How To Choose a Whole House Solar Generator

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A power outage can be a minor inconvenience for some and a deadly interruption of service for others. 

To mitigate the frightening effects of a power outage, homeowners can install a whole-house solar generator. These devices allow your home to stay powered even during a days-long blackout. The batteries in these generators have enough capacity to run a household—including all large appliances, electronic devices, and even heating and cooling systems. You can also connect multiple generators and batteries to expand the capacity.

A whole-house solar generator kit is a great way to attain energy independence so that you aren’t at the mercy of power outages and ageing grid infrastructure. There are several options to satisfy the electricity needs of different households. 

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How Do Whole House Solar Generators Work?

Whole-house solar generators allow homeowners to switch between on-grid and off-grid power at their convenience. They are the latest devices homeowners use to build their Smart Home Ecosystems.

A solar generator gathers power from PV solar panels or an AC outlet and stores it in an internal battery. The self-contained unit operates while harvesting the sunlight or keeps the energy in reserve for use during a power outage. 

At some point, you’ll want to use your stored power. You can plug the solar generator into a power inlet box or transfer switch. Then, the transfer switch near your electrical panel lets you change from on-grid to solar-generated power. The home’s electricity is now drawing from the solar generator’s battery bank and can switch back when the blackout ends. 

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Why Should You Get a Whole House Solar Generator?

The effects of climate change are growing stronger every year. Extreme weather events like heat waves, droughts and wildfires are becoming more common. Ageing electrical infrastructure can’t always handle the weather — or increased demand — so blackouts are becoming more and more common.

Whole house solar generators provide a solution for mitigating the impacts of an unreliable grid, but they have other benefits too. 

Here are the top reasons to consider getting a whole home solar generator. 

Solar Generators Run Clean and Silently 

Petrol and diesel generators are known for their deafening operation noise. A whole house solar generator is virtually silent, as there are no moving parts.

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(Source: Hearing Health Foundation)

Portable petrol generators typically produce between 80-100 decibels (dB) of noise when operating — at least 10 dB above the recommended safety threshold, as shown in the chart above.

By contrast, the EcoFlow DELTA Pro produces less than 50dB of noise when charging or operating — more than 20 dB below the safety threshold and comparable to average room noise. 

Fossil fuel generators also emit dangerous fumes like carbon monoxide. Using one indoors can kill you in minutes. Solar generators do not create deadly fumes, making them significantly better for the environment and usable indoors and out.  

Solar Generators Can Go Off-Grid

When you add PV solar panels to a whole home solar generator, you can power your home without worrying about fuel prices or utility companies. Harvesting the clean, renewable energy of the sun allows your solar generator to be recharged during a blackout and provides sufficient power to keep your home running. 

Solar Generators Provide Peace of Mind

A whole-house solar generator allows your family to weather a power outage while maintaining your day-to-day life. You can use lights and appliances, and your refrigerated food won’t spoil.

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The Best Whole-House Solar Generator Kits

Starter Kit

The EcoFlow DELTA Pro, combined with a power inlet box or transfer switch, is the perfect whole-house solar generator starter kit. This setup provides around one full day of essential power. The 3.6 kWh battery bank can power lights, device charging, and other essentials for a family when the power goes out.

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You can charge the kit by plugging it into a regular outlet. Or, you can go green by adding solar panels to the setup. 

The starter kit also serves another purpose—the DELTA Pro can go on the road to provide power while camping! You can bring modern luxuries into the wilderness and keep them powered. When combined with photovoltaic solar panels, the DELTA Pro can be a complete off-grid power solution. 

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DELTA Pro + DELTA Pro Smart Extra Battery

You can expand the capabilities of the Starter Kit by adding a DELTA Pro Smart Extra Battery. It increases the total battery storage capacity to 7.2 kWh. This setup is ideal for large families or areas where blackouts often last more than one day. 

Advanced Kit

The advanced kit consists of the following:

  • 2 x DELTA Pro Solar Generators 
  • 1 x Double Voltage Hub
  • 1 x Power Inlet Box 
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The advanced kit expands the output capacity to 7.2 kWh. This setup can supply essential power to a family home for around 48 hours, depending on usage. It’s useful for areas where blackouts are common and more prolonged. 

The Double Voltage Hub raises the system’s voltage to 240V. It’s the robust, high-performance output you need to power major appliances like washers and dryers during an outage. 

You can expand the advanced kit to provide even more power with the addition of EcoFlow DELTA Pro Smart Batteries. Each unit provides an additional 3.6 kWh of power — two DELTA Pro generators combined with four extra batteries can potentially power a home for up to 1 week with 21.6 kWh.

