Best Tesla Powerwall Alternatives 2023 

Just my personal opinion, unless you are using Tesla to do your solar install, the chances of actually getting a PowerWall is slim to none (and on top of the that Tesla will not do ground mounts if you wanted to use them for solar but need a ground mount). I waited almost a year for a PowerWall and then went with Enphase (The wait times might have improved since my experience with them). I am very happy with Enphase. 33 KW of batteries with 3 air conditioners. We did install soft starts on 2 of the the air conditioners. I am having more solar installed, at some point I will look for batteries for that new solar system. It will be a tough decision between all the choices out there now. Getting a system that supports bi directional EV charging is high on my list. The time of day electrical rates, using power from your car during peak rates and re charging it later that night at the cheapest rates is a game changer.

I really appreciate your videos. The discussions are very straightforward and comprehensive. Thank you!

When I got my batteries my installer informed me that they didn’t know when they could get PW’s and presented me with Enphase Encharge as an alternative and I went with that. The equipment in this industry changes so fast, that if you wait for the latest and greatest you would never get anything installed. The Encharge batteries are working great!

First of all felt this was a very well presented and prepared overview of current whole home solar power systems. No one does it quite as good as you do. However that being said, etc.

Tesla is offering Powerwalls Direct (without Tesla Solar) again so likely they are building up a backlog. Expect an announcement on V3 Powerwall soon, possibly be lithium iron phosphate solution.

Thanks. Very informative.

Great job. Joe thanks for information

As soon as the sky stops dropping massive amounts of water(at least for here) I will be installing the Darfon Gen two Hybrid system on my house. I will have about 35kWh of energy and 9.6 kW of power when the grid is on and 7.6 kWs when the grid is gone. It is rated at about 14kW surge capacity with no grid as well. I will be replacing my older SunPower modules and SMA inverter with 8.2kW of PV and DC coupling that to the Darfon inverter installing a new roof as well. One really cool thing about this inverter is that it can be AC and DC coupled. Not or but and, if you are retrofitting to an existing array that can be AC coupled but if you need to add PV you can fun that directly into the inverter as well. I will also connect my existing 7.6kW Propane generator into it so if I have reduced PV I can recharge the battery from the generator.

Question, I have two solar systems on my home one is without a back up battery. It’s a 7 kW system and the second one is a 5 kW system with a tesla power wall 2 and if I decide to hook up the Franklin batteries with my 7 kW system, have you ever run into two different types of batteries operating your home?

Thanks for sharing. Never heard of Franklin.

Can you mix power walls to obtain whole house system, I presently have one Tesla power wall, and I’m looking to increase my power wall to obtain whole house capabilities

joe , great update . Can you consider doing a video on all the present invertor and battery warranty's ? Most folks never read the warranty before their system purchase and they do not understand how the word "or" can way shorten the warranty period . details matter . I have not seen this type of youtube video yet . you can do it :)

4pm to 9pm peak hours in summer. Just a reminder, It would be nice to have one of those.

I like you evaluation and I agree the FranklinWH is a very good option. I installed one and have been quite pleased so far. And from my view the cost is noticably lower than SolarEdge. With EnPhase they have additional challenges in that from what I can tell the batteries, using the newer IQ8 microinverers do not play well with the not so old IQ7 or IQ6 microinverters. So from my view EnPhase and SolarEdge are onlyh apporiate on a new install. And I would be careful about overselling the EnPhase bi-directional charger as it is a bit ahead of it's time as VERY few EV's support power export. I think ONLY the Ford F150 Lightening is only shipping EV that will support power export.

It appears to me that I have a combination of interphase and Teslar products because I have both software monitoring on my phone and tablet. Which leads me to believe but I am unsure because I am not an installer, Or tech. I’m just end user. I have 30 panels on my home and I am located and Tennessee.

Do any of the systems have a bumpless transfer from grid to battery in the case of an outage? Also on the Franklin how is the battery charged? My neighbors here in TX supposedly have to charge their Tesla Powerwall battery from excess solar only (except in emergencies). The Franklin is not tied to any solar though, and I was wondering how that worked. For reference I have an older and small SolarEdge system (before EnergyHub), and an F-150 lightning with the ProCharger. The F150 backup has a several minutes downtime after the grid goes out, so I am trying to piece something together to cover that gap potentially.

HI Joe!! and thanks for the information. I have a 13kwh Solar install with a mix of LG and Panasonic. Will be installing 1 Franklin WHB Setup next month. My Question is going forward will I have to stay with Franklin for more battery capacity or are the other solutions ?

I'm curious what Joe would say about the advisability of getting a generator if a consumer either has or plans to get an electric vehicle that can do bi-directional charging (i.e. could be used to power a home during a prolonged outage). I also am wondering about the Solar Edge battery. I tried to get a system with a local installer but they would only do a grid tied Solar Edge system, not one with a backup battery. They told me that they have too many call backs on this battery and they don't get paid for labor costs to remove the old battery and install the new one.

