Everyone wants a constant power supply, but we are all trapped in a vicious cycle of power and price. You are paying high amounts for the usual power usage during peak hours, which is obviously not benefiting you. What if there is a solution to this? We use solar batteries with solar power systems to have backups for cloudy days and during power outages. Well, here is one such power storage device, Generac PWRcell. Come find out how much does a Generac power cell cost? Generac power cell specs along with its costs and reviews?
What is a Generac Power Cell?
PWRcell is a battery storage system that harnesses solar power to provide a backup to your solar power system. It helps in reducing your electric bill and supplies power during power outages. This revolutionary technology captures and stores electricity from solar panels and electric grid. You can reduce electric bills by using the stored energy in PWRcell during peak hours when the cost of electricity is highest.
How Much Does a Generac Power Cell Cost?
There are a number of components paired with a Generac PWRcell, and they influence the overall costs of it too. The floor price of Generac PWRcell is $10,000 and due to the possibility of scaling up the system, the price is also intended to rise. For a 9-18 kWh Generac Power Cell, you’ll need to spend around $10,000-$18,000. But this is not the final price because it depends on the availability and the number of PV panels.
Talking about adding more batteries, yes it also adds up to the total cost. $2,000 is the price of each battery and for every pair of 6 batteries, you will need a new cabinet. The cost of a new cabinet ranges between $3,300 and $3,500, and you can fit a minimum of 3 batteries in 1 cabinet. So, if you plan to get 3 batteries and a cabinet the extra price added to PWRcell is $9,300 to $9,500.
But with an extra battery bank of six battery modules will cost $12,000 to add up the cost of the cabinet which sums to $15,300-$15,500. It further increases the overall cost of PWRcell to $33,300-$33,500. However, the final cost of Generac PWRcell depends on different other things like the dealer, location you live at, offers prevailing at that time, and others.
What are the Components of a Generac PWRcell?
A Generac PWRcell consists of the following components:
1. PWRcell ATS (Automatic Transfer Switch)
PWRcell heavily relies on ATS for a seamless transition from the electric grid to a backup power system supply for the entire house. Then, it regulates power usage from the solar system while supplying the required amount of power to household devices and systems. All this is done without your involvement because manually switching home power from grid to battery to generator and so on is a risky process.
Also Read: How Does Generac PWRcell Work?
2. PWRcell Inverter
You can consider it another factor that determines how much does a Generac power cell cost. An inverter is necessary for your solar array and PWRcell to work in harmony. DC from solar panels is converted into AC which is then transferred to batteries and the load. PWRcell inverter connected with the PWRview smartphone app and web portal provides you with monitoring and forecasting features to adjust the power requirements of your house.
3. PWRmanager for Load Management
It is an advanced load management device by Generac that adds unbeatable flexibility and value to your Generac PWRcell system. You get a whole house backup that you can control through a user-friendly PWRview app. It gives you the flexibility to access all loads during an outage and automatically manages load to provide extended battery backup and reduce inverter overload.
4. Battery Cabinets and Batteries
Primary batteries used in PWRcell are lithium-ion that are placed in the cabinet. The enclosure is designed to fit any size configuration and the number of batteries paired with Generac PWRcell depends on the power requirements of the customer. Adding batteries to an existing battery cabinet gives you a scope to increase overall backup from 9 kWh to 18 kWh.
5. Smart Management Modules
SMM protects PWRcell from overload. 8 residential circuits can easily be handled by the power system when combined with PWRcell automatic transfer switch. It enables PWRcell to automatically regulate energy supply during power outages.
Including all this along with PV link or Optimizers and a PWRgenreator, if required, the cost of a PWRcell varies. Now, let’s look at how much does a Generac cost with installation.
How Much Does a Generac Cost With Installation?
The average cost of a Generac PWRcell 9 kWh system is $18,000, and suppose you are installing it with an array of 22 solar panels. Sum up the cost of solar panels and installation charges, and it is around $29,000. So, the answer to the question of how much does a Generac cost with installation is that the overall cost of a Generac PWRcell with installation is about $47,000. After this, let’s explore generac power cell specs.
Note: Installation and components costs depend on location, provider, type of components, number of batteries & solar panels, and other factors.
What are Generac Power Cell Specs?
After learning about how much does a Generac power cell cost, let us have a look at its specifications. Generally, there are 4 battery configurations of PWRcell, namely, M3, M4, M5, and M6. Generac PWRcell has a DC-DC round trip efficiency of 96.5% and a Type 3R enclosure. With a nominal voltage of 280 VDC, PWRcell has an optimal Ambient Operating Temperature of 41° F to 104 °F (5° C to 40 °C). Electronics and enclosures have a warranty of 10 years. Overall, the enclosure weighs 115 LB (52 kilograms). Other specifications are as follows.
