How to connect a home battery to your fuse box 

Home batteries are becoming increasingly popular, and that’s not surprising. They are a smart way to store your own solar power and use it later, for example in the evening or when the sun is less strong. This makes you less dependent on the grid and allows you to get more out of your solar panels. There are several ways to connect a home battery. In this blog, we will explain exactly how it works. 

Depending on your current installation 

The way a home battery is connected depends greatly on your current setup. Do you already have solar panels, or are you planning to install them? Do you have a standard inverter or use micro-inverters? It is also important to know whether your inverter is compatible with a home battery. All these factors determine how the home battery can be integrated into your energy storage system and how smoothly the installation will go. 

Solar panels and home battery: power conversion 

The electricity generated by your solar panels and stored in a home battery is direct current (DC). In contrast, the electricity supplied by your home’s sockets is alternating current (AC). An inverter converts the electricity so it can be used directly in your home. 

With micro-inverters, the DC electricity is converted to AC directly under the panels before entering the home. In a system with a central inverter, this conversion only takes place at the inverter in your home.  

To store electricity in your home battery, it must be in the correct form. With micro-inverters, this conversion happens twice: first on the roof, and then at the battery. With a suitable hybrid inverter, the electricity can remain in DC and go directly into the home battery. This means only one conversion and less power loss, allowing you to use your solar power more efficiently. 

Location of the home battery 

In a string inverter system (for example with Solis, Growatt, SMA or GoodWe inverters), the inverter must be hybrid to connect directly to a DC home battery. If your hybrid inverter is located in the garage or attic, the home battery will also be placed there, as close as possible to the inverter. 

If your string inverter is not hybrid, or you use micro-inverters, a separate battery inverter is required. This is connected to the home battery, or sometimes integrated directly into the battery itself. The location of this installation does not matter because it is completely new. This type of system is also known as an AC-coupled home battery. 

Connecting a home battery in the meter box 

A home battery can be connected in two ways: as a DC-coupled or AC-coupled battery. 

• With a DC connection, little extra is usually needed in the meter box, except possibly a smart meter (to measure consumption and production) and a data cable. The battery can then be connected directly to your solar panels, making installation relatively simple and efficient.

• With an AC-coupled battery, the installation is slightly more extensive. Often additional circuit breakers, a smart meter, or CT coils need to be added, and new cables may need to be laid. This is a good solution if your current solar panel or inverter system does not support DC coupling.

By connecting the home battery correctly in the meter box, you can make the most of your own solar electricity and ensure the safe and reliable operation of your energy storage system.  

Would you like to have a home battery in your home and make the most of your own solar power? Contact us, and we’ll be happy to help you get started.