Since Tesla just announced the powerwall is again available for 9200 plus tax, is this still much more expensive than the other options?

I have a Tesla Power wall and it is enough to back up my house almost indefinitely with natural gas heat, a gas range, and a gas dryer. In the last two years there has only been three periods where it wouldn’t have. What I found interesting is even during most cloudy weather my solar panels supply enough power not only to recharge my battery, but supply the nominal loads I have. I had a heat pump installed and I plan to replace my range and dryer in the near future. To give me the backup capacity to go completely electric requires more than one Power Wall. I have over 50% more solar power generated a year than I use. So I am looking for additional storage capacity about another 30-40kwh. My peak use is on hot days with maximum AC load where I use as much as 60kwh. My ideal solution would be a vehicle that has a 60+kwh battery that can supply home loads. Why this would be ideal for myself is the only time I need a lot of electricity is when I am home and a BEV would be in the garage.

I've been looking at the Franklin for one reason that I never heard mentioned--"black start" that allows solar panels to charge the battery during a power outage.

I'll be interested to see how things will change with the Tesla Powerwall 3.

I've heard that the SolarEdge battery system requires a special restart or reset should it ever drain down to below 10%. Can you tell me if this is true? But more important, does Franklin have that same limitation?

“Like we always do here in the winter time.” Where is “here”. Would I need a backup generator in Florida?

I have 1 Tesla Powerwall and 12 solar panels, can I add a different brand battery to my system? I also have a Span Electric Panel.

Does it really matter if the inverter is in ore next to the battery.. not really if you ask me.. what does matter is is the battery a pouch cell ( a pufferfish 🐡 in the making) ore a cilinder wall cell ( pressure tank ) .. no 2 beats nr 1 .. in the long run

HI Sir, Can you hook up the Franklin battery to the enphase Smart Switch (iq8 system)? The smart switch handles the power from a. grid. b. backup-generator and c. solar panels. But can the Franklin batteries replace the enphase battery in that sort of system?? Why is enphase so far behind franklin in battery power? You also noted a Canadian battery in another video?

I am looking at installing a Franklin battery (no solar panels) with a gas powered generator as back up but also want to install a SPAN panel. SPAN does not include Franklin in there list of supported whole home batteries. What kind of issues should I expect or is SPAN not even possible in this mix until they have support for Franklin?

You missed a big one what about the LG battery with the solar edge? The new LG Prime's have a much higher output.

How does this compare to the Ecoflow Delta Pro home backup system?

I recall hearing that, during the Texas long term outage, that the Tesla power wall‘s stopped working after 48 hours of not being able to contact the Internet. Something to do with the warranty, but obviously unacceptable.

Do you have to update your electric panel to use the agate?

You don’t mention price point of Franklin

Can you comment on any issues with Enphase's parasitic draw? I've read that this can be up to 15% daily. I'm strongly considering an Enphase battery, but this gives me pause.

Is it a good practice to increase the size of the solar system to accomodate battery charging? Rule of thumb in % increase?

How about prices. I really like Franklin with the generator hookup.

Tesla announced yesterday. You can now order 1-3 Powerwall's. Without ordering solar panels.$8000 Per PW. If you alrdeady have a PW and or Solar panels. If you don't. Then its $9000. I have a 12kW 1 PW system. The one PW gives me a Whole home Backup. That works Amazingly. If my Grid goes down. I'm able to run my Hvac and all appliances. I Usually turn my HVAC off. To make the PW last longer for a grid outage. I will keep my eye on these current Powerwall deals. It is a great time to buy. If you can afford a PW. For the Price and Specs. The Tesla Powerwall is the Best. 13.5kW of usauble storage. I'm alos a Tesla Electric Customer. I'm in Texas. It would be Great if you did a video on Tesla Electric new Plan and upcoming Plan. That will be $30 for unlimited EV charging. Great video Joe.

Can Franklin do V2G? Thanks

Can you use these things with a community solar system

You talk about price of solar edge but not in phase

Wish you did more of a review instead of a marketing pitch

Odd that you can buy the same amount of kWh in a Model 3 as 4 powerwalls for the same price.

Don't you love how going to each of these companies website links, and none provide any prices

Man I cant wait to spend 30k-50k$ for a home battery to be functional

Not everyone has the option of a generator. Even if I had the space for one in my townhome the HOA would not allow it.

Idk why everyone wouldn’t want sonnen if it’s a forever home. Just cuz of the lifespan and cycle life of sonnen compared to Tesla…

QHome didn’t make the cut?

this begs the question: How long will these backup batteries last? 10 yrs? I heard. If so the cost of the battery doesn't justify.

Powerwall is so outdated now compared to LFP solutions.

Renewable energy isn't clean or renewable. I'm currently putting together an off grid system myself and run most of my house off that and feed in to the grid more. The only reason, money. Not the BS reason a lot of people fall for

too much smart crap bruh