Make it on your roof. Keep some for later. Find the setup that fits the way you live.
See how it flowsMove through an example day to see where the energy goes. Real output and usage vary with your home and the weather.
Your day, in balance
3.8 kW solar
Making the most of midday.
Explore the everyday
Solar covers this home’s daytime use. The surplus charges the battery for later.
Storage shifts energy to a different time. It doesn’t create extra solar, and grid electricity may still be needed.
One home. Two ways to start.
Start with solar. Add a battery if storing energy or backing up essentials is part of your plan.
The daylight start
A straightforward starting point if you can shift more usage into daylight hours.
Explore a solar setup
A little energy for later
Worth exploring if evening use or backup matters. The added cost needs its own case.
Solar alone normally switches off in an outage. A battery only provides backup when the system is designed and installed for it. Read the U.S. Department of Energy guide
Explore a bill-based starting size and the extra cost of storage. Everything stays in the open.
This is an illustrative model, not a quote or roof assessment. Your installer confirms fit, equipment and tariff.
Your starting setup
Example estimate4.8 kW solar
12 panels · no battery
400 W panels at $3/W, 1,500 kWh/kW/year, $0.22/kWh electricity, 2% annual rate growth, 0.5% annual degradation and $150 annual maintenance. Savings capped at 90% of the starting bill. No incentives, export credits or battery savings. Battery cost reduces net savings in this conservative example.
A fridge, a few lights, a connection to the world. Choose what matters to explore an example battery runtime.
Illustrative continuous runtime
About 62 hours
195 W of selected average load
13.5 kWh battery × 90% usable energy ÷ selected average load. Assumes fully charged, no solar top-up, constant loads and no reserve. Actual runtime, surge limits and backup circuits must be assessed.
Plan it with a surveyIt depends on your tariff, export rates, usage and battery cost. This model adds no battery savings to the estimate. Ask for a separate calculation using your utility’s actual rates before deciding.
It may be possible, but compatibility, available space and electrical work matter. Tell your installer if you want a storage-ready design and ask what a later addition would involve.
That depends on battery power, usable capacity, inverter, switching equipment and the circuits connected for backup. The essentials tool is an energy illustration, not a whole-home backup design.
Solar output varies with available light. A battery can use energy it already holds; once that runs down, grid electricity may be needed. An installer should model seasonal performance for your location.
A setup that starts with you
A clearer price. A more considered choice.
