Storm Survival Guide: Selecting The Best Home Battery System
Last Updated on: 19th February 2025, 04:12 pm
How to Choose the Right Backup Power for Extreme Weather
A powerful winter storm has been slamming the U.S., knocking out power for hundreds of thousands. Over 475,000 people were without power as of Feb. 16th. With storm warnings in effect across multiple states, ensuring a reliable power backup for your home has never been more important. That’s where a good winter power solution comes in.
These energy storage systems are quiet, fume-free, and ideal for indoor use, making them a perfect choice to safeguard against winter storms and other weather-related power disruptions. But before you start searching for the “best home battery backup for power outages,” what essential factors should you consider?
- Power Requirements: First, assess the devices and appliances you’ll need to power during a blackout. For example, a refrigerator (150W), a few LED lights (10W each), and others may require over 240W in total. Remember to factor in surge power for appliances like fridges that draw extra power at startup.
- Battery Duration: Think about how long you’ll need to run those devices. Battery capacity, measured in watt-hours (Wh), can be calculated by multiplying output wattage by running hours. For example, running a 240W setup for 3 hours would require a battery with a minimum of 720Wh capacity to cover energy loss and self-consumption.
- Budget: Larger capacity systems often come at a higher cost, but many manufacturers, including BLUETTI Home Battery Backup, offer modular battery systems. This allows you to start with a smaller unit and expand as your needs grow. Additionally, don’t forget that you may be eligible for the Residential Clean Energy Credit, which can cover up to 30% of the cost if you install a battery storage system with a minimum of 3kWh capacity.
How To Choose The Best Home Backup Solution For Your Family Size
In case you don’t have time to do the math, there’s a shortcut to pick the right battery storage system for your home based on your family size.
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Small Families: Quick and Easy Backup Power
The AC180 is the perfect backup solution for small families, offering a 1,152Wh LiFePO4 battery with up to 1,800W of power output. With smart app controls via BLUETTI, managing your power needs is effortless. It features 11 output ports, including four AC, four USB-A, one USB-C, one DC, and a wireless charging pad for extra convenience. Fast recharging means less downtime—get to 80% in just 45 minutes with a wall outlet or 2.8 to 3.3 hours using a 500W solar input. AC180 is now at historical lowest priced at $459. For a limited time, grab the AC180 with a 200W solar panel for $699 (down from $1,299). -
Medium Families: Extended Power for Larger Homes
As your family grows, so do your energy needs. Heating appliances like ACs and space heaters can quickly drain power. To keep your home secure during power outages, the AC300 + B300K is the perfect solution. This combo delivers 3,000W of power and 2,764.8Wh of capacity, enough to run an 8,100 BTU air conditioner for about an hour.
If you need even more juice, no worries; as previously mentioned, the IRS is offering rebates of up to 30% on the cost of installing the AC300 + 2*B300K ($2,799 now) through the Clean Energy Credit. With this upgrade, you’ll have a 5,529.6Wh capacity, ensuring ample power for your home. The system is expandable, so adding more B300K batteries extends its capacity to up to 11kWh. Need more power? Connect two systems in parallel to boost output to 6kW and provide up to 22kWh, keeping your home running smoothly for days. Plus, this setup can easily handle 240V appliances like well pumps and dryers, making it an ideal solution for larger homes.
- Large Families: Heavy-Duty Power Solutions
For larger families, a heavy-duty power backup system is essential to keep daily life running smoothly during extended outages. The AC500 + B300K ($1,999 now) provides just that. With a 5,000W running power and a 10,000W surge, this powerhouse can easily support most household appliances, from air conditioners to water heaters. Even during the worst power interruptions, you’ll still have hot water, internet access, and the comfort of a well-lit home.
The system comes equipped with 16 versatile outlets, allowing you to charge multiple devices simultaneously. As the bigger sibling to the AC300, the AC500 offers scalable backup power, with a max output of 10kW and a whopping 33.2kWh capacity—ensuring your family is prepared for days of power loss.
And, don’t forget, the AC500+ 2*B300K ($3,099 now) is also eligible for the IRS 30% Federal Tax Credit, making it an even more affordable option for those looking to invest in long-term, reliable power backup solutions.
Stay Powered Through the Storm
Reliable backup power is a must when extreme weather strikes. To help more households stay prepared, BLUETTI is offering CleanTechnica readers an exclusive 5% discount with code BLUETTI5OFF on most eligible power solutions — available on both their official website and Amazon.
Power may be unpredictable, but your backup plan doesn’t have to be. Stay ready, stay safe, and stay powered.
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