Battery comparison · verified July 2026

Powerwall 3 vs. FranklinWH
vs. Enphase.

The three most popular home batteries in 2026, compared straight from the datasheets. All three are LFP now, all discharge to 100% — the real differences are in power, efficiency, warranty, how they connect to your solar, and how far they scale. Here's the honest breakdown.

What we install · Top Tier installs SolarEdge and Enphase battery systems — the two platforms your existing solar already runs on. We include Tesla and FranklinWH below because they're the batteries homeowners ask about most, so you can see the full landscape before you choose.

Side by side

The full spec sheet

	Tesla Powerwall 3 Most power in one box	FranklinWH aPower 2 Biggest & most scalable	Enphase IQ Battery 5P Most modular
Chemistry	LFP (lithium iron phosphate)	LFP	LFP
Usable capacity / unit	13.5 kWh	15 kWh	5 kWh
Continuous power / unit	11.5 kW	10 kW	3.84 kW
Peak power (10 sec) Enphase also rated 7.68 kW for 3 sec. Manufacturers use different peak test windows — treat as a rough surge comparison.	22 kW	15 kW	6.14 kW
Round-trip efficiency Tesla and Enphase publish DC-level figures; real-world AC-to-AC round-trip for AC-coupled units lands a few points lower. Not perfectly apples-to-apples.	97.5%	~90%	96% DC (~90% AC)
Depth of discharge	100%	100%	100%
Coupling / architecture	DC-coupled, integrated solar inverter	AC-coupled	AC-coupled, 6 grid-forming microinverters
Integrated solar inverter	Yes — up to 20 kW PV, 6 MPPTs	No — pairs with your existing inverter	No — uses Enphase microinverters
Max scalable capacity	40.5 kWh (3 units)	225 kWh (up to 15 units / aGate)	Modular in 5 kWh steps (~20 kWh typical home)
Warranty	10 yr · 70% retention · unlimited cycles	15 yr · 70% · 60 MWh throughput/unit	15 yr · 70% · up to 6,000 cycles
Dimensions (H×W×D)	43.3 × 24 × 7.6 in	45.2 × 29.5 × 11.8 in	≈38.6 × 21.7 × 7.4 in
Weight / unit	287 lb	—	132 lb
Operating temperature	−4 to 122 °F	−4 to 131 °F	−4 to 122 °F
Install	Indoor/outdoor · IP67 · wall or floor	Indoor/outdoor	Indoor/outdoor · wall or floor

Figures are per single battery unit unless noted. Verified July 2026 against the sources listed below; battery models revise often, so we'll confirm current specs for your quote.

Which home battery has the most storage and power?

Per unit, FranklinWH's aPower 2 holds the most energy (15 kWh) and Tesla's Powerwall 3 delivers the most power (11.5 kW continuous, ~22 kW peak). Enphase's IQ Battery 5P is smaller per unit (5 kWh, 3.84 kW) but designed to be stacked. For total capacity, Franklin scales furthest — up to 225 kWh.

What's the difference between AC-coupled and DC-coupled batteries?

A DC-coupled battery (Powerwall 3) includes its own solar inverter and connects on the DC side — slightly more efficient, and a natural fit when you're installing or replacing an inverter. AC-coupled batteries (FranklinWH, Enphase) connect on the AC side and work alongside your existing inverter, which makes them the easier retrofit if you already have solar and don't want to touch it.

Do these batteries work with my existing solar panels?

Yes — especially the AC-coupled options. FranklinWH's aPower 2 pairs with most existing inverter brands, and Enphase's IQ Battery 5P is a natural fit if your panels already use Enphase microinverters. The Powerwall 3, being DC-coupled with a built-in inverter, is best paired with a new or replacement inverter rather than dropped onto an untouched existing system.

Which home battery has the best warranty?

FranklinWH and Enphase both offer 15-year warranties versus Tesla's 10 years, and all three guarantee at least 70% capacity retention. They measure lifespan differently: Franklin by energy throughput (60 MWh/unit), Enphase by cycles (up to 6,000), and Tesla by time with unlimited cycles.

The short version

Which one should you pick?

Tesla Powerwall 3

You want the most power from a single box, or you're (re)doing your inverter anyway.

Highest continuous (11.5 kW) and surge power of the three, and a built-in solar inverter makes it an efficient all-in-one. Because it's DC-coupled, it shines most on new installs or when you're replacing your inverter — less of a clean drop-in if you're keeping existing panels and inverter untouched. 10-year warranty is shorter than the others.

FranklinWH aPower 2

You want big whole-home backup, room to grow, and an easy retrofit.

The largest single unit (15 kWh) and by far the most scalable (up to 225 kWh). AC-coupled, so it bolts onto most existing solar — including systems from other brands — without touching your inverter. 15-year warranty and its aGate controller handles whole-home and smart-circuit management. Lower round-trip efficiency (~90%) is the trade for that flexibility.

Enphase IQ Battery 5P

You already have Enphase microinverters, or you want to start small and add later.

The most granular — 5 kWh building blocks let you size exactly to your needs and expand a unit at a time. If your panels already run on Enphase microinverters, it's the most seamless ecosystem fit. Lower per-unit power (3.84 kW) means you lean on multiple units for whole-home loads, which can push cost per kWh up.

For a Baltimore home with solar

We install SolarEdge and Enphase.

Those two are the platforms your existing solar already runs on — every rooftop system's inverter is either SolarEdge or Enphase — so the matching battery retrofits onto panels you already own. Which one fits your home comes down to that first: SolarEdge or Enphase. We check, size it to your loads and backup goals, and give you a straight answer.

SolarEdge Home Battery → Enphase IQ Battery →

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Sources · verified July 2026

Specs are pulled from manufacturer datasheets and technical reviews and were accurate as of July 2026. Manufacturers revise models, warranties, and ratings, and measure efficiency and peak power differently — we'll confirm the current numbers for the exact configuration we'd install at your home.

Powerwall 3 vs. FranklinWH vs. Enphase.