A home battery keeps your lights, fridge, furnace fan and internet running when the grid goes down, with no fuel, noise or engine to maintain. For most Canadian homes, one 10–15 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery covers essential loads through an overnight outage, and adding solar lets you recharge it during longer ones. This guide covers how to size a system, what Canadian winters mean for batteries, how popular 48V wall batteries such as the GSL and EG4 compare, and how to buy one.
What a home battery backup system includes
- Battery: stores energy, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
- Inverter: turns the battery's DC power into the 120/240V AC your home uses. A hybrid inverter also connects solar panels and the grid.
- Transfer switch or backup panel: disconnects your home from the grid during an outage and powers the circuits you choose.
- Solar panels (optional): recharge the battery during multi-day outages and cut your power bill day to day.
How big a battery do you need?
Two numbers matter. Capacity (kWh) decides how long the battery lasts. Power (kW) decides how many things can run at once, and that limit usually comes from the inverter.
| Backup goal | Typical loads | Rough battery size |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials overnight | Fridge, furnace fan, lights, internet, phone charging | 10–15 kWh |
| Essentials plus well pump or sump pump | The above, plus a 1/2–1 HP pump | 15–30 kWh |
| Most of the home | Add cooking, laundry, some heating or cooling | 30 kWh and up, with solar |
Electric baseboard heat, electric furnaces and EV charging draw far more power than a single battery can supply for long. Most backup systems leave them off the backup panel. A licensed electrician or our team can size a system from your actual loads.
Batteries and Canadian winters
LiFePO4 batteries can discharge in the cold, but most should not be charged below 0°C, because charging frozen cells damages them. You have two options:
- Install the battery in a heated space, such as a basement or utility room.
- Choose a self-heating model, which warms its cells before charging. This is the right choice for unheated garages, cottages and cabins.
Also check whether a battery is rated for indoor or outdoor installation. Indoor-only batteries (often IP20) need a dry indoor location.
Why LiFePO4 chemistry
Most home batteries now use lithium iron phosphate. It is more thermally stable than other lithium chemistries, contains no cobalt, and is commonly rated for 6,000 or more charge cycles. That's well over 15 years of daily cycling.
Safety testing and certification
Ask for a battery's safety documents before you buy. UL 1973 covers the battery itself. UL 9540 covers the complete energy storage system: the battery together with its inverter. UL 9540A is a fire-propagation test that inspectors and insurers often ask about. In Canada, look for marks showing certification to the Canadian editions of these standards. Rebate programs such as BC Hydro's list the exact products and certifications they accept.
GSL vs. EG4: comparing popular 14 kWh 48V wall batteries
The GSL 14.34 kWh and EG4's 14.3 kWh WallMount batteries are among the most common 48V, 280Ah LiFePO4 batteries sold in Canada. They're similar in capacity and work with many of the same inverters. The main differences are where they can be installed, heating, and certifications.
| GSL 14.34 kWh Wall-Mount | EG4 WallMount Indoor 14.3 kWh | EG4 PowerPro WallMount All-Weather 14.3 kWh | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 14.34 kWh (51.2V, 280Ah) | 14.3 kWh (51.2V, 280Ah) | 14.3 kWh (51.2V, 280Ah) |
| Installation | Indoor, IP20 | Indoor, IP20 | Indoor or outdoor, IP65 |
| Self-heating | Optional version | Included | Included |
| Continuous discharge | 150A max (100A recommended); 200A peak for 2 minutes | See EG4 spec sheet | 140A; 200A peak for 30 minutes |
| Rated cycles | 8,500+ | See EG4 spec sheet | 8,000+ at 80% depth of discharge |
| Units in parallel | Up to 16 | See EG4 spec sheet | See EG4 spec sheet |
| Safety documents | UL 9540A test report; UL 1973-certified cells | UL 1973, UL 9540A | UL 1973, UL 9540A; UL 9540 when paired with EG4 inverters |
| Monitoring | Wi-Fi and Bluetooth | On-unit display | LCD touchscreen |
| Warranty | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years |
Which fits your project?
- Installing outdoors? You need an IP65-rated battery such as the EG4 PowerPro. The GSL wall-mount and EG4 indoor models are for dry indoor spaces.
- Installing in a basement, utility room or heated garage? Any of these work. The standard GSL is a good value if the space stays above 0°C.
- Unheated garage or cottage? Choose a self-heating model: the GSL self-heating version or either EG4 model.
- Using an EG4 inverter and want a UL 9540-listed system? Pairing EG4 batteries with EG4 inverters is the simplest route.
- Using a Growatt or Victron inverter? Both battery brands support closed-loop CAN/RS485 communication with many 48V inverters. Confirm your exact inverter model before buying.
Specifications are from each manufacturer's published spec sheets as of October 2026 and may change; always check the current spec sheet before buying. EG4 is a trademark of its owner. Rocksolar sells GSL batteries and is not affiliated with EG4.
Battery backup vs. a generator
A battery is silent, needs no fuel and little maintenance, and can cut your power bill every day by storing solar or off-peak power. A generator runs as long as you have fuel. For very long outages, some homeowners combine a battery and solar with a small generator as a last resort. We compare the two in detail in our battery vs. generator guide.
Installation
A home battery connects to your electrical panel, so in Canada it must be installed by a licensed electrician, with a permit and inspection where required. Rebate programs often have their own installer rules. For example, BC Hydro requires a Home Performance Contractor Network member. Plan for delivery too: a 14 kWh battery module can weigh over 130 kg and arrives on a pallet.
Rebates in Canada
- British Columbia: BC Hydro pays C$500 per kWh, up to C$1,500 with solar or C$5,000 if the battery is enrolled in Peak Saver. Confirm current rules on BC Hydro's rebate page.
- Ontario: the Home Renovation Savings program offers rebates on solar panels paired with battery storage. Check the program for current amounts and contractor requirements.
- Other provinces: use our rebate finder to check what applies where you live.
What a home battery costs
As of October 2026, a 14 kWh-class 48V LiFePO4 battery costs roughly C$4,100–6,400 in Canada before installation. A complete backup system adds an inverter, a transfer switch or backup panel, wiring and installation labour. Installation costs vary widely by home and region, so get quotes from licensed installers.
Where to start
- GSL 14.34 kWh 48V LiFePO4 wall-mount battery: C$4,139.99, or C$4,279.99 for the self-heating version for unheated spaces (prices as of October 2026), expandable to 16 units.
- Growatt 10kW + GSL Home Backup System: a complete hybrid inverter and battery kit.
- Off-grid solar kits with GSL batteries for cottages, cabins and rural homes.
- All home energy storage batteries
Not sure what size you need? Talk to our team or call 1-800-858-4318. We'll help you size a system from your loads.
FAQ
How long will a home battery run my house?
It depends on what's running. A 14 kWh battery typically covers essentials such as a fridge, furnace fan, lights and internet for about a day. Heating and EV charging use it up much faster.
Can a battery work without solar?
Yes. It charges from the grid and takes over during outages. Solar lets you recharge during long outages and save money every day.
Can I add more batteries later?
Many 48V batteries can be connected in parallel. Check the maximum number of units and inverter compatibility before you buy.
Will it charge in winter?
Only above 0°C, unless it's a self-heating model or installed in a heated space.
Is the GSL 14.34 kWh an alternative to an EG4 battery?
For indoor installs, yes. Both are 48V, 280Ah LiFePO4 wall batteries of about 14 kWh that communicate with many of the same inverters. For outdoor installs, choose an IP65-rated model instead.