Path-Q Solar

How should I prioritize loads when the battery cannot power the whole house?

Answer

Prioritize safety, essential communications, medical needs, refrigeration, water, heating or cooling required for health, and equipment needed to keep the home functioning. Place discretionary and high-power loads on non-backup circuits unless the battery can support them.

Key points

  • Separate essential circuits from flexible or deferrable circuits.
  • Check both energy use over time and starting or running power.
  • Some loads, such as pumps, compressors, heaters, and electric vehicle chargers, can quickly exhaust the battery.
  • Use manual or automated load controls where available.

What it depends on

  • Health, safety, and accessibility needs of occupants
  • The battery's usable energy and continuous and surge power ratings
  • The duration and frequency of expected outages
  • Seasonal heating, cooling, water, and refrigeration requirements

Risks and trade-offs

  • Excluding a large load may improve runtime but reduce comfort or water-system operation.
  • Including too many circuits can cause overloads or early battery shutdown.
  • Medical or life-safety equipment may require a dedicated resilience plan rather than relying solely on a household battery.

Information you may need

  • A list of essential appliances and their running and starting power
  • Expected outage duration and seasonal conditions
  • Battery power, usable energy, and recharge capability
  • Any medical, accessibility, water, or heating requirements

Your next step

What to do next

Make a ranked load list and ask the installer to model runtime and starting-power requirements for the highest-priority circuits.

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SQ01754