Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Battery During an Outage
Before the Outage
✅ Enable Storm Watch / Storm Guard
Make sure Storm Watch (Tesla) or Storm Guard (Enphase) is enabled in your app before severe weather arrives.
What it does: Pre-charges your battery to 100% automatically when a weather alert is issued for your area.
How to enable:
- Tesla: Powerwall > Settings > Storm Watch
- Enphase: Settings > Storm Guard
See our battery settings articles for full instructions:
- [[tesla-powerwall-settings|Managing Your Tesla Powerwall]]
- [[enphase-battery-settings|Managing Your Enphase Battery]]
During the Outage
✅ Reduce High-Draw Loads
During an extended outage, avoid running on battery power unless necessary:
- ❌ Central air conditioning
- ❌ Electric dryers
- ❌ Electric water heaters
- ❌ Other high-consumption appliances
Why: These can drain your battery in hours instead of days.
✅ Let the Sun Work for You
On sunny days during an outage:
- ☀️ Your solar panels actively recharge your battery
- ☀️ The more you shift high-draw activity to daylight hours, the more you preserve your overnight reserve
Strategy:
- Run dishwasher, laundry, etc. during sunny periods
- Charge devices during the day
- Conserve battery for nighttime when solar isn't producing
✅ Know Your Backed-Up Circuits
If you're not sure which circuits are on backup, contact our Customer Success team.
We can: Pull your installation documentation and tell you exactly which circuits will stay powered during an outage.
Contact: 800-203-4158
Thinking About Adding a Battery?
Yes — It's Possible!
Adding a battery to an existing solar system is something Venture Home does regularly.
What determines feasibility:
- Your inverter type
- Existing equipment configuration
- In most cases, it's straightforward
If backup power during outages is important to you, contact our Customer Success team to discuss your options.
Phone: 800-203-4158
See also: [[battery-add-on|Adding a Battery to Your Existing Solar System]]
Quick Outage Checklist
| Task | Why |
|---|---|
| Enable Storm Watch/Guard | Pre-charge to 100% before storms |
| Check backup duration estimate | Know what to expect |
| Turn off AC/heat | Preserve battery for essentials |
| Use high-draw items during day | Solar recharges as you use |
| Know your backed-up circuits | Understand what's powered |
Related Articles
- [[battery-duration-factors|How Long Will My Battery Last?]] — Understanding duration factors
- [[storm-guard|What Is Storm Guard / Storm Watch?]] — Pre-charging before storms
- [[power-outage-behavior|What Happens During a Power Outage?]] — How backup mode works
- [[battery-add-on|Adding a Battery to Your Existing Solar System]] — Retrofit options
- [[enphase-battery-settings|Managing Your Enphase Battery]] — Settings and modes
- [[tesla-powerwall-settings|Managing Your Tesla Powerwall]] — Settings and modes
Questions? Contact Customer Success at 800-203-4158.