How it works · 3 min read · 17 September 2026
Do Solar Panels Work During a Blackout?
Most grid-connected solar systems switch off in a blackout for safety. Here is why, and what it takes to keep power on: a battery with backup.
Read article →Batteries · 3 min read
How Long Can a Solar Battery Power Your Home During a Blackout?
Quick answer
A backup-ready battery can run a home for hours to days in a blackout. The time depends on how much usable energy is stored when the outage starts, what is running, and whether the panels can recharge the battery in daylight. Backing up essential circuits only makes the battery last much longer.
How do I estimate it?
A simple way to think about it:
Hours of backup ≈ usable energy in the battery (kWh) ÷ average power being used (kW)
For example, if a battery has 10 kWh available and the house averages 1 kW with only essentials running, that is roughly 10 hours. If the house is running at 2 kW, it is about 5 hours. This is a rough guide only; real use goes up and down.
What changes the answer?
- How full the battery is when the outage starts.
- What is on backup. Essential circuits only (fridge, lights, internet, some power points) stretch the battery a long way. Whole-home backup with air conditioning and ovens drains it fast.
- Solar recharging. With a backup-ready system, panels can recharge the battery during daylight, so a multi-day outage in sunny weather can be covered.
- The battery's power rating. It limits how many appliances can run at once.
What are good habits in a blackout?
- Check how much charge is left in the app.
- Avoid big loads: ovens, kettles, dryers, air conditioning.
- Run the washing machine or other loads in the middle of the day if the sun is out.
- Keep the fridge closed as much as possible.
Can I keep a reserve just for blackouts?
Yes, on most batteries. Setting a backup reserve means daily cycling stops at, say, a set percentage, keeping the rest for outages. It trades a little everyday use for peace of mind.
A real example
We installed a 41 kWh GoodWe battery in Palm Beach, at the northern tip of the peninsula. With that much storage and the right backup setup, essentials can run for a long time, and the panels can top the battery up whenever the sun is out.
Want backup?
Tell us what must keep running in an outage. We design the backup wiring and battery size around it.
Related project
A real Panda Power install that shows this topic in practice.
What it costs
Home batteries from $6,999 to about $15,999
base prices after rebates, inc GST, as at October 2026
What affects the price: battery size, brand and inverter, whether you already have solar, backup wiring, and any additional work at your home.
Base price for a standard install, after government rebates, inc GST, as at October 2026. Additional work such as switchboard upgrades, three-phase changes or complex installs is reviewed and quoted separately.
FAQs
Will my battery be full when the power goes out?
Not always. It depends on the time of day and settings. Many batteries let you keep a reserve percentage for backup so there is always some energy put aside.
Can the battery run air conditioning in a blackout?
Possibly, if the battery's power rating and backup wiring allow it. Large loads drain the battery quickly, so many homes leave them off backup.
Do I need to do anything when the power goes out?
With a properly set-up backup system, no. It switches over automatically. Afterwards, check the app and avoid running big appliances until the grid returns.
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Written by the Panda Power team from our own installs and the questions customers ask us.
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Install before 1 January 2027