DIY House Battery Backup: Preparation, Steps, & Tips

Unexpected power outages, blackouts, and brownouts can make you and your family vulnerable. While you can use a traditional fossil fuel generator for a power outage, they produce toxic emissions and are extremely noisy. If you want to build a more eco-friendly DIY house battery backup from scratch, this detailed article will provide information on creating a system yourself from the comfort of your home. 

Jackery Solar Generators are solar generators for houses that power most household appliances during sudden power outages and blackouts. The home battery backup solutions supply steady electricity to 99% of the appliances, such as refrigerators, TVs, washers and dryers, and lights. Some Jackery Solar Generators can be connected to the home's electricity panel to ensure uninterrupted electricity to the appliances when the power goes out. 

Key Takeaways 

• Building a DIY house solar generator involves preparation, including gathering the right tools and choosing compatible components. 

• You should choose an inverter, battery charger, and battery for the system to ensure it can meet the electricity loads of the appliances. 

• Some common mistakes to avoid include choosing the improper battery cell, underestimating the power consumption, etc. 

• Jackery Solar Generators are reliable alternatives to DIYing an essential home battery backup system. They can power most household appliances for hours. 

Can I Install My Own House Battery 

While it is technically possible to install a home battery backup system yourself, it is strongly recommended to hire a professional electrician due to safety risks. Installing a home battery backup isn't like hooking up an appliance to the wall outlet. Instead, these home battery systems are wired to the home's electricity panel. 

A home battery backup system provides many benefits, such as: 

Power During Outages: A home battery backup system can power essential home appliances and devices during unexpected power outages. It ensures uninterrupted functionality even when the grid goes down. 

Cost Savings: A home battery backup system often has a portable power station that stores the electricity generated by the solar panels. You can use the stored energy during peak electricity rate hours, which leads to reduced electricity bills. 

Environmental Impact: Solar home battery backups can reduce your carbon footprint and power appliances using free solar energy. Solar generators do not emit toxic fumes or noise, making them environmentally friendly charging solutions. 

How to Prepare for DIY Essential House Battery Backup

The United States is experiencing a lot of power outages and blackouts due to extreme weather. Here are some simple steps to prepare for building a DIY house battery backup: 

Gather the Right Tools 

Building a home battery backup system requires more than a battery and wires. You will need a power inverter, home backup battery, battery charger, and wiring and cables for an effective home battery backup system. Some other tools you would need include:

• Wire cutters
• Crimping tools
• Screwdriver set
• Drill with various-sized drill bits
• Voltage meter
• Cable ties
• Safety glasses 
• Gloves
• Wire strippers 
• Electrical tape 

Components of a Battery System 

The home battery backup system consists of a battery, charge controller, transfer switch, and wiring. First, you need to choose a battery type and capacity that suits your power needs. The charge controller regulates the charging process from the utility grid to the battery. The inverter converts DC from the battery to AC for household appliances. The transfer switch automatically switches the power between the utility grid and battery backup when needed. 

Determine Your Power Needs

You need to determine your power needs to understand the correct size for a DIY house battery backup. Start by identifying the appliances that you would like to run during an outage. Check the rated and starting wattage of the appliances, and then add the total rated wattage and highest starting wattage to match the overall power needed for the inverter. Here is a table that reveals the rated and starting wattage consumed by the common household appliances: 

DIY House Battery Backup 

Building a house battery backup system can help you power appliances anytime during sudden power outages or blackouts. Here is the step-by-step process to create a DIY house battery backup system: 

Step 1: Choose Your Power Inverter 

Home appliances use alternating current to run, but batteries generate direct current. Hence, you cannot connect a battery directly to the home circuit board or appliances. An inverter is a device that converts DC power to AC electricity that is suitable for powering appliances. Choosing the inverter involves determining the power output you want the battery backup to produce. 

Step 2: Choose Your Battery 

Next, you would need to choose the battery. You will probably need to calculate how many batteries are required to build a DIY house battery backup system. The power output and storage capacity of the battery can be determined by multiplying the wattage requirements of the appliances and the amount of time you want to run them. 

Formula: 

Number of Batteries Needed = (Daily energy consumption in Wh) / (Battery capacity in Wh) 

Example: 

If your daily energy consumption is 20kWh (20,000Wh) and you want a 24-hour backup with 12V 100Ah batteries (1.2kWh per battery), you would need approximately 17 batteries. 

Step 3: Choose a Battery Charger

Next, you need a component to help you charge the batteries. A charger and regulator can recharge the batteries without any overcharging issues. To prevent any damage, you need to make sure the charger is compatible with the batteries you use. If you regularly discharge or overcharge the batteries, you can risk permanent damage and diminished efficiency. 

