QuestionsHome batteries in Tampa Bay, answered plainly
Which home battery does Fused recommend?
For a new solar-plus-battery home, FOX ESS: the PowerQ 11.4 kW hybrid inverter with a 19.85 kWh battery bank and the Fox Hub G2. It carries about 47% more storage than a single Powerwall 3, has a wired generator input and three smart circuits built into the Hub, panel-level monitoring on every solar panel, and a 12.5-year warranty. If you already have solar and want to add a battery, FranklinWH aPower is usually the right fit. If you want Tesla or Enphase, we install and service those too.
Can a home battery run my air conditioning during an outage?
Yes. The FOX ESS package (11.4 kW) and a Tesla Powerwall 3 (11.5 kW) can both carry a whole home including central AC. Running the AC drains the battery faster, so the system is sized around what you want to keep running and for how long, and solar recharges it during the day. FOX ESS adds three smart circuits that shed loads you choose, such as a pool pump or second AC, when the battery runs low.
Which battery is best if I already have solar?
FranklinWH aPower. It is AC-coupled, which is what an add-on battery is, so it works with the inverter you already have from any brand. We install and service aPower, aPower 2 and aPower S. If your existing system is Enphase microinverters, the Enphase IQ Battery 5P is the other clean fit.
Is a battery better than a standby generator in Florida?
For most homes, yes. A standby generator sits at ground level, which in Tampa Bay means storm surge and salt water; it needs fuel, oil changes and exercise cycles, and it only does anything during an outage. A battery mounts on the wall, cycles every day on solar to cut the power bill, and takes over in an outage without a sound. With FOX ESS you can also wire a generator, even a portable one, into the Hub so it only runs when the battery is depleted.
Where does the battery go?
Outside the home on an exterior wall, like all our battery installs. The FOX ESS PowerQ and battery stack carry a Type 4X enclosure rating, the NEMA class with corrosion resistance, and are rated from -13°F to 131°F. A garage install is possible but Florida code adds curbs, extra emergency stops and fire protection, which usually isn't worth the cost.
Do you service batteries you didn't install?
Yes. We service FOX ESS, Tesla Powerwall, FranklinWH, Enphase and Generac batteries from any installer and handle warranty-covered work. Not charging, not backing up, gateway offline, app errors: start with our $395 diagnostic.
Does the annual maintenance plan cover the battery?
The maintenance visit inspects and documents the whole system, including the battery's status and any error codes in its app, and the report notes anything that needs attention. Corrective work on a battery is quoted separately, and warranty-covered repairs go through the manufacturer with us as the installer.