In any conversation about solar and battery storage, the mention of Tesla Powerwall and Generac PWRcell is never missed. Both of them are great batteries for home solar energy backup power systems. But when someone is asked to choose between Tesla Powerwall vs Generac PWRcell, it’s quite confusing. Don’t worry we have it covered for you. In this blog, we thoroughly discuss the differences between Tesla Powerwall vs Generac and will also help you understand between Tesla Powerwall Vs Generac which is better.
Tesla Powerwall Vs Generac PWRcell-An Overview
Tesla Powerwall is an integrated battery system. Its job is to store your solar energy for backup protection. It ensures that even when the grid goes down, your power still stays on. This system detects outages and keeps your appliances running during the day, it also recharges with sunlight.
On the other hand, a PWRcell solar and battery storage system has all the capacity and power you might need. It helps you save a lot on energy bills. Additionally, it keeps the home powered even when the grid is down. This battery is quite powerful and flexible. This scalable home energy system comes with a standard OR (Outdoor Rated) battery cabinet, which means it’s compatible with installs in nearly all types of climate.
Tesla Powerwall Vs Generac Size
To determine where you can place a battery inside your home, it’s important to first learn about the physical dimensions of the battery. Let’s look at Tesla Powerwall Vs Generac size-
Tesla Powerwall Weight And Dimensions
The Tesla Powerwall weighs around 276 pounds and has a dimension of 45.3 x 29.7 x 6.1 inches. It is quite suitable for indoor as well as outdoor use. Additionally, it can be mounted on the floor or the wall.
Generac PWRCell Weight And Dimensions
The PWRCell system comes with two distinct units: the PWRcell battery cabinet and inverter. Depending on the model, the battery cabinet weighs between 280 and 445 pounds and has a dimension of 22 x 10 x 68 inches. On the other hand, the inverter unit weighs 62.7 pounds and its dimensions are 24.5 x 19.25 x 8 inches. This should have explained Tesla Powerwall Vs Generac size.
Also Read: SunPower Vs Tesla: Which is Better?
Tesla Powerwall Vs Generac PWRcell: Battery Types
There are different kinds of batteries that can be used as energy storage along with solar energy systems.
Tesla Powerwall
It is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that comes along with a liquid thermal control. Specifically, it’s a lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) battery. This battery is famous among other batteries because it has high energy density and is quite safe. If needed, up to ten Powerwalls can be linked together to make a massive battery.
Generac PWRCell Batteries
Depending on the size of the model that you are purchasing, PWRcell will come with multiple lithium modules in each battery cabinet. It’s possible to even scale it. As per your needs, you can always add more modules.
Also See: How Does Generac PWRcell Work?
Tesla Powerwall Vs Generac: Off-Grid Compatibility
Although most home battery systems are created for use with grid-tied solar and storage systems, sometimes they can be used for off-grid systems. Both Tesla and Generac systems capture as well as store electricity for later use, doesn’t matter if the utility is offline or online.
Tesla Powerwall
It isn’t compatible with off-grid. It is only designed to be used as a backup in grid-tied homes. It provides you coverage during utility grid outages or it allows you to use your solar emerging during the night. It is not quite fit for modern off-grid home solar installations.
Generac PWRCell
Well, even Generac isn’t compatible with off-grid. Its energy storage system is also just for grid-tied use. It is not meant for off-grid use as it just stores enough energy for a few hours of power.
Tesla Powerwall Vs Generac: Monitoring And Control Apps
Both Tesla and Generac battery systems come with easy-to-install mobile apps. These apps allow you to control as well as monitor your system 24/7. This type of control is quite beneficial for businesses or homeowners who pay more electricity depending on the time of the day.
The monitoring and controlling apps will let you control your utility power consumption and in turn, reduce energy costs. It will also allow you to sell your solar power during the daytime (peak demand hours) and buy your electricity back at night at a lower cost.
Tesla Powerwall App
Tesla’s official app allows you to control both Tesla Powerwalls and cars from your device. It allows you to monitor the amount of energy that is stored in your solar energy system, the amount of electricity your home is using, and the amount that is being exported back to the grid. To keep records, you can also download your solar production as well as battery usage data.
Generac PWRCell App
The PWRview app from Generac allows you to monitor your energy production as well as usage. It provides you with detailed forecasting and bill tracking. Through this app, you can set up daily as well as monthly goals for your home’s energy consumption.
Also Read: REC vs LG Solar Panels-Which is Better?
Tesla Powerwall Vs Generac PWRcell: Maximum Continuous Power
The comparison analyzes the maximum amount of power in kilowatts (kW) that can be output at one time. Maximum continuous power rating decides which appliances can run since more robust and bigger appliances demand more power.
Power is one such category where you’ll see a huge difference between Tesla Powerwall and Generac. Tesla Powerwall offers a Maximum continuous power of 5kW whereas Generac offers a Maximum Continous Power of 9kW.
Compared to Tesla Powerwall, Generac delivers four more kW of continuous power. It has the reputation of providing an impressive amount of energy for instant use. Now, let’s learn about Tesla Powerwall Vs Generac capacity.
Tesla Powerwall Vs Generac Capacity
The amount of electricity that a battery can hold without recharging aging is referred to as energy capacity. These numbers represent the highest possible energy capacity that a battery case or single battery can store for each respective brand.
| Generac PWRcell | Tesla Powerwall |
|---|---|
| Up to 18 kWh | 13.5 kWh |
| 96.5% round trip efficiency | 90% round trip efficiency |
| 84% depth of discharge | 100% depth of discharge |
Some of you might not be familiar with the terms round trip efficiency and depth of discharge. Let’s see what are these-
- Round Trip Efficiency: This percentage describes the fraction of energy put into storage that is retrieved. The higher the number the more efficiently the system operates.
