One of the two we install · verified July 2026
The Enphase IQ Battery,
the clean retrofit for solar you already own.
Enphase's IQ Battery is AC-coupled and modular, which makes it the easiest battery to add onto an existing solar system — and the most seamless of all if your panels already run on Enphase microinverters. Here are the two units, what they do, and how to size them for a Baltimore home.
● First question: is your solar an Enphase or a SolarEdge system?
On SolarEdge instead? →Side by side
IQ Battery 5P vs. 10C
| IQ Battery 5P Start small, add later | IQ Battery 10C Best cost per kWh | |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity / unit | 5.0 kWh | 10 kWh |
| Continuous power / unit | 3.84 kW | 7.08 kW |
| Peak power 5P also rated 7.68 kW for 3 s. Enphase and other makers use different peak test windows — treat as a rough surge figure. | 6.14 kW (10 s) | — |
| Chemistry Lithium iron phosphate — the long-cycle-life, cobalt-free chemistry. | LFP | LFP |
| Round-trip efficiency | 96% DC | — |
| Coupling Bolts onto existing solar without touching your inverter. | AC-coupled | AC-coupled |
| Modularity | 5 kWh blocks | 10 kWh blocks |
| Warranty Both guarantee ~70% capacity retention at end of term. | 15 yr · 4,000 cycles | 15 yr · 6,000 cycles |
| Install | Indoor/outdoor · ~185 lb | Indoor/outdoor |
Figures are per single unit, verified July 2026 against the sources below. Enphase revises models and ratings — we'll confirm the exact configuration for your quote.
At a glance
The strengths — and the trade-offs
What's strong
- AC-coupled — the cleanest retrofit onto solar you already own, with no inverter swap.
- Seamless end to end if your panels already run on Enphase microinverters.
- LFP chemistry: long cycle life, cobalt-free, runs cool.
- 15-year warranty — longer than most batteries on the market.
- Modular in 5 kWh (5P) or 10 kWh (10C) blocks, so you size exactly and expand later.
The trade-offs
- Lower power per unit (the 5P is 3.84 kW), so whole-home loads lean on several units.
- More units means more wall space — and a higher cost per kWh at small sizes.
- Outage backup needs Enphase's system controller hardware.
- Best value comes from the 10C; the 5P alone can cost more per kWh.
What is the Enphase IQ Battery?
It's Enphase's home storage battery, built on the same platform as their microinverters. There are two current units: the IQ Battery 5P (5 kWh, added in small increments) and the IQ Battery 10C (10 kWh, with a better cost per kWh and more power per unit). Both use LFP chemistry, are AC-coupled, and are modular — so you can size to your exact home and add capacity later.
Does the Enphase IQ Battery work with my existing solar?
Yes — this is Enphase's strong suit. Because the IQ Battery is AC-coupled, it retrofits onto most existing solar without replacing your inverter. And if your panels already run on Enphase microinverters — very common in Maryland — it's the most seamless fit of any battery, one connected ecosystem end to end. If you're on a SolarEdge system instead, the SolarEdge Home Battery is usually the cleaner match; the honest first question is which inverter you already have.
5P or 10C — which Enphase battery should I get?
The 10C gives you more capacity and power per box (10 kWh, 7.08 kW) at a better cost per kWh, and its 15-year warranty covers 6,000 cycles — it's the value pick for whole-home backup. The 5P adds capacity in smaller 5 kWh steps, is lighter (~185 lb), and fits tighter spaces, which is handy for a precise size or a wall with limited room. Many homes mix to hit an exact target. We'll size it to your loads.
Will an Enphase battery keep my home running in a BGE outage?
Yes, in a backup configuration — the IQ Battery, paired with Enphase's system controller, detects when BGE drops and switches your home to battery power in milliseconds, then recharges from your solar the next day. You can back up your whole home or just essential circuits, depending on how many units you install. A battery set up only for self-consumption savings won't power the house in an outage without the backup hardware, so tell us if outage ride-through is the goal.
How many Enphase batteries do I need in Baltimore?
For essentials — fridge, lights, Wi-Fi, sump pump, medical devices — a single 10C (or two 5P units) typically carries a home through the evening and overnight and refills from solar the next day. For whole-home backup or to ride out a multi-day BGE storm outage, homeowners stack more units. Because Enphase is modular, you can also start with what you need now and expand later. A free assessment sizes it to your real usage.
Backup or savings?
A battery does two jobs. Decide which you're buying.
The same Enphase battery can ride through BGE outages, quietly cut your bill after sunset, or both — but backup needs extra hardware, so it's worth knowing your goal before you quote. Self-consumption vs. backup, explained →
Get your free battery assessmentSources · verified July 2026
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P — data sheet
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P data sheet (PDF)
- NuWatt — IQ Battery 5P vs 10C comparison
- EnergySage — home battery specs
Specs are pulled from Enphase datasheets and independent reviews and were accurate as of July 2026. Manufacturers revise models, warranties, and ratings, and measure peak power differently — we'll confirm the current numbers for the exact system we'd install at your home. This isn't a specific offer or price.