Use this article when a generator is installed at a home that already has solar, a battery, or both, or when it is installed together with a new Generac PWRcell 2 system. Confirm the site matches a row below before you install. Configurations not listed are not approved.
Before you install
Existing solar and batteries must stay on the utility side of the generator Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS).
When the home has an existing battery with a Microgrid Interconnection Device (MID), install the ATS after (downstream of) the battery's backup equipment, such as the Tesla Backup Gateway.
Include a clear photo of the existing battery's label showing the model number in the install package.
INSTALLER ALERT: Solar or a battery on the generator side of the ATS can send power back into the generator. EPCs should be aware of this limitation and refrain from utilizing this configuration.
Approved configurations
# | Existing equipment | Policy Status | Battery charges from generator? | Separate ATS required? | What to know |
1 | None | Approved | N/A | Yes | Standard generator install. |
2 | Solar only, any inverter | Approved when Conditions are Met | N/A | Yes | The generator backs up the home. Solar does not run during an outage. |
3 | Enphase IQ Battery 5P with 3G Controller | Approved when Conditions are Met | Yes | No. The Enphase system controls the transfer. | Works with generators on the Generator AVL if appropriately sized. |
4 | Enphase IQ Battery 10T with IQ System Controller 2 | Approved when Conditions are Met | No | Yes | Install the ATS after the IQ System Controller 2. |
5 | Tesla Powerwall 3 | Approved when Conditions are Met | No | Yes | Install the ATS after the Tesla MID. |
6 | SolarEdge Home Battery | Approved when Conditions are Met | No | Yes | Install the ATS after the SolarEdge Backup Interface. |
7 | FranklinWH | Approved when Conditions are Met | No | Yes | Install the ATS after the FranklinWH aGate. |
8 | Generac PWRcell 2, with or without PWRmicro solar | Approved | Yes | No | — |
9 | Any battery not listed above | Contact support before installing | — | — | — |
— | Battery in rows 4 to 7 with no MID installed | Not Approved. Please do not install. | — | — | — |
— | Solar or battery on the load side of the ATS | Not Approved. Please do not install. | — | — | — |
For rows 4 to 7, the battery will not charge from the generator during an outage. Make sure the customer understands this at the point of sale. See the customer FAQs below.
FAQ
# | Question | Answer |
1 | Will my battery charge from the generator during an outage? | Yes with Generac PWRcell 2 or Enphase IQ Battery 5P. With other batteries, the battery and generator back up the home separately, and the generator will not recharge the battery. |
2 | Will my solar work during an outage? | Homes with solar and no battery rely on the generator during an outage. |
3 | Can I add a battery or solar later? | Yes. Speak with your installer regarding your options. |