SACRAMENTO / BATTERY STORAGE
Start with what you want a battery to do: keep essential circuits running, use more solar after sunset or shift grid use to another time. Menderix plans and installs battery storage around those priorities, the equipment already on site and the loads you need to support.
Sacramento area · Monday–Sunday, 8 am–6 pm
CHOOSE THE LOADS FIRST
An essential-load plan and a whole-home connection can lead to very different equipment and operating expectations. The label alone does not tell you how much can run at once.
Focus available power on the equipment you most need, such as refrigeration, lighting, internet access or a necessary pump.
A smaller set of backed-up loads can make stored energy last longer.
More circuits may be connected, but large appliances can still require load management or changes in how they are used during an outage.
Even with a whole-home connection, some loads may need to wait.
READ BOTH RATINGS
Usable energy, measured in kilowatt-hours, indicates how much stored electricity is available. Power output, measured in kilowatts, indicates how much demand the system can supply at a moment in time. A system needs enough of each for its intended job.
A battery may contain enough energy for a modest overnight load but lack the output needed to start a particular motor. Conversely, equipment with high output can run through its stored energy quickly under a heavy load. Runtime estimates need a defined load list, reserve level and operating conditions.
ADDING STORAGE TO AN EXISTING SYSTEM
The solar inverter, service equipment and existing wiring affect how storage can be added. Some projects can retain much of the existing system; others need different controls, electrical work or equipment changes.
We review model information and the installation layout before proposing an addition. Space, equipment access and installation requirements also shape the design. If your solar system is subject to a particular utility billing arrangement, discuss the effect of the proposed changes with the utility before assuming the arrangement will stay the same.
UNDERSTAND THE OUTAGE BEHAVIOR
A battery system intended for backup must be designed to operate safely when the utility supply is unavailable. Its normal daily mode may differ from its outage mode.
| Question | What the design must establish |
|---|---|
| Which circuits remain powered? | The backed-up portion of the property and the loads excluded or managed during an outage. |
| Can solar recharge the battery? | Whether the inverter, battery and controls support solar operation while separated from the grid. |
| What happens at low charge? | The reserve and shutdown behavior specified for the system and its operating mode. |
| How does normal operation resume? | The equipment's reconnection and recovery behavior once suitable utility supply returns. |
A solar array and a battery provide backup only when the system is designed for outage operation.
BACKUP AND EVERYDAY USE
Depending on the system and settings, excess daytime production can charge storage for later use. The available energy still changes with weather, season and household demand.
A compatible schedule may shift grid use away from more expensive periods. Use the actual utility tariff and account for losses, reserve settings and program requirements.
Holding a larger reserve leaves more energy available for backup but less for everyday discharge. The right balance depends on the household, essential loads and the equipment's capabilities.
MAKE THE ASSESSMENT USEFUL
Tell us what you want to keep running before choosing a battery size.
Name the appliances or activities that must continue, plus large loads you would be willing to defer.
Share solar, inverter and battery model information if known, along with safely accessible exterior equipment photos.
Include the address, utility, typical usage and possible installation location. Mention future EV or appliance plans.
Before you book
Here are a few details to help you plan the work. Call us if your property or equipment needs a closer look.
That depends on usable energy, the charge available when the outage starts and the loads being supplied. Solar recharging may help only if the system supports it under outage conditions. A useful estimate lists its assumptions.
Possibly, if the system is designed for its running and starting requirements. Air conditioning can use substantial energy, so both output and expected runtime need review. It should not be assumed included in a basic backup plan.
Some battery designs can charge from the grid, subject to equipment and applicable requirements. Whether that approach makes sense depends on the backup goal, rate plan and installation scope.
Yes, after a compatibility and site review. Share the inverter and solar system information you have. The proposed battery connection may require additional controls or electrical work.
Programs and eligibility change. Check current utility and program requirements for the proposed equipment, installation and enrollment before relying on an incentive. An advertised program does not guarantee that a particular project qualifies.
Contact Menderix
Tell us which loads matter most during an outage and whether you already have solar. Include your address, utility and equipment models when available so we can discuss a suitable storage plan.
