A home battery can be useful, but it is not magic and it is not right for everyone. As your local Cornwall electrician, we would like to explain what batteries actually do, what limits them, and what to ask before buying one.
Ask us whether storage suits your home.
How it works
Solar panels often produce most when you are out. Without storage, that surplus is exported to the grid. A battery captures it instead, so you can use it in the evening. Using more of what you generate is called self-consumption.
Some energy is lost every time a battery charges and discharges, and its usable capacity gradually reduces with age and use. That is normal, and worth factoring into expectations.
Know the terms
It is a common assumption that a battery keeps the lights on in a power cut. Most do not, by default. Backup needs a suitable inverter, safe isolation from the grid and usually dedicated backed-up circuits, and the stored energy is limited, so it will only run selected loads for a while. If backup is important to you, ask us to discuss what might be achievable for your home before you choose any equipment.
The process
Battery capacity and output, whether a new or hybrid inverter is needed, compatibility with existing equipment, siting and cable runs, consumer unit or earthing work, and any backup arrangement you choose to discuss.
Before committing, check any supplier tariff requirements and what certification and documentation they ask for, and confirm which documents will come with your installation.
Using more of your own solar, shifting to off-peak electricity, or something else? Your reason shapes whether a battery makes sense at all.
We look at any existing solar inverter, your consumer unit, earthing and where a battery could safely live. Share inverter details or photos if you can.
Discuss the capacity, output and connection type that suit your home. Confirm any network operator notification or approval required, who will handle it and what is included in the agreed work.
The battery and any extra equipment are installed, isolated and labelled, then tested and set up so charging and discharging behave as intended.
We show you the app or display, how to isolate the system, and what normal behaviour looks like so you can spot when something is off.
Brands we use
These are the battery storage brands we currently supply and install. Which one suits depends on your home, any existing solar and what you want the battery to do.
Product details and specifications are on each manufacturer’s own website. We will talk through which equipment suits your home before you decide.
Tell us about your home and any existing solar, and we will talk it through honestly.
Your local electrical team, serving homes and businesses across Cornwall.
