day. When the sun goes down, your battery will take over, maintaining power to your lights and other essentials until the sun rises again.
What Can a Solar Battery System Power During an Outage?
Most solar plus battery systems aren’t designed to power your entire home during a power outage. Instead, they’re sized to keep your essentials running. Depending on the size of your system, you can expect it to handle things like:
- Lighting – No more fumbling around in the dark.
- Refrigeration – Keep your food from spoiling during prolonged outages.
- Heating Systems – Depending on its size, a solar battery can keep a central heating system or space heaters running during a power outage.
- Medical Devices – Crucial for anyone relying on powered medical equipment.
- Wi-Fi/Phones – Stay connected to weather updates and loved ones.
- TV/Tablets – Keep your kids (and yourself) entertained through the storm.
Custom Battery Backup Sized for Your Needs
For most homeowners, the goal of a solar battery is to maintain critical systems. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to get whole-home backup with a solar battery—it just means you’ll need a bigger and more complex system, which costs more. NJ Solar Power installs custom battery systems tailored to your specific needs. We’ll help you identify your essential loads and recommend the best storage solution based on your needs and budget.
Is a Solar + Battery System Right for You?
Installing solar panels with battery backup is a big decision and it’s not right for every home. But, in New Jersey, solar with battery backup makes a lot of sense. It will protect you during both winter and summer storm seasons, giving you comfort and safety when you need it most. Plus, unlike a gas generator, which requires constant refueling, your solar and battery system uses free energy from the sun and needs almost zero maintenance.
If you’re interested in solar panels with battery backup for your home in New Jersey, reach out to NJ Solar Power for a personalized assessment. We’re a local solar company that’s been in business for over 20 years, and we’ve installed thousands of solar energy systems throughout the state. We provide the best products, installations, customer service, and warranty, all at a fair price.