Consumer demand for home power banks continues to rise for many reasons. Even as you read this, thousands of people around the globe are suffering from power outages due to weather, bad infrastructure, cyber-attacks, and more. Here’s a deep dive into home power banks, what features are best, and whether these devices live up to their hype.
What are Home Power Banks?
Power banks are nothing new. They have been around in small portable versions for decades. However, it wasn’t until recently that these backup batteries became efficient enough to handle entire homes. Home power banks represent the evolution of battery technology and can be a great way to prepare for unforeseen outages.
Today’s home power banks come in many shapes and sizes to meet your needs. The best options are durable enough to withstand harsh environmental conditions and still provide enough power to keep your home’s appliances, like fridges and TVs, operational.
Why Home Power Banks Make Sense
The concept of home power banks makes perfect sense. Today’s batteries are advanced enough to integrate management systems and charging protocols, enabling them to safely store and distribute energy to entire homes. As people use more electronics now than ever, they provide an obvious solution to the growing outage concerns.
- Source – GM Home Power Bank
Increase Outages
When you examine the current electrical grid, some areas of concern could make any homeowner consider power backups. For one, the infrastructure in many regions of the world requires severe upkeep and repair. These degraded systems are more likely to fail during intense storms.
Additionally, global weather continues to intensify, resulting in more hurricanes and other extreme conditions. These occurrences can leave entire countries without reliable power options. For example, parts of Puerto Rico went without power for more than 200 days following Hurricane Maria.
Additionally, cyber-attacks are now a concern. These digital criminals will infiltrate electrical management systems and cause chaos, often resulting in you losing power. Sadly, cyber warfare is on the rise, and state-level actors continue to target each other as a way to cause discord among their residents.
Home Power Banks Versus Home Generators
Home power banks are an environmentally sustainable way to power your home during outages. Unlike gas-powered generators, these devices don’t require any fuel to operate. They stay charging on your home’s electricity until they are needed. Compared to generators, they are quieter, more portable, and offer a greener solution.
Determine the Size that Best Fits Your Application
The Home Power Bank sector has seen considerable growth in terms of offerings and features. Homeowners have a variety of options to consider, from solutions that have enough power to keep a few lights and electronics running to systems powerful enough to keep the entire home operational. To determine the best size home power bank, you need to consider a few details and features.
Compact Size
Home power banks come in shapes and sizes. As such, it’s best to determine if you need a full-scale mounted home power bank or if you require something more portable. The most expensive home power banks are mounted to walls and can store enough energy to support home appliances for days. For those looking to power only essential appliances for a short period, a small ultra-portable option can allow you to expand your safety net across multiple properties.
Best Home Power Bank Features
Home power bank manufacturers continue to push the boundaries of the technology in search of a competitive edge in the market. The results of this market competition include added innovation and features for consumers. Today’s best home power banks offer you a lot of add-ons that can help you save money and keep track of energy usage on a new level.
Connect to Solar Systems to Charge
It’s wise to consider if your home power bank will be powered by solar or the grid. This setup will provide the greatest amount of power independence for homeowners. They can charge their batteries all day during high solar energy and when peak hours drop, they can utilize batteries for their nighttime and storm activities. Notably, not all home power banks support solar charging, so you need to verify with the manufacturer before making a purchase to ensure you can leverage this feature.
Auto Transfer Switch
Auto transfer switches engage the generator automatically when a power outage occurs. For those who live in areas where power outages are frequent, these options can help save you time and reduce the interruptions that would normally wreak havoc on your day. Automatic transfer switches will also turn off your generator when power is restored to your lines.
Power Management
One of the coolest options to enter the market is the introduction of power management applications. These apps provide real-time monitoring and management via an interactive screen that provides instant access to all vital data including power generation, usage, battery temp, and more. Use the power management app to determine a power-saving strategy that works.
Save Money
Power management systems have different features as well. The best options enable you to track peak electrical usage based on price. These systems will then take this information and determine a charging schedule that keeps the unit leveling up during off-peak hours and then switches your home to battery power during peaks, reducing costs without the need to lower usage.
Pass-Through Charging
Pass-through charging is another option that’s worth knowing. This feature allows you to charge devices while the power bank is still charging. While this feature may seem like a no-brainer, it didn’t become standard until recently. Depending on how you intend to use your power bank, pass-through charging could make the most sense.
Top Home Power Bank Solutions
The home power bank market continues to see growing competition as new manufacturers enter and old competitors improve their offerings. Not all power banks are reliable or even worth your time. Here are a few home power bank options that have been proven to be reliable.
Tesla
Tesla (TSLA +0.33%) remains a pioneer in the electronics market. The company’s Powerwall 3 offers a variety of features that make it ideal for your home. The battery comes in a 13.5kw standard package and ranges in price from $8-$15k depending on the feature and energy level you rquire.
Tesla’s Powerwall comes with an advanced power management system that allows homeowners to track vital details of their system’s health in real-time. The system even communicates with all smart devices on your network and can be charged from both solar systems and off the grid simultaneously.
In terms of durability, the Tesla Powerwall 3 offers reliable change and service via a powerful lithium-ion battery. The device comes with a 10-year warranty and has a 5,000-cycle life. These details make the Tesla Powerwall a top contender in the market.
GM Energy
GM Energy, General Motors residential energy management firm, recently unveiled a new home power bank this week. The system includes a host of advanced features like a new power management dapp, support for full-spectrum charging, a purpose-built hub computer, an inverter, and more.
The new GM home power bank retails for $12,700, placing it in line with competitors such as the Tesla Powerwall 3. Additionally, it integrates into the expanding line of GM residential electronic management products, providing a seamless experience for homeowners during outages.
GM Energy entered the market in 2022. It’s a subsidiary of General Motors that focuses exclusively on home electricity management and sustainability. Since its launch, GM Energy has helped pioneer multiple sustainable energy movements.
General Motors entered the market in 1908 and is based in Detroit, Michigan. The company began as an automotive manufacturer and is responsible for many of the most timeless cars ever created. Today, GM operates across multiple industries and has clients in 192 countries, including major government contracts.
General Motors Company (GM -0.58%)
General Motors Company (GM -0.58%)
General Motors stock continues to see gains since the start of the year. The firm currently has a market cap of $54.68B and its stock is seen as a strong “Buy” by many analysts due to the company’s positioning and product line, which includes everything from cars to advanced AI systems.
Home Power Banks – Keep the Lights On
When you examine how far home power banks have come, it’s easy to see why so many homeowners have turned to this advanced tech as a way of buffering growing electrical concerns. Keenly, home power banks offer you a way to prevent the discomfort of having no power while also enhancing your management strategy. As such, this tech is here will only improve as demand grows in the coming years.
Learn about other cool tech here.
