Battery Backup Guide

Your battery is more than just a backup power source — it's a tool that can reduce your electric bill, protect your home during outages, and give you control over your energy.

This guide covers everything from initial setup to advanced features.

Quick Start

New to battery backup? Start here:

1. [[backup-reserve|Set your backup reserve]] — Choose how much battery to save for outages
2. [[storm-guard|Enable Storm Guard]] — Auto-charge before storms
3. [[outage-behavior|Understand what happens during an outage]]

What Your Battery Can Do

During Normal Operation

• Store excess solar energy for use at night
• Reduce your electric bill by avoiding peak utility rates
• Provide power during brief grid fluctuations

During Outages

• Automatically power your backed-up circuits
• Recharge from solar during daylight
• Keep essentials running for hours or days

Settings & Features

Operating Modes

Savings Mode (Recommended) Your battery charges from solar during the day and powers your home in the evening. Your backup reserve is always protected for outages.

Full Backup Mode Battery stays fully charged at all times, only discharging during outages. Best for storm seasons or if you have critical medical equipment.

Time-of-Use Mode If your utility has variable rates, this mode optimizes charging and discharging to save you the most money.

Storm Preparation

[[storm-guard|Storm Guard]] (Enphase) and [[storm-watch|Storm Watch]] (Tesla) are automatic features that monitor weather forecasts. When severe weather is detected, your battery will pre-charge to 100% — ensuring you have maximum backup capacity when the storm hits.

Enable it: Settings > Storm Guard (or Storm Watch) > Toggle ON

Understanding Your Battery

What Gets Powered During an Outage?

Most battery installations back up a dedicated set of circuits, not your entire home:

✅ Typically backed up:

• Lights in main living areas
• Refrigerator and freezer
• Internet router and phone chargers
• A few outlets for essentials

❌ Typically not backed up:

• Central air conditioning (high power draw)
• Electric dryers
• Pool pumps
• Electric vehicle chargers

Want to change what's backed up? Contact our team — some adjustments are possible.

How Long Will It Last?

This depends on three things:

1. Your battery size (13.5 kWh Powerwall, 10 kWh Enphase, etc.)
2. Your backup reserve setting (we recommend 20%)
3. What you're running (fridge vs. air conditioning makes a big difference)

Typical durations:

• Essential circuits only: 12-24 hours
• Including AC or heat: 4-8 hours
• With solar recharging on sunny days: Indefinite during the day

See [[battery-duration|Battery Duration Calculator]] for personalized estimates.

Troubleshooting

Battery not charging? → Check [[battery-not-charging|Battery Not Charging Troubleshooting]]

Battery drained faster than expected? → Check [[backup-reserve|your backup reserve setting]] — if set too low, daily use consumes backup power

App showing error? → Contact Customer Success with the error code

Adding More Battery Capacity

Already have one battery and want more? You can add additional units:

• Tesla: Up to 10 Powerwalls per home
• Enphase: Up to 4 IQ Batteries per system

Contact us for a capacity assessment and quote.

Still Have Questions?

• Phone: 800-203-4158
• App: Submit a message through the Venture Home app
• Webchat: Available on our website during business hours