Should you use a solar battery during a power outage?

For true peace of mind during a power outage, you can’t beat a solar battery system. There is nothing quite like the feeling of being the only house on the block with the lights on after the grid goes down—although the more altruistic among us would prefer that all our neighbors had the same luxury.

Can solar panels supply my home with power during widespread outages?

Probably the biggest factor that determines if your solar panels can supply your home with power during widespread outages is whether or not your home’s electric system is paired to the local power grid. Most solar panel systems are paired to the local electric grid.

Why does a solar system shut down during a power outage?

If we experience a power outage and the utility company needs to send linemen to inspect or repair power lines, they need to be able to do their work without being electrocuted. Because a solar array without a battery backup system is constantly back-feeding excess energy, the system shuts down for several reasons when it senses a grid outage.

Will a grid-tied solar system still have power during a power outage?

One of the biggest misconceptions we hear most often is that a home with a grid-tied solar system (without battery backup) will continue having power during a utility power outage. This stems from a misunderstanding of how grid-tied installations work.

What happens to solar power during a blackout?

In a blackout situation, the power from your solar panels goes nowhere - unless you have some way of storing the electricity (with a battery) or otherwise cutting your system off from the grid. In this video Will White explains what it takes to ensure you have power with solar during an outage: How can you use solar power to survive a power outage?

Will solar power go out if the power goes out?

Probably not. If you have solar and the power goes out, your power will go out, too—unless you have a backup system. This is because U.S. electrical code requires rapid shutdown of a solar system to protect emergency workers and prevent dangerous backfeed current from passing onto distribution lines.