If you're choosing a home battery in the Bay Area, the three names you'll compare most are the Tesla Powerwall 3, the FranklinWH aPower, and the Enphase IQ Battery. Short version: Powerwall 3 packs the most power and an integrated solar inverter into one unit; FranklinWH shines at whole-home energy management and mixing power sources; Enphase is the most modular and the easiest retrofit onto existing solar. All three are excellent — the right one depends on your solar setup, backup goals, and budget. Here's how we help homeowners decide.
Pacific Edge Electric and Solar is a licensed C-10 electrical contractor (CA #1143455) and a Tesla Certified Installer based in Los Gatos. We install all three of these systems, so this comparison isn't a sales pitch for one brand — it's what we actually tell homeowners.
Quick comparison
| Tesla Powerwall 3 | FranklinWH aPower | Enphase IQ Battery 5P | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | 13.5 kWh | 13.6 kWh | 5.0 kWh (stackable) |
| Continuous power | 11.5 kW | 10 kW | 3.84 kW per unit |
| Built-in inverter | Yes (solar inverter integrated) | Yes (hybrid) | AC-coupled (microinverters) |
| Best trait | Most power per unit, clean all-in-one | Whole-home management, generator/EV integration | Modular sizing, easy retrofit |
| Warranty | 10 years | 12 years | 15 years |
Tesla Powerwall 3 — the powerhouse all-in-one
The Powerwall 3 folds a solar inverter and a 13.5 kWh battery into a single unit with 11.5 kW of continuous output — the most punch of the three, which means it can run big loads (AC, well pump) without stumbling. For a new solar-plus-battery install it's clean and cost-effective because you're not buying a separate inverter. It's our common pick for new systems where the homeowner wants strong whole-home backup in one box. The tradeoff: it's optimized for Tesla's ecosystem and is less modular if you want to add a little capacity later.
FranklinWH aPower — the whole-home brain
FranklinWH's strength is its aGate management system. It's unusually good at juggling multiple power sources — solar, battery, grid, and even a generator or EV — and managing the whole home intelligently. If you want a generator in the mix, have a complex setup, or want the smartest energy management, FranklinWH is often the answer. Its 13.6 kWh units are modular and expandable to 15+ units for big homes, and it carries a 12-year warranty. It's our frequent pick for homeowners who want maximum flexibility and resilience.
Enphase IQ Battery — the modular retrofit champ
Enphase batteries are AC-coupled and come in small 5 kWh building blocks, which makes them the easiest to retrofit onto an existing Enphase solar system and the most granular to size — add exactly the capacity you need, stack up later. They pair naturally with the Enphase microinverters many Bay Area homes already have. The 15-year warranty is the longest of the three. The tradeoff is lower per-unit power, so whole-home backup means stacking several units. Great for existing-solar retrofits and phased buildouts.
So which should you pick?
- New solar + want the most power in one box: Tesla Powerwall 3.
- Want the smartest whole-home management, or a generator in the mix: FranklinWH aPower.
- Adding storage to existing (especially Enphase) solar, or want to size in small steps: Enphase IQ Battery.
Honestly, all three will keep your lights on and cut your bill under NEM 3.0. The bigger decision is sizing — how many critical circuits you back up drives how much battery you need. We map your must-run loads first, then match the battery to them. See the equipment on our energy storage page and our products page, or request a free quote and we'll spec the right system for your home.
Frequently asked questions
Which home battery is best for a Bay Area home?
There's no single winner — the Tesla Powerwall 3 is best for the most power in one all-in-one unit, FranklinWH aPower for whole-home management and mixed power sources, and Enphase IQ Battery for modular sizing and retrofitting existing solar. The right pick depends on your solar setup and backup goals.
How many batteries do I need for whole-home backup?
Most homes back up critical loads (fridge, lights, internet, outlets, sometimes HVAC) with one to two batteries. True whole-home backup including large loads like central AC can require two or more units. Sizing to critical circuits keeps cost down and runtime up.
Can I add a battery to my existing solar?
Usually yes. Enphase IQ Batteries and FranklinWH retrofit well onto existing solar, and Powerwall 3 works with new or existing arrays. The best fit depends on your current inverter type, which a licensed installer can assess.
Specs reflect commonly installed configurations and can vary by model revision; we confirm current equipment specs at design. Written by Adam Aksoy, licensed C-10 electrical contractor (CA #1143455), Pacific Edge Electric and Solar.