Backup scope
What stays on during an outage
The long version of the whole-home versus critical-loads question.
What "backup" actually means
- Grid-tied solar only — no backup. The system shuts down when the grid does.
- Solar + storage — backup of a configured scope.
- Battery-only — backup of a configured scope, charged from the grid [CONFIRM].
[PLACEHOLDER: 2–3 sentences — client to supply]
Whole-home backup
[PLACEHOLDER: 2–3 sentences — client to supply]
- Capacity
- [CONFIRM]
- Panel configuration
- [CONFIRM]
- Transfer equipment
- [CONFIRM]
- High-draw loads
- [CONFIRM]
Partial / critical-loads backup
A critical-loads subpanel is a separate panel that holds the circuits chosen for backup. Circuits are selected with you at assessment; moving a circuit means rewiring it from the main panel to the subpanel. [PLACEHOLDER: 2–3 sentences — client to supply]
Comparison
| Attribute | Whole home | Critical loads | Battery-only backup |
|---|---|---|---|
| What stays on | Everything on the main panel | The circuits moved to the critical-loads subpanel | The circuits configured for backup |
| Equipment required | Battery, inverter, whole-home transfer equipment [CONFIRM] | Battery, inverter, critical-loads subpanel | Battery, inverter, transfer equipment |
| Panel work required | [CONFIRM] | Circuits relocated to a subpanel | [CONFIRM] |
| High-draw loads (AC, range, EV charging, well pump) | Usually managed or limited | Usually excluded | Usually excluded or managed |
| Typical relative cost | [CONFIRM — expressed as a range at proposal, never on the page] | [CONFIRM — expressed as a range at proposal, never on the page] | [CONFIRM — expressed as a range at proposal, never on the page] |
| Expansion later | [CONFIRM] | [CONFIRM] | [CONFIRM] |
Load reference list
Typical household and small-business circuits. No wattages are listed — backup scope is set at assessment.
Usually backed up
- Refrigerator
- Freezer
- Internet / router
- Some lighting
- Furnace fan
- Sump pump
- POS terminal
Sometimes backed up
- General outlets
- Garage door
- Walk-in cooler
- Medical equipment [CONFIRM — client's position]
Usually managed or excluded
- Air conditioning
- Electric range
- EV charging
- Well pump
- Electric water heating [CONFIRM]
How long will it last?
That depends on the battery's usable capacity, which loads are running, and whether solar is recharging the battery during the outage. It is determined at the assessment.
[CONFIRM — client may provide a modelled range in a written proposal, with assumptions stated.]
Settle your backup scope at an assessment
[PLACEHOLDER: one sentence — client to supply]