Bottom Line: Is The Generac Pwrcell System Right For You
As we outlined above, the Generac PWRcell is an exciting entry into the home energy storage market, and has some unique features that set it apart from the competition. If youre looking for home battery backup for emergencies that can also help you avoid high peak energy costs under a Time of Use billing plan, the PWRcell is an excellent choice.
If youre looking for a solution that can take you off the grid, the PWRcell may be just right for that too – especially after Generac releases the PWRgenerator backup to the backup in 2022. It wont be as hearty as some true off-grid solar setups on the market, but it should be a heck of a lot more user-friendly.
The tradeoffs here are a somewhat higher price than the batteries from Tesla and LG, and the missing end-of-warranty capacity guarantee. Still, if you havent yet installed solar and are looking for a robust home battery system and you need to run critical appliances like a well pump, sump pump, and A/C during an outage, the PWRcell is probably the best battery on the market.
Find out if going solar and installing a solar battery like the Generac PWRcell is right for your specific home by using our solar panel cost and savings calculator below.
Find out how much a solar system would cost for your specific home
How Much Does The Generac Pwrcell Cost
The Generac PWRcell battery has a floor price of $10,000. As weve mentioned, one of the biggest benefits of the PWRcell is its scalability, meaning it comes in several different sizes based on your energy needs.
Expect costs to increase from $10,000 as you scale your system up. $10,000 will get you the minimum 9 kWh system . From there, each 3 kWh battery module you add to your cabinet will cost around $2,000.
Solar batteries are complex installations that require professionals, so bear in mind that youll also have to consider installation costs as part of your final estimate. For context, here are price point comparisons with some other industry-leading solar batteries. The PWRcell is easily one of the most impressive solar batteries available on the market today, but as you can see, it also is one of the most expensive.
| Generac PWRcell |
Generacs Pwrview Monitoring App
Another optional addition to your PWRcell system is Generacs PWRview monitoring app.
Its a one-stop-shop for information about energy generation and usage in your house. The app contains data on solar generation, battery charge, grid usage, and more – and can even give you an estimate of your next utility bill based on that data its collected if you enter your rate plan.
It certainly sounds like a good app to have, and its functionality is similar to other solar monitoring solutions from equipment manufacturers and solar installers. Unfortunately, reviews of Generacs Android and iOS apps are not positive. Users complain about glitches, missing data, bad customer service, and more. This seems to be one area where Generac has stumbled, in regards to its PWRcell system.
If youre curious about how the app works, check out the below video about its features.
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The Generac Pwrcell Has Finally Arrived
There has been a lot of companies talking about entering this market and many of them have finally done it or have plans to and some have even left the battery sector, and Ill be cover all of them along with other renewable energy products making there way to homeowners.
Todays video is about a company you may already know, because theyve been around for over sixty years, providing whole home backup to hundreds of thousands of homeowners in the U-S and abroad. Generac, one of the largest generator manufactures, well up until mid 2019, when they acquired Pika Energy and Neurio home link, now theyre one of the largest battery storage manufactures.
Now Ive covered Pika Energy in previous videos comparing their technology to other solar plus storage solutions. And while they werent as well know as the Tesla Powerwall, they were a very competitive and innovative product that we installed in 2019. This new product line up from Generac will be dubbed PWRcell and it lives up to that name.
Its important for me to inform you about this acquisition by Generac because it means better pricing for you as the consumer if youve been holding off on solar and battery storage, but also means you have peace of mind with the product you purchase as the company has been around and is financially stable.
Well see how this pans out long term, but i feel Generacs is going to be planner in the solar plus storage market in years to come.
Powerwall Vs Generac: Dimensions And Weight
The Tesla Powerwall and the Generac PWRcell are not carbon copies of each other when it comes to specific components:
- The Powerwall is more so one cohesive piece, with an integrated solar inverter available.
- The Generac PWRcell comes available in several different configurations, depending on how many battery modules you would like to place within the cabinet.
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| 115 lbs. | 62.7 lbs. |
If youre going to compare the Powerwall and Generac PWRcell, you need to consider the size of both the inverter and the power cabinet together. You will notice that the Tesla Powerwall is similar to the Generac PWRcell when you combine the inverter and power cabinet dimensions.
The big difference here is the weight. The Powerwall does weigh considerably more than the PWRcell. This weight difference has a lot to do with the simplicity of the Powerwall setup. There are fewer individual components required during the installation of this system than is the case with the Generac PWRcell.