Step 4: Connect Your System 

Once you have chosen the compatible components, it's time to connect them. You need to start by connecting the battery to the charge controller, inverter, and charging source. Next, connect the home battery backup system to the home's electricity wiring with a transfer switch. Once everyone is hooked up, the home electricity system should draw from the battery backup when there is a power outage. 

Step 5: Test and Tweak 

Finally, it's time to test the home battery backup system. To do this, turn on the inverter and check the proper voltage output. You can even connect a small appliance to verify functionality. 

Mistakes to Avoid When DIYing House Battery Backup 

If you purchase the individual components for the battery backup, you need to ensure all the parts are compatible and are made from high-quality materials. Here are some of the mistakes you need to avoid while building a home battery backup system: 

Choosing the Wrong Battery 

There are different battery chemistry types available, such as lithium iron phosphate, lithium ion, nickel cadmium, and lead acid batteries. Generally, the more efficient a battery chemistry is, the more expensive the battery is likely to be. However, you should not make a mistake by considering only the upfront costs. This is because while lead-acid batteries are less expensive, you need to replace them quickly. On the other hand, LiFePO4 batteries can last a decade or more.

Underestimating the Energy Consumption 

Since you will build a battery system to meet the backup power requirements, you need to make sure the calculations about how much electricity is required during a blackout are accurate. If you underestimate the consumption, the batteries you have might not be sufficient. 

Connecting the Battery With Home Writing Yourself 

Unless you have experience working with high-voltage electrical wiring, you should avoid connecting the battery to the home wiring system yourself. You should consider hiring a professional electrician. They can easily install the battery backup to the home electricity system without any issues. 

Building a DIY house battery backup system involves many steps, including choosing multiple compatible components. Therefore, there is a lot of room for error. As an alternative solution, you should purchase a plug-and-play solution like Jackery Solar Generators. You can connect the backup power solutions to the home circuit panel via a transfer switch. They offer reliable backup power during outages, ensuring that essential household appliances remain powered for hours. 

Jackery Solar Generators for Home Backup 

In case of power disruptions, a solar generator for home backup can provide electricity to essential appliances, such as refrigerators, lights, etc. Many solar generators are designed to be portable, allowing you to move them to different locations as needed. Jackery offers a wide range of solar generators, solar panels, and portable power stations. Jackery Solar Generators are powerful, portable, and reliable home battery backup systems that ensure uninterrupted power supply to the appliances when the grid is down. 

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus 

The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus is a home battery backup system that packs a lot of power in a portable design. It has a LiFePO4 battery that can power 99% of household appliances during the event of outages. It is expandable and supports add-on battery packs to extend the capacity from 2kWh to 24kWh. You can connect the solar-powered generator to the home's electricity panel to power essential appliances during sudden blackouts. 

Appliances Running Time 

• CPAP Machine (60W) = 27.2H 
• Refrigerator (500W) = 3.2H 
• Electric Blanket (100W) = 16.3H 
• Lights (50W) = 32.6H 
• Induction Cooktop (1000W) = 1.6H 

Customer Review 

"Plan to use it at my home for emergency situations if/when the power goes out—which is thankfully not typically very often. I have not had to use it during a power outage yet, but during a day of testing, it performed well running our kitchen refrigerator, home WiFi, lamp, and fan plus separately an air fryer and coffee maker."- Frederick R.

Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro 

The Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro is a smart power master with a large battery capacity that ensures 99% of your household appliances can be powered for long hours during blackouts or power outages. A licensed electrician can help you integrate the solar generator into the home circuits via the Jackery Manual Transfer Switch. You can choose up to six circuits from the breaker panel, such as lights, refrigerators, and garage doors.

Appliances Running Time 

• CPAP Machine (60W) = 40.3H 
• Refrigerator (500W) = 4.8H 
• Coffee Maker (800W) = 3.0H 
• AC (500W) = 4.8H 
• Electric Grill (1500W) = 1.6H

Customer Review 

"We used our Jackery 3000 for the first time under real conditions during Hurricane Milton. We were out of power for four days, beginning the evening prior to the storm (Wednesday). Jackery provided uninterrupted power to the TV so we could stay updated on the storm's progress. It also powered up our cell phones, which kept our WiFi going until the cell signals went down." — Willian Watson.

Jackery Solar Generator 5000 Plus 

The Jackery Solar Generator 5000 Plus is an essential home battery backup system that can power 99% of household appliances, such as refrigerators, washers and dryers, lights, TVs, etc. The dual voltage support ensures that the solar generator can easily power appliances at 120V or 240V. With the assistance of a professional electrician, you can connect the solar generator to the home's electricity panel via Jackery Smart Transfer Switch. 

