POWERPIGGY BATTERY GUIDES
Yes, our batteries
work in a power cut.
PowerPiggy systems include automatic backup
Not every home battery keeps running when the grid goes down. Some standard grid-connected systems switch off during an outage. The systems PowerPiggy installs are different: they include automatic backup, so when a power cut is detected your home switches over to stored battery power.
How backup power works
For backup to work safely, the system has to isolate your property from the grid before it runs on stored power, so nothing flows back into the network while engineers are working on it. Our systems handle this automatically. Your proposal will confirm which circuits are covered.
Capacity and output still matter
Even with backup, what you can run depends on two separate limits: how much energy is stored (kWh) and how much power the system can supply at once (kW). A full battery may run lights, the fridge and internet for a long time, but struggle with an electric shower, oven and kettle together. Some systems also take a moment to switch over.
Keep some charge in reserve
If backup matters to you, ask whether the system can hold back a reserve rather than using all its stored power every evening. Holding a reserve improves outage readiness but reduces the amount available for everyday savings.
What to ask before you buy
Is backup included, and which circuits will it cover? What is the maximum backup output? Is there a switchover delay? What extra equipment and electrical work is needed, and is it in the installed price? These points should be set out clearly in your written proposal.
Further reading: Energy Saving Trust’s battery storage guide.