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Telsa Powerwall 2 Vs Generac Pwrcell
With increasing competition in the battery industry going with a Tesla Powerwall 2 or a Generac PWRCell is a hard choice. Today we break down which is better at what, and the main differences.
Battery SizeTeslas compact size makes it suitable to fit in tight spaces smaller homes. They come in at 30 inches wide, about 5 inches thick, and right over 45 inches tall. Teslas are about 251 pounds and can be placed on the wall or secured on a flat floor. The PWRCell dimension is a cabinet of 5 10 inches in height, 22 inches in width and 10 inches thick. It is notably larger than a Tesla Powerwall and usually goes inside a garage or in an enclosure. The biggest factor for batteries is the temperature they undergo. It is best to maintain batteries at a moderate temperature for max performance.
Battery Capacity The Powerwall has 13.5 kWh worth of energy storage. For most homes, 13.5 kWh will be enough for 24 hours for essential loads. 200 amps panel services can have whole home back with two Powerwalls and enough solar. Generac does have many entry price points that allow for flexibility and customization for homeowners. The 9 and 12 kWh package does have comparable pricing to Tesla. The thing that makes Generac pricey is needing to buy that 7.6 kW inverter on all Generac installations.
Battery Compatibility
Tesla is compatible with various inverters like SolarEdge and Enphase while Generac is only compatible with the Generac inverters.
How Does The Generac Pwrcell Work
The Generac PWRcell is a solar home battery designed to store backup electricity produced by a solar panel array and manage that energy for use at a later time. Energy storage systems like the PWRcell have become a reliable method for homeowners to maintain power during outages.
Storage systems also allow homeowners to use their stored energy when rates are at their highest during peak hours of the day, lowering electricity costs.
The battery function is only a part of the picture with the Generac PWRcell. It also acts as a central hub for your homes energy and comes with a complete clean energy system. In addition to storing your energy, the Generac PWRcell system:
- Monitors and tracks your daily energy consumption, production and savings
- Manages your homes energy loads to pull from the grid when electricity is cheapest and pull from the battery when rates are highest
- Automatically transitions your home from the grid to backup power during grid failures
- Is expandable to adjust to changing energy needs in your home
Check out this helpful video from a PWRcell customer to learn more about the basics of the battery.
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Powering Your Home Your Business Your World
A PWRcell Solar + Battery Storage system has all the power and capacity you need, enough to save money on energy bills and keep the whole home powered when the grid goes down.. How does it work?Day: Home runs on solar, charges the battery, and sells extra power to the grid Night: Home runs on battery power, energy use is optimized During a Power Outage: Run your home on battery, recharge daily with solar, top-off the battery with PWRgenerator when needed. Prior to providing a review, refer to a productâs documentation to ensure that unit is being used and maintained properly Alluding to issues incurred in the wake of negligent maintenance or improper use will void review submissions Focus on your experience with the product and its features Provide details about why you liked or disliked a product Reviews submitted for products other than those listed will be rejected immediately Any product reviews referencing independent authorized dealers, service providers, or retailers by name will NOT be posted.. Rated 4 out of. 5 by. curt from. battery back up and rechargingPlease develop a flexible wrap that can be placed around the battery cabinet and plugged in like an electric blanket so the temperature can be controlled and the batteries / cabinet warmed up on cold days.. Rated 3 out of. 5 by. Tomq from. Solar+ 2 inverters 15kwh system battery back upI just got a 15kwh solar panel system with 2 Generac inverters and the pwrcell.
Can You Have A Whole House Generator If You Have Solar Panels
Unfortunately, you cannot run your home with both solar power and generator power at the same time. In other words, the generator and the solar panels cannot operate parallel to one another. Like we said earlier, solar panels send feedback to the grid, creating a dangerous scenario for utility repair workers.
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Which Is Better: Tesla Powerwall Or Generac
Battery storage systems are primarily paired with solar panels. As long as the sun continues to provide energy to the panels mounted on the home, some of that energy will be transferred to a battery backup system like the Tesla Powerwall or Generac PWRcell.
You can use this stored energy to power your home at any time of your choosing. Many customers rely on these systems to power their homes during utility outages.
At this point in time, it appears that the Tesla Powerwall is slightly better than the Generac PWRcell for a variety of reasons:
- The Tesla Powerwall is slightly more affordable than the PWRcell.
- The Powerwall is an AC-coupling battery and can be paired with just about any solar inverter.
- The Powerwall is simpler to install due to its integrated components.
- The Powerwall has been around longer and has built up a more extensive network of support for users.
In contrast, with the Generac PWRcell:
- There are fewer inversions required because it is a DC-coupled battery.
