Home battery backup you can actually buy — and systems that need an installer
Clear specs, honest costs after the 30% residential credit ended, and a runtime calculator. No fake review counts. No lab we do not have.
Highest-utility shop-ready backups
These are systems you can order yourself. Tesla-class whole-home installs are covered further down — they are often the cleaner built-in appliance, but they require a certified installer.
Manufacturer list on us.ecoflow.com (Aug 2026): inverter + 2 batteries $7,999; same + Smart Home Panel 3 $10,999. LFP packs. Sub-20 ms switch with SHP3.
Full Ultra X notes →
Anker lists the F3800 at $1,999.99 (often $1,799.99 on sale). 120/240 V, expandable with extra batteries. A practical first unit for a fridge, well pump attempt, and a few 120 V circuits.
F3800 vs Delta Pro 3 →
EP900 is the inverter; each B500 is 4,960 Wh nominal (4,464 Wh usable). Two to four packs is the common 9.9–19.8 kWh setup. LFP. Confirm live kit price on Bluetti.
Why 9 kW matters for pumps →Pick a rung, then stay in that family
The three flagships are still the default for 240 V and whole-home. The ladders below catch fridge-only budgets and the extras that make a first buy last through night two.
DELTA 3 → Ultra X
$599 essentials box through the $10,999 SHP3 stack. Same-brand extras and the $399 transfer kit.
C2000 → F3800 Plus
2 kWh fridge backup, 3 kWh wheeled F3000, then 6 kW F3800 / Plus with generator bypass.
AC200L vs EP900
A $799 portable versus the 9 kW stack. Different batteries. Pick one path.
What changed in 2026 (verify this first)
The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) is not available for homeowner-owned solar or batteries placed in service after December 31, 2025. ENERGY STAR still lists 30% only through property placed in service before January 1, 2026. Any site still subtracting 30% from a 2026 install is using last year’s rules.
How long will a battery last on your loads?
Average-load math only: (kWh × efficiency × usable %) ÷ kW. We do not pretend to model surge.
Finish the kit, don’t buy a second brand
Same-brand extra batteries last longer in a multi-day outage. Soft-starts and inlet boxes make a portable actually useful on house circuits.
$549 panel · Ultra extra $2,299 · Delta Pro 3 extra $1,899.
Panel → DP3 extra →
EcoFlow lists a home backup transfer switch at $399. Electrician required. Soft-starts via Amazon.
Transfer kit →Guides people actually search
Can a battery start a well pump?
Surge, not kWh, is the constraint. What 6 kW vs 9 kW vs 11.5 kW can honestly claim.
CPAP + fridge runtime
The two loads that make a $2,000 portable worth it for many homes.
Hurricane & multi-day outages
Charge plan, flood height, critical-loads panel — no invented homeowner stories.
Free 1-page essentials checklist
Circuits to keep, circuits to shed, and a charge-before-landfall list. No email wall.
Open the checklist