Home Battery Decision Lab
Answer a few questions about your home and goals. We match you against 32 residential battery systems across 10 brands.
6 scoring dimensions
Backup Resilience
Continuous + surge output, transfer time, whole-home vs essentials.
Solar Pairing
DC vs AC coupling, inverter compatibility, round-trip efficiency.
Value
$/kWh installed, incentive eligibility, warranty-adjusted cost of ownership.
Scalability
Modular expansion, max stack size, future-proof inverter sizing.
Off-Grid Capability
Black-start, generator input, depth-of-discharge, sustained autonomy.
Smart Home Integration
App control, TOU optimization, EV charger + heat pump coordination.
Active monitoring. Continuous analysis.
Illustrative sample — full 32-system dataset in progress
| SKU | Brand | Capacity | Continuous Power | Score | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAT-10K-A | Model A | 10.0 kWh | 5.0 kW | 90 | Sample |
| BAT-13K-B | Model B | 13.5 kWh | 5.0 kW | 93 | Sample |
| BAT-05K-A | Model A | 5.0 kWh | 3.8 kW | 81 | Sample |
| BAT-20K-A+ | Model A+ | 20.0 kWh | 9.6 kW | 95 | Sample |
| BAT-03K-C | Model C | 3.4 kWh | 1.5 kW | 68 | Sample |
| BAT-10K-C | Model C | 10.0 kWh | 5.7 kW | 84 | Sample |
Structured. Not subjective.
Every metric sourced from manufacturer datasheets and verified against independent efficiency tests. We show winners — and we show trade-offs.
View all comparisonsMethodology-driven scores.
Every score is a weighted aggregate of measured properties — never editorial opinion. Weights are published, the changelog is public, and every dimension links back to its test protocol.
Why we recommend it — and where it fails.
Every verdict ships with both halves of the trade-off. Limitations are part of the output, not a footnote.
- +LFP chemistry — safer thermal profile, 6,000+ cycle life at 80% retention.
- +Modular — expand to 30 kWh by adding up to 2 more units on the same inverter.
- +Black-start capable — can restart from zero charge during a grid outage.
- +10-year warranty at 70% capacity retention — industry-standard coverage.
- −5kW continuous output may not cover high-draw appliances running simultaneously (e.g. electric range + AC).
- −114 kg unit — requires a 2-person install, floor-mount only (no wall-mount option).
- −AC-coupled only — slightly lower round-trip efficiency than DC-coupled alternatives.
- −Proprietary inverter — no third-party battery expansion compatibility.
Continuously evolving.
6 active threads · monitoring 12 systems
LFP vs NMC degradation
12-month tracking of capacity loss under daily cycling
Round-trip efficiency: spec vs field
Lab-rated vs measured efficiency across 10 brands
Black-start reliability
20 simulated outage tests across compatible units
TOU optimization savings
Modelled savings across 6 utility rate structures
Inverter compatibility matrix
AC vs DC coupling compatibility across 32 systems
Cold-climate capacity retention
Performance at -10°C / 0°C / 10°C ambient
- Scoring framework designed
- Evaluation criteria defined
- Product database — 12 systems live (32-system target)
- Specs verified against manufacturer/installer sources (12 systems)
- Decision engine — live, ranks 12 systems by goal/size/install
- LFP vs NMC: Which Battery Chemistry Is Right for Your Home?Coming soon
- How Much Battery Capacity Do You Actually Need?Coming soon
- AC vs DC Coupled Batteries ExplainedComing soon
- Best Whole-Home Battery Backup Systems 2026Coming soon
- Home Battery Installation Cost & Incentives GuideComing soon
Recommendations use a weighted scoring algorithm across 6 use-case dimensions, based on manufacturer specs and field-tested data where available. Each data point shows confidence level: verified / claimed / estimated.