Path-Q Solar
What should I compare when one proposal includes whole-home backup and another includes selected circuits?
Answer
Compare the actual backed-up loads, power limits, equipment, operating controls, expected duration, and total installed cost rather than the labels alone. Whole-home backup may offer more convenience but can require greater inverter, battery, transfer, and electrical capacity; selected-circuit backup may provide better value if your priority is a defined set of essential loads.
Key points
- List every backed-up circuit and identify excluded loads in each proposal.
- Compare continuous and surge power, motor-starting capability, battery capacity, and recharge assumptions.
- Check whether backup is automatic, how the system handles overloads, and whether load management is included.
- Compare additional equipment, service changes, maintenance, warranties, and future expansion.
What it depends on
- Critical and noncritical loads
- Equipment power and capacity
- Outage priorities and expected duration
- Existing panel and service configuration
Risks and trade-offs
- Whole-home backup may still shut down under simultaneous high loads.
- Selected-circuit backup requires disciplined load selection and may not cover future priorities.
- A larger backup system costs more and may operate less efficiently at light loads.
Information you may need
- Circuit-by-circuit backup schedules
- Battery and inverter power and energy ratings
- Outage scenarios and control behavior
- Itemized equipment and installation differences
Your next step
What to do next
Map your essential loads to both proposals and request comparable outage scenarios and total installed prices.
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