No, you don’t need solar to use our batteries. You don’t need solar to use Base because the batteries are designed to store energy directly from the grid. This allows you to access reliable backup power and lower energy costs without relying on solar panels.

That said, if you already have solar, Base works seamlessly with it. Plus, you can always add solar later—our batteries are designed to easily integrate with solar systems. And Base offers competitive solar buyback prices.

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Yes! Base works for you with or without solar.

Base batteries integrate seamlessly with solar panels without affecting your warranty or requiring any rewiring of your system.

Solar households choose Base for three key reasons:

1. Power during outages: Your home stays powered even when the grid goes down.‍
2. Extended outage protection: Your solar panels can continue recharging your battery during an outage, providing longer backup time.‍
3. Competitive solar buyback: Base credits you for all your solar overproduction—whether it charges the battery or goes back to the grid—at a rate of 4¢/kWh.

If you don’t have solar yet but plan to install it later, you can start with a Base battery now. When you’re ready, Base will integrate your solar panels by putting current transformers (CTs) on your battery.

Please coordinate with the Base support team to schedule this.

Base credits you for all of your solar overproduction each month. You can see your solar data on your monthly bill in the “Solar Credits” section.

On your bill, our buyback rate is 4 cents per kWh.

Your Solar Credit amount is the rate multiplied by your kWh of unused solar. Underneath the credits, we also list your home’s solar usage (“Solar usage by home”) so you can see your usage alongside your overproduction.

If your bill is negative, Base rolls over your credits to the following month.

Yes. Base integrates with most solar panels to help extend backup duration.

However, automatic standby generators currently do not qualify for integration.

Yes! Base members have two ways to use a portable generator alongside their battery system:

Available Now

Members can connect a portable generator to their home by installing a generator interlock on their main electrical panel. Learn more here about how this works. Note that the interlock system prevents simultaneous operation of the generator and battery at full home capacity.

• This setup allows the generator to power your home during a prolonged outage if the Base battery is fully drained.
• Note: This setup does not recharge the battery — it only powers the home directly.

Generator Recharge Port - Available now

Base launched a new version of the battery with an optional generator plug add-on (available for an additional $1,000).

• This add-on allows a portable generator to plug directly into the battery, unlocking deeper backup functionality.
• The add-on enhances compatibility, enabling power management between generator and battery for improved operational efficiency.
• It supports the use of optimal generators rated at 240V with an L14-30 plug, adhering to the required wattage minimum of 3 kW.

Benefits of the generator recharge port

• Recharge the Base battery using a generator
• Power your home and recharge the battery at the same time
• Smarter load management between generator and battery
• Extended backup coverage — ideal for homes using under 70 kWh/day.
• During outages, the system uses the Generator Recharge Port to provide a steady 3kW to power the home, supplemented by the battery if necessary.

Generator compatibility:

• Required: Portable generators with 240V output and L14-30R receptacle
• Not compatible: Whole-home standby generators
• Note: the battery has a 3000W limit. Getting a larger generator will not change this limit.- Generators must provide a 240V output to ensure compatibility with the Base Power system. Generators with lower outputs, such as certain low-capacity standby models, are not compatible.
• For seamless operation, the generator should contain an L14-30 plug type, which ensures proper electrical connections along with the 240V output.
• The 3000W limit refers to the maximum wattage the battery can accept from any generator; exceeding this limit will not improve efficiency.
• Fuel efficiency should also be considered for prolonged outages. Larger generators with sufficient fuel capacities offer extended runtime even if daily power use is less than 72 kWh.

Please Note:

• The generator recharge port is only eligible for new members to checkout with at basepowercompany.com‍
• If you have already signed up for Base and did not select the generator recharge port at checkout, we will not be able to add it to your account
• If you have a battery system installed, we will be unable to add the generator recharge port to your installed system

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For any electrical work involving your main panel after your Base battery installation, the electrician can simply turn off the main panel as they normally would. There is no need to power down the battery or take any specific action related to it.

However, Base systems support a maximum of 200 amps. In most cases, Base cannot support upgrades above 200A, as they typically require splitting the panel, which would necessitate the de-installation of your Base system.