Powerwall 3 vs Enphase IQ 5P vs FranklinWH aPower 2

The spec sheets side by side, what each one actually keeps running in an outage, and what they cost now that the 30% federal credit is gone. Specs checked October 28, 2026.

In short

Powerwall 3 has the most power per unit (11.5 kW) and a published 185 A motor-start rating, the safest bet for central AC. FranklinWH aPower 2 stores the most energy per unit (15 kWh) with a 15-year warranty. Enphase IQ 5P comes in 5 kWh blocks that fit Enphase solar and small budgets, but you need several to start big motors.

HB-01

Tesla

Powerwall 3

The most output per unit (11.5 kW) and a published 185 A motor-start rating, which is what decides central AC.

Usable: 13.5 kWh
Continuous: 11.5 kW
Peak / start: 185 LRA
Warranty: 10 yr
Max units: 4
Avg home, 1 unit: 10 h

Built-in solar inverter (DC-coupled); up to 3 extra 13.5 kWh Expansion units

≈ $13,473†one unit installed, before local rebates

† EnergySage 2026 marketplace average for Powerwall 3 (about $998/kWh), before any local rebate.

Spec source: Tesla Powerwall 3 datasheet (NA)

HB-02

Enphase

IQ Battery 5P

Small 5 kWh blocks: you buy exactly the capacity you need, but power adds up slowly (3.84 kW each).

Usable: 5 kWh
Continuous: 3.84 kW
Peak / start: 7.68 kW†
Warranty: 15 yr
Max units: 16
Avg home, 1 unit: 3.8 h

AC-coupled; pairs with Enphase microinverter solar

≈ $5,795†one unit installed, before local rebates

† EnergySage 2026 market average of $1,159/kWh × 5 kWh, our arithmetic, not a quoted price.

Spec source: Enphase IQ Battery 5P datasheet

HB-03

FranklinWH

aPower 2

The most energy per unit (15 kWh) and a 15-year warranty; generator integration built into the aGate.

Usable: 15 kWh
Continuous: 10 kW
Peak / start: not published
Warranty: 15 yr
Max units: 15
Avg home, 1 unit: 11 h

aGate controller; works with existing solar and generators

≈ $17,385†one unit installed, before local rebates

† EnergySage 2026 market average of $1,159/kWh × 15 kWh, our arithmetic, not a quoted price.

Spec source: FranklinWH aPower 2 announcement

How many you need, and how long they last

Units needed to carry the power (everything running plus the biggest start-up), then how long that setup lasts with no solar, up to two weeks. “Average home” uses the EIA's 2024 figure of 865 kWh a month (about 28 kWh a day), all of it backed up.

What stays on	Powerwall 3	IQ Battery 5P	aPower 2
Fridge, Wi-Fi, lights, phones790 W run · 3.0 kW start · 1.7 kWh/day	1 unit · 7.1 days	1 unit · 2.6 days	1 unit · 7.9 days
+ 1/2 HP sump pump1.8 kW run · 4.0 kW start · 3.8 kWh/day	1 unit · 3.2 days	1 unit · 28 h	1 unit · 3.5 days
Gas furnace blower + essentials1.7 kW run · 4.0 kW start · 12.3 kWh/day	1 unit · 24 h	1 unit · 8.8 h	1 unit · 26 h
Well pump (240 V) + freezer2.5 kW run · 4.7 kW start · 4.0 kWh/day	1 unit · 3.0 days	1 unit · 27 h	1 unit · 3.4 days
Average US home, everything on28.4 kWh/day (EIA 2024)	1 unit · 10 h	1 unit · 3.8 h	1 unit · 11 h

Minimum units set by power (continuous kW and start-up peak). Where the maker publishes no peak rating we use continuous output. Runtime at 90% round-trip efficiency, no solar. Run your own list in the planner.

What the numbers mean for you

Power decides what you can run, energy decides for how long

A home battery has two limits. Continuous kW caps how much can run at once; kWh caps how long. Central AC is where batteries differ most, because a compressor's start-up current is several times its running current. Tesla publishes a 185 A locked-rotor rating for Powerwall 3; that number, compared with the LRA on your condenser's label, tells you whether one unit can start it.

The 30% credit is gone

Until the end of 2025, a home battery of 3 kWh or more qualified for the 30% residential clean energy credit (25D). The IRS now states that the credit is “not available for any property placed in service after December 31, 2025.” Many pages still quote 30% off. If an installer does, ask for it in writing. What remains: state and utility programs (California's SGIP equity tiers, utility battery rewards and virtual power plant programs that pay you per kW of support), whose amounts change often.

Pairing with an EV

Since September 2026, Tesla's Cybertruck Powershare is reported to work alongside a Powerwall 3, so the truck can top the house up during a long outage. Ford's F-150 Lightning integration uses its own hardware. See using your EV as home backup.

Prices

The installed prices above are averages from EnergySage's 2026 marketplace data, flagged † because we read them from search excerpts rather than the full page. For Enphase and FranklinWH we multiplied the market average per kWh by the battery size: it is arithmetic, not a quote. Panel upgrades and permits can add $500 to $3,000.

Questions people ask

Which home battery lasts longest in an outage?

Per unit, FranklinWH aPower 2 stores the most (15 kWh usable), then Powerwall 3 (13.5 kWh), then Enphase IQ Battery 5P (5 kWh). Runtime depends on what you power: on fridge, Wi-Fi and lights, one Powerwall 3 lasts several days; on central AC it can be under a day.

Can one Powerwall 3 run central air conditioning?

Often, yes: it delivers 11.5 kW continuous and is rated to start motors up to 185 locked-rotor amps (LRA). Check the LRA on your outdoor unit's label. Runtime on AC is the limit: a 3-ton unit can draw 3 to 4 kW while running.

Is there a federal tax credit for home batteries in 2026?

No. The IRS states the residential clean energy credit (25D) is not available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. State and utility programs, such as California's SGIP equity tiers or utility battery-rewards programs, may still apply.

Do I need solar for a home battery?

No. A battery can charge from the grid and switch over automatically in an outage. Without solar it only lasts as long as its stored energy, so size it for your longest likely outage.

Not affiliated with Tesla, Enphase or FranklinWH. We earn nothing from home battery sales or installers.