Appliances Running Time 

• CPAP Machine (60W) = 71.4H 
• Refrigerator (500W) = 8.5H 
• Heater (500W) = 8.5H 
• Air Purifier (50W) = 85.6H 
• Sprinkler (500W) = 8.5H

Customer Review 

"Incredible home backup set-up! Easy installation (per the electrician) and very versatile. I look forward to adding more power for a longer backup. Great job, Jackery!" — Customer.

Improvement Tips for DIY House Battery Backup 

If you want to maximize the lifespan of the house battery backup system, you need to ensure the inverter works properly and can supply steady electricity to the appliances during power outages. Here are some improvement tips to improve the battery lifespan: 

Integrate Solar Energy

You should integrate solar panels into the battery backup system to improve sustainability and cost-effectiveness. Solar power systems can supplement grid power, reduce reliance on the grid, and lower electricity bills. 

Align With the Electricity Tariff 

You should align the battery usage with the electricity tariff structures like ToU (Time of Use) tariffs. They offer varying rates depending on the time of the day. When you strategically charge the battery during the off-peak hours and discharge the peak times. It minimizes electricity costs and optimizes the system's financial benefits.

Regular Maintenance 

Maintaining the battery regularly can improve its lifespan and dependability. To improve the DIY home battery backup system, you should check for leaks, ensure the field levels are continually maintained, and clean the terminals.

Avoid Deep Discharging and Overcharging 

Deep discharging and overcharging can shorten a battery's lifespan. When the battery is drained below the suggested threshold, it causes a deep discharge that can irreparably damage the battery's plates. You should make sure the battery is appropriately charged before using it again. Similarly, you can utilize an automated charging method that can turn off when the battery is fully charged. 

DIY House Battery Backup Costs 

A home battery backup system with decent capacity and efficiency can generally cost anywhere from $3000 to $15,000 or more. Here's an overview of what you need to know about DIY house battery backup costs: 

Cost Range: As mentioned, a home backup can cost anywhere between $3000 and $15,000, whereas larger battery backup systems with higher capacities can cost $25,000. 

Battery Capacity and Power Output: Battery capacity, measured in kWh, can influence the overall cost. Similarly, the power output, measured in kW, is also essential as it can determine how many appliances can be charged simultaneously. 

Inverter Quality: Inverters convert DC power from the battery into AC usable at home. Generally, inverter prices range from $1200 for basic models to $3000 for top-of-the-line units. 

Battery Lifespan and Warranty: Battery systems with longer lifespans and extended warranties are pricey. For example, a battery backup system with a 5-year warranty can cost $7500. However, you might need to pay around $9500 for a system with a 10-year warranty.

Installation and Integration: Installation costs can vary depending on the complexity and type of the system you choose. Portable solar generators require no installation, whereas systems that integrate into the home wiring have high costs. 

On the other hand, the home battery backup systems from Jackery cost only $3,099 - $4,999. The solar generators combine portable power stations with a built-in pure sine wave inverter and solar panels. The power stations feature highly stable LiFePO4 batteries, and solar panels are built with highly efficient monocrystalline silicon solar cells. They are compact in size and can be moved anywhere you go. 

DIY House Battery Backup FAQs 

What size solar generator do I need for my home? 

The size of the solar generator needed for the home depends on the total wattage consumption of the appliances and the number of hours for which you would like to run them. Jackery Solar Generators are available in various sizes, and the choice will depend on the appliance's wattage consumption. To determine how long the Jackery Solar Generator can run the appliances, go to the product page, find the Running Time Calculator, and enter the appliance wattage. 

How many batteries do I need to run my house?

The number of batteries required to run the house depends on your home and electric usage. An average American household uses around 30kWh per day. You will need a battery of between 10kWh and 20kWh for storage to power appliances. 

How long will a 10kW battery power a house? 

A typical household uses around 700-1000 watts per hour, so a 10kW battery could theoretically last for 10-12 hours, depending on the household's energy usage. However, if you only run essential appliances and manage power consumption carefully, it could last significantly longer, even up to 24 hours, during a power outage. 

How long will a house battery last? 

A house battery can last 5–15 years, depending on the battery type, how often it's used, and how it's stored. Lithium-ion batteries are the most common type of residential solar battery and can last 10–15 years. Lead-acid batteries, which were more common in the past, typically last around 5 years. 

How many solar panels to charge a 10kW battery? 

The typical solar panel is 100W - 500W. However, the number of panels required to charge a 10kW battery will depend on the power output, efficiency, and type. For example, monocrystalline silicon solar cells with 500W output can charge a 10kW battery in a few hours, depending on the efficiency and sunlight intensity. 

Final Thoughts 

Power outages can happen anytime, affecting the normalcy of daily life. That's where a home battery backup system can safeguard against power vulnerability. However, building a DIY house battery backup system can be a complex and time-consuming process. Jackery Solar Generators are reliable alternatives and feature large battery capacities that can keep appliances running and your lights on—even during an unexpected power outage.