- Its easier to customize during the installation process.
- The PWRcell offers a more potent punch of max continuous power.
As you can see, the Tesla Powerwall offers a few more benefits users can easily take advantage of over the Generac. However, depending on your situation, you may prefer to use the Generac over the Powerwall. In these next few sections, well cover a few more similarities and differences between the two battery storage systems so you can decide which one is best for you.
Does Tesla Offer Discounts On Solar Products
Tesla solar is already the lowest cost-per-watt solar on the market, but are there any other ways to save money when ordering?
In short, the only way to get a discount on Tesla solar products is by using an existing Tesla owners referral link when ordering.
Tesla has did this same referral program concept with its vehicles and essentially it allows new customers to get a discount on their purchase by using an existing customers personal referral link.
In regards to Tesla solar discounts, using a Tesla referral link when ordering will save you $300 off solar panels or $500 off solar roof.
The referral discounts are typically only available for a limited time before Tesla stops offering the discount, so take advantage of the savings while you can.
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Installation Of Generac Pwrcell
The Generac PWRcells installation will follow a similar process as the Powerwall, with a few distinct differences in its later steps:
The bottom line here is that you have more of a chance to appropriately-size your battery system if you go with the Generac PWRcell, thanks to the availability of both 12 kWh and 9 kWh configurations. In contrast, the Powerwall comes standard in a 13.5 kWh battery. However, one thing thats definitely nice about the Powerwall is the compact design, with newer models coming with a solar inverter already integrated into the battery pack.
Pwrcell Solar + Battery Backup During Outages And Blackouts
One of the biggest complaints about early solar power bordered on a major drawback of grid-tied systems. During a blackout or power outage, the system shut down the array leaving the house without powereven though the sun shone, and the solar panels continued to produce power.
It is always dangerous and usually illegal to supply power to the grid during an outage. A grid-tie system adds power to the grid whenever an excess of power PV Array produces more power than the home can use. A grid-tie system cannot add power to the grid during an outage, so older systems simply shut down to remain in compliance.
The addition of a transfer switch solves the grid-tie issue. A transfer switch isolates the home from the grid while it produces its own powera major improvement for homeowners tired of power outages rendering their solar panels useless during an outage.
During an outage or blackout, PWRcell uses the PV array during the day to power the house and keeps the batteries charged. When the sun goes down, the system draws on battery power to keep the lights on and the home comfortable.
However, competing systems often shut down the PV array and switch to battery power the moment the power goes out, even though the sun is still shining. When the sun goes down, partially depleted batteries continue to discharge through the night and into the next day.
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Tesla Powerwall Vs Generac: Which Is Better
The Tesla Powerwall and the Generac PWRcell are both backup battery systems for residential and commercial use. Naturally, there are advantages and disadvantages to both, so which one should you get?
The Tesla Powerwall is an AC-coupled battery, while the Generac PWRcell is a DC-coupled battery these batteries also differ in terms of energy capacity, power, and installation process. However, the Powerwall offers a few more benefits over its counterpart.
If you are in the market for a battery backup system for either solar panels or the grid, then you are highly encouraged to continue reading about the differences between the Tesla Powerwall and the Generac PWRcell. By the end of the article, you should be able to determine which option best suits your needs.
Do Solar Panels Drain Batteries At Night
A good solar panel won’t drain your battery even during nighttime. If it happens the main reason is that its blocking or bypass diodes are broken and need replacement. Even then if you have a Solar Charge Controller it’ll prevent battery drainage. Usually, most people’s solar panels drain during the night.
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Is The Generac Pwrcell System Right For You
The Generac PWRcell offers one of the best home energy solutions for solar backup on the market today its unmatched power, intelligence and scalability make it capable of providing safe and reliable off-grid power for critical electricity needs and effectively avoiding high peak energy costs. However, that doesnt make it the right choice for everyone. The biggest drawbacks of the PWRcell are:
- Not as user-friendly as some of its competitors
- One of the more expensive options
- Cant be installed without solar panels or another form of residential energy generation
We always like to counsel our readers that solar batteries are not a casual acquisition they are complicated devices that require an understanding of how to utilize them. That being said, if youre willing to commit to learning the ins and outs of the PWRcell, its one of the best batteries money can buy.
Tesla Powerwall Vs Generac Pwrcell
In this article, we will now compare the stats and performance ratings of two of the most popular batteries for home solar energy backup power systems: the Tesla Powerwall vs Generac PWRCell.
Before we really dive into it, here are two videos both brands have on their YouTube Channels about their product. Feel free to watch that before you read or after as a refresh.
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