There are several vital roles that a solar battery plays within a solar power setup, and some of the most important are found during power outages or blackouts. A common question from prospective solar clients in this area: How long will a solar battery power my home during an outage?

At Intermountain Wind & Solar, we're here to offer an extensive range of solar power services to clients around Salt Lake City, Utah and Boise, Idaho, including not just solar panels themselves, but also home battery installation and various other services to save money on power rates and energy costs.

Welcome to Powering the Future, a series of connected blog posts on the vital role of home batteries for solar power setups! We'll look at every aspect of home battery technology and installation, including its benefits and what you should be considering. Today is part one of our series: A primer on how long you can expect to maintain power for with a solar battery in an outage on average, plus some of the key factors that will often influence this number and how to maximize your system's storage capabilities in case of a blackout.

General Averages

For the kinds of solar batteries that are manufactured today, a general rule of thumb average for how long you can expect to maintain a solar power supply during an outage is in the neighborhood of 24 hours. This means that a solar battery, when fully charged, can provide enough power to keep your home running for about one full day.

However, it's important to remember that this is just an average - actual performance will vary based on several factors. Let's go over these through the rest of this blog entry.

Battery Capacity

As you may have guessed, one of the single largest factors in determining how long your solar battery can power your home during an outage is the capacity of the battery itself.

This refers to how much electricity it can hold when fully charged, and this number varies widely depending on the specific type and model of battery you have. For example, some batteries may hold as little as 2 kilowatt-hours (kWh), while others can store up to 20 kWh or more.

Generally speaking, the averages we went over in the prior section speak to batteries that are around 10 kWh in capacity. This means that if your home uses an average of 10 kWh per day, the battery will provide enough power to keep things running for one full day.

For homes where electricity usage is higher, or for those with larger battery capacities, the power supply may last even longer. Conversely, homes with lower energy consumption or smaller battery capacities may only have enough stored power for a few hours.

Solar Panel Output

Another major factor in how long your solar battery can keep your home powered is the output of your solar panels. When sunlight hits the panels, they convert it into electricity that is then stored in the battery.

The more efficient and powerful your solar panels are, the more electricity they will generate to be stored in the battery. This means that if you have high-quality, well-functioning solar panels, you may have a longer-lasting power supply during an outage compared to homes with lower quality or older panels.

Furthermore, the level and duration of exposure to sunlight will also impact the amount of power produced by your solar panels. If all your panels are in full sunlight and are never blocked by clouds, trees or other obstructions, they will be able to generate more electricity to charge the battery.

Weather Conditions

As briefly mentioned in the prior point, weather conditions also play a role in how long your solar battery can sustain your home's power during an outage. Cloudy days with minimal sunlight will result in less energy being produced and stored in the battery, which may shorten the overall duration of your power supply.

Similarly, extreme weather events such as snowstorms or hurricanes may damage or hinder the performance of solar panels, reducing their ability to produce electricity and limiting the amount of power that can be stored in the battery.

Your Power Needs

And finally, your own power needs and usage will also impact how long a solar battery can sustain your home's electricity supply. Homes with high energy demands, such as large families or those with multiple appliances running simultaneously, will drain the battery's stored power faster.

On the other hand, homes with lower energy consumption may be able to stretch out the duration of their power supply during an outage. Additionally, being mindful of your power usage during an outage and avoiding unnecessary energy use can also help prolong the duration of your battery's charge.

Maximizing Your Solar Battery Storage

While there are some factors that cannot be controlled, such as weather conditions or unforeseen emergencies that cause higher power demands, there are steps you can take to maximize the storage capabilities of your solar battery.

One option is to invest in a larger capacity battery, which will provide more stored power for longer durations. Additionally, regularly maintaining and monitoring your solar panels can ensure they are functioning at their peak efficiency and producing as much power as possible.

Another tip is to stagger the use of large appliances during an outage, rather than running them all at once. This can help prevent draining the battery too quickly and extend its overall duration.

At Intermountain Wind & Solar, we are dedicated to providing top-quality solar power services and information to our clients. We hope this blog series on solar batteries has been informative and helpful in understanding how long a solar battery can sustain your home's electricity supply during an outage. Stay tuned for the next installment, or contact us for help with solar panels and batteries around SLC, Utah and Boise, Idaho, plus nearby areas in each state!