- Depth of Discharge (DOD): It is referred to as the percentage of battery that has been discharged in relation to the battery’s overall capacity. It helps you determine the amount of battery you can use without recharging.
The depth of discharge of the Powerwall is 100% which means between charges you can use 13.5 kWh. On the other hand, with Genera, you can use about 15.12 kWh of battery between charges. After going over Tesla Powerwall Vs Generac capacity, let’s also look at the Tesla Powerwall Vs Generac warranty.
Also See: Enphase Battery Vs Tesla Powerwall 2: What are the Differences?
Tesla Powerwall Vs Generac PWRcell: Warranty
We live in a world where warranties matter more than products sometimes. They give you peace of mind, especially when you are making a large investment like a home battery systems
Tesla Powerwall Warranty
Tesla Powerwall offers a 10-year warranty that too with a guaranteed 70% end-of-warranty capacity. Most homes using Powerwalls, charge and discharge them on a daily basis, and over time, the rechargeable batteries start losing their ability to hold a charge as well as recharge fully.
This isn’t unique to just home batteries, even car batteries need to be eventually replaced. This is why Tesla Powerwall offers a 70% guarantee, which means that your Powerwall will still have 70% (or even more of the original capacity) at the end of 10 years.
Generac PWRCell Warranty
Generac PWRcell also has a 10-year warranty. However, it doesn’t guarantee any battery capacity at the end of this tenure. Generac offers a throughput warranty, which means how much energy has been cycled through the battery storage system in MWh. Cars also come with this warranty option. Here the company offers coverage of 100,000 miles or 10 years whichever comes first. In Generac’s case, the warranty is for 10 years or a set amount of energy throughput. This is based on the size of the battery-
- PWRCell Model 17: 45.3 MWh
- PWRCell Model 15: 37.8 MWh
- PWRCell Model 12: 30.2 MWh
- PWRCell Model 9: 22.6 MWh
The warranty offered by Generac PWRcell is less attractive than Tesla’s as the former offers no guarantee on your battery’s capacity at the end of 10 years. In fact, there isn’t a guarantee that your warranty will even last 10 years in case you reach the throughput amount before that estimated tenure of 10 years. After this, let’s also see the difference in Tesla Powerwall Vs Generac cost.
Also Read: JA Solar vs Canadian Solar- Which is Best?
Tesla Powerwall Vs Generac Cost
Price is one of the most important factors to take into concern when going for any investment. Choosing the best between Tesla Powerwall Vs Generac is impossible without considering the costs you’ll need to bear for each system.
Tesla Powerwall Costs
The Tesla Powerwall battery costs anywhere around $12,850–$73,300 (depending on the number of batteries installed). A single Powerwall costs around $12,850. However, as you add more batteries to your system, the price of individual Powerwalls decreases. The cost of two Powerwalls drops to around $21,200, or $10,600 per battery.
You should keep it noted that the Powerwall isn’t separately sold by Tesla. You are needed to purchase a full Tesla solar power system and -then only you add the Powerwall to your order. You can either install one of Tesla’s solar roofs or a traditional rooftop solar panel system.
Generac PWRCell Costs
The basic model of Generac PWRcell cells at nearly $10,000. However, this system is quite scalable and the larger Generac systems will cost notably more. This again does not include the cost of the panel. For a more exact estimate of how much it will cost to back up your solar system, you should contact Generac directly. Now that you have understood Tesla Powerwall Vs Generac Cost, let’s get a brief look at both these batteries through Tesla Powerwall Vs Generac specs.
Also See: How Much Does a Generac Power Cell Cost?
Tesla Powerwall Vs Generac Specs
These are Tesla Powerwall Vs Generac Specs-
Tesla Powerwall Specs
| Energy Capacity | 13.5 kWh |
|---|---|
| On-Grid Power | 5.8kVA continuous |
| Backup Power | 10kW peak
106A LRA start Seamless backup transition |
| Size and Weight
L x W x D | 45.3 in x 29.6 in x 5.75 in
251.3 lbs |
| Warranty | 10 years |
| Certifications | Meets US and International safety and EMI standards |
| Installation |
|
Generac PWRcell Specs
| Capacity(size) | 9-18 kWh |
|---|---|
| Maximum continuous output | 4.5-9 kW |
| Round-trip efficiency | 96.5% |
| Warranty | 10 Years |
| Load prioritization | Yes |
| Energy Management App | Yes |
| Size |
|
Also Read: Solar Panel Comparison Guide: Jinko vs Longi
Tesla Powerwall Vs Generac Which is Better?
After going through all the Tesla Powerwall Vs Generac comparison points, you must have also noticed that Tesla is the winner and PWRcell holds a close second place. However, both these battery systems are scalable, powerful, easy to monitor, and capable of charging EVs. They come under similar price brackets and have solid warranties.
The reason for choosing Powerwall as the winner is because it’s more robust and complete. Moreover, it’s backed by Tesla which is a very trusted brand. However, when we talk about Tesla Powerwall Vs Generac which is better for you, it ultimately boils down to what you prefer, what’s the size of your solar energy system, and if you have any future plans of scaling your current system.
Recommended: How to Fix Solar Lights Not Working?
