Already have panels but no storage? Most existing solar systems can have a battery added, either AC- or DC-coupled depending on your setup.
We evaluate your current system and recommend the cleanest way to add backup and storage.
An AC-coupled battery has its own inverter and ties in on the home’s AC side, so it can work alongside the string inverter or microinverters you already have. A DC-coupled setup shares a hybrid inverter with the panels, which can be efficient but often means replacing an inverter that still works. Which route is cleaner depends on your equipment, its age and how much backup you want.
A quick look at your existing setup speeds up the assessment: the inverter brand and model (usually on a label on the unit), roughly how many panels are on the roof, the system size from your original paperwork, and whether you own or lease it. A clear photo of the inverter label and your main electrical panel with the door open answers many compatibility questions before anyone climbs a ladder.
If your panels are leased or sold to you under a power purchase agreement, the company that owns the equipment may need to approve changes, and some contracts limit what can be connected to the system. Homeowners who own their panels outright have the simplest path. Reading through the agreement, or calling the leasing company, before planning a battery saves surprises later in the process.
Adding backup usually means installing a gateway or transfer device and moving the circuits you want protected onto a dedicated backup subpanel. Older Las Vegas homes with crowded main panels sometimes need extra electrical work to make room. We check panel capacity during the assessment so you know up front whether your home can take storage as-is or needs some electrical changes first.
Before work starts, it is worth reviewing the warranties on your existing panels and inverter, since some manufacturers specify which equipment can connect to their products. Monitoring may stay as it is, with the battery reporting through its own app, or both may combine into one view depending on the brands involved. Knowing this ahead of time keeps expectations clear once the battery is running.
A retrofit can be sized for different goals. Some homeowners mainly want to keep the fridge, lights and internet running, which is covered on our battery backup power page. Others want to shift daytime solar into the evening to cut time-of-use costs. Covering air conditioning too points toward whole-home backup, which typically takes more capacity.