- Communication Protocol: REbusâ„¢ DC Nanogridâ„¢
- Compliance: UL 9540, UL 9540A5, UL 1973, UL 1642, CSA 22.2 #107.1
- Dimensions: L x W x H – IN (MM): 22″ x 10″ x 68″ (559 x 254 x 1727)
- Maximum Ambient Operating Temperature: 14 TO 122 °F (-10 TO 50 °C)
- Maximum Installation Altitude: FT (M): 6560 (2000)
- REbusâ„¢ VOLTAGE: INPUT/OUTPUT: 360-420 VDC
- Seismic Rating: IEEE 693-2018 (HIGH)
- Warranty: Li-Ion Modules: 10 Years (7.56 MWh)
Here is a table for the technical specifications of all individual models:
| Configuration | M3 | M4 | M5 | M6 |
| Usable energy | 9 kWh | 12 kWh | 15 kWh | 18 kWh |
| Nominal continuous AC power | 3.4 kW | 4.5 kW | 5.6 kW | 6.7 kW |
| Max AC power | 4.5 kW | 6 kW | 7.5 kW | 9 kW |
| Nominal continuous DC power (charge/discharge) | 11.6 | 15.5 | 19.4 | 23.3 |
| Peak Motor Starting Current (2 sec) | 25 | 33 | 42 | 50 |
| Weight installed without DCB modules LB (KG) | 280 (127) | 335 (152) | 390 (177) | 445 (202) |
| Weight Installed Without EX Modules – LB (KG): | 287 (130) | 344 (156) | 401 (182) | 459 (208) |
Note: Specifications mentioned here are in consideration of recent updates. But specifications are subject to change without notice.
Also See: Polycrystalline Solar Panel Specifications
Can You Use Generac PWRcell Without Solar Panels? Can Generac Run Without a Battery?
On the other hand, can Generac run without a battery? The answer to this is also no. The battery is also one of the main components of Generac PWRcell. Since it is a power storage system, it cannot function without batteries. Generac PWRcell has 4 variations, and each has different battery modules.
- PWRcell M3 – 3 battery modules (9 kWh)
- PWRcell M4 – 4 battery modules (12 kWh)
- PWRcell M5 – 5 battery modules (15 kWh)
- PWRcell M6 – 6 battery modules (18 kWh)
However, to suit the power requirements of your house you can add more battery modules to M3, M4, and M5 variations because a PWRcell battery cabinet has space for 6 battery modules at max. You can also opt for another battery cabinet if your system exceeds 6 batteries. With this, you should have understood can you use Generac PWRcell without solar panels and can Generac run without a battery.
Also Read: Can Hybrid Inverter Work Without Battery?
How Long Does Generac Power Cell Last?
Usually, solar batteries have a lifespan of about 10–15 years and most batteries are backed with a 10-year warranty. A PWRcell is also backed with a 10-year warranty or up to the time it takes to cycle 7.3 Megawatt hours. Also, electronics and enclosures are backed with 10 years of warranty, and the warranty of Li-Ion Modules is also 10 Years or 7.56 MWh cycle. Now you know how long does Generac power cell last. After this, you should also be curious about the Generac PWRcell review.
Also See: How Long Do Solar Watches Last?
What is Generac PWRcell Review?
After learning about how much does a Generac power cell cost and how long does Generac power cell last here is Generac PWRcell review about its features, pros, and cons. Yes, Generac PWRcell is worth it, and you will agree to it after reading its features and its pros.
1. Features
You get 3 kWh electric output per battery, which allows you to increase power output in increments of 3 kWh.
- Battery cabinets can hold up to 6 batteries and up to a total of 36 kWh between two battery cabinets.
- Batteries can easily be added and removed as you just need to slide them in or out.
- Battery cabinets, inverters, and batteries, along with labor, are backed up with a 10-year warranty by Generac.
- Battery charge on cloudy days can be increased by connecting a generator to Generac PWRcell.
- With Generac PWRcell you can store power at reduced costs during non-peak times and then use the stored power during costlier peak hours.
- Generac PWRcell automatically switches from grid to battery storage and then back to the grid or solar power system during times of power failure.
Also Read: Is Tesla Powerwall Worth It?
2. Pros
a) Islanding: The term is basically used when you are not drawing power from the grid, and you are neither feeding power back into the grid. So, with Generac PWRcell you can island your house off the grid.
b) Modular: A Generac PWRcell gives you the ease of adding and removing batteries to suit the power requirements of your house and to match. Also, with this, you can easily scale the entire system up or down.
c) More efficient: Generac PWRcell is more efficient than its substitute because instead of converting DC from solar panels to AC, it directly takes it to batteries. This makes it 7% to 10% more efficient than others.
d) Outdoor rated: With Generac PWRcell you do not have to worry about installing it indoors to protect it from weather and outdoor damage. It is outdoor rated, which means it is durable enough to withstand outdoor conditions and is installed in the mechanic room, garage, or any other exterior wall of your house.
3. Cons
a) Expensive compared to substitutes: If you compare the price of Tesla and Generac PWRcell you will find the former less expensive. But the former one needs conversion of DC to AC to make it less efficient than the Generac
b) Incompatible with Tesla EVs: Generac PWRcell needs to be installed as a totally integrated system, and it is impossible to mix and match components from other brands or manufacturers. However, only solar panels are an exception to this because it is AC coupled, making them compatible with solar panels from any manufacturer.
c) No cross-brand compatibility: If you plan to charge your Tesla electric vehicle, prefer Tesla PWRcell as they both are designed to communicate well with each other. Also, they both can manage power distribution during grid failure. However, you can use Generac PWRcell to charge other EVs.
Is Generac Power Cell Worth It?
You get long-term benefits with Generac PWRcell and a solar panel system equipped with Generac PWRcell system could help save more than $66,000 on energy costs for the coming 25 years. This estimate is based on a 3,000-square-foot house in a sunny location. It is always worthwhile to install a Generac PWRcell with a solar panel system. Plus, it is silent and produces no emissions.
The answer to the question is Generac power cell worth it, is yes. Considering all the above features, it is worth the price.
Now, you are well aware of how much does a Generac power cell cost? The floor price of this power cell is $10,000, which increases with the type and wattage of components you pair up with the PWRcell system. The cost of cabinets, solar panels, batteries, and other components influences the overall cost of Generac PWRcell.
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