Smart Control Kit

The smart control kit consists of the following: 

  • 2 x DELTA Pro Solar Generators 
  • 1 x Smart Home Panel
  • Optional Extra Batteries
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This smart control kit provides 7.2 kWh of backup power, expandable up to 21.6 kWh with extra batteries. It’s perfect for homes that experience frequent blackouts or for families that don’t want to sacrifice modern amenities during a power outage.  

The EcoFlow Smart Home Panel allows a whole house solar generator system to shine with modern functionality. You can view your battery levels and control your system using the iOs or Android app. The panel automatically switches to your solar generators when a blackout hits—no need to manually flip a transfer switch. 

Each integrated circuit has its own monitoring system so that you can regulate power use throughout your home. The Smart Home Panel can also be programmed to draw power from the solar generators during peak energy hours, lowering your monthly electric bills. 

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EcoFlow Smart Generator (Dual Fuel)

The EcoFlow Smart Generator (Duel Fuel) is a last line of defence when you cannot generate enough solar power to meet your electricity needs. Unlike most petrol generators, the Smart Generator can utilise LPG (propane). Propane is easier to store, cleaner and greener, and emits fewer fumes. 

A standard LPG tank can produce around 20 kWh of energy, enough to power some homes for almost a week. With enough propane tanks in storage, you could power a home indefinitely. 

How to Choose the Best Whole House Solar Generator

Everyday vs Emergency Use

The frequency of use can help determine which kit works best for you. Will your whole house solar generator be used regularly or only in times of emergency? 

The Starter or Advanced Kits work well if you only need the system for an occasional, short power outage. Larger homes with more occupants will benefit from the expanded battery capacity and output capabilities of the Advanced Kit.

A Smart Control Kit will perform well for those needing backup power for everyday and emergency use. The robust system can power a whole house for emergencies. The Smart Control Kit will also save you money by regulating your peak-hours energy usage and allowing you to tap into free solar electricity. 

Battery Size

What will your kit be powering? If you want to do laundry and run other large appliances, you will need a higher battery capacity. A smaller system will fit the bill if you just want to keep the lights on.

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Pros and Cons of Whole House Solar Generators

Pros

  • No Fumes: Fossil fuel generators release toxic fumes and pollute the environment. Solar generators do not emit any smoke, fumes, or other pollutants. 
  • Quiet: Petrol and diesel generators are notoriously noisy. Most neighbourhoods and campgrounds set strict time limits for their use. You can utilise a solar generator 24/7 without bothering your neighbours. 
  • Low Maintenance: Solar generators rarely require maintenance. There is no engine, which is the common point of failure in fossil fuel generators. 
  • Eco-Friendly: Whole house solar generators can recharge with PV solar panels, an eco-friendly alternative to petrol and propane. 
  • Off-Grid Capable: With a whole home solar generator and a few PV panels, you can power your home with sunlight—no more relying on expensive fuel!

Cons

  • Limited Power: Unless you have solar panels, you can’t recharge your solar generator until the power comes back on. Petrol generators can run as long as you have a supply of fuel.
  • Slow Recharge: When you’ve depleted a solar generator’s batteries, recharging from solar sources can take a while. How long depends on the hours of peak sunlight your panels receive and other environmental factors. 
  • Upfront Cost: Whole-house solar generators have a higher initial cost than fossil fuel generators. Tax incentives may defray a substantial chunk of your upfront investment. Also, the ongoing operation is much cheaper, as no fossil fuels are required. Solar generators require much less frequent maintenance and replacement than their fossil fuel counterparts. 
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Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Solar Generator Power a Whole House?

Yes, a solar generator can power a whole house. Like a traditional fossil fuel generator, a solar generator can connect to a power inlet box to distribute electricity throughout the house. Just flip the power transfer switch near your electrical panel to draw power from the generator instead of the grid. 

How Much Does a Whole House Solar Power Generator Cost?

The cost of a whole-house solar power generator will vary depending on your electricity requirements. The cost of your system depends mainly on the number of solar panels and the battery storage and output capacity you need. 

Final Thoughts

There’s never been a better time to install a whole-house solar generator. Prices have dropped significantly, and technology has improved— just in time for the increasing frequency of power outages due to natural disasters and an ageing electrical grid

Investing in a whole-house solar generator can give you and your family peace of mind. And with EcoFlow, you can prepare for the worst and rest easy—and keep the lights on—when a power outage inevitably hits.

ECOFLOW
ECOFLOWhttps://www.ecoflow.com/
EcoFlow is a portable power and renewable energy solutions company. Since its founding in 2017, EcoFlow has provided peace-of-mind power to customers in over 85 markets through its DELTA and RIVER product lines of portable power stations and eco-friendly accessories.

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