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Want to Start a Website? These Are the Best Website Builders

Want to Start a Website? These Are the Best Website Builders

Top Website Builders

Best for Most People

Squarespace Core

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Best Cheap Website Builder

Hostinger Website Builder

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Best for Small Business

Strikingly Core

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Best Free Website Builder

Strikingly Website Builder

Read More

Publishing a website is still more complicated than it has any right to be, but the best website builders streamline the process. Instead of juggling a bunch of files on a server and learning the ins and outs of networking, website builders do exactly what’s written on the tin. Piece by piece, using a drag-and-drop interface, you can design your website the way you want with immediate feedback, rather than spending time buried in code and hoping it comes out on the other end.

There are dozens of website builders, and most of them range from decent to straight-up bad. Any web host with a bit of ambition has a website builder floating around, even if it’s slow, clunky, and lacking features. I focused on finding the best tools for building your website that go beyond just an add-on, and these are my favorites. If you’re after something simpler than a full-blown website, check out our list of the Best Portfolio Websites.

Table of Contents

Best Website Builder for Most

Squarespace via Jacob Roach

You’ve heard of Squarespace over and over again, I’m sure, and that’s not an accident. It’s an inviting website builder that made a name for itself with bold, striking templates. Beneath the veneer of attractive, but seemingly simple, websites, you’ll find one of the most capable website builders on the market. That balance of power and usability is what sets Squarespace apart.

It feels like a creative tool. Where other website builders lag and stutter to get a new element on your page, Squarespace feels fluid. Your dashboard gives you quick access to edit your site, and around every corner, Squarespace feels designed so you never have to look up a tutorial. I started a simple photography website, and within an hour, I had a custom course page set up, an appointment schedule with automated confirmation emails, and services (with pricing and the ability to accept payments) configured.

Squarespace isn’t cheap, but it also doesn’t meddle in restrictive, low-cost plans. Even on the Basic plan, you have access to ecommerce tools and space for multiple contributors.

Squarespace Pricing and Plans

Best Cheap Website Builder

Hostinger via Jacob Roach

Hostinger is better known as a web hosting provider, but it has a surprisingly robust website builder that you can use on its own or for free as part of a hosting package. You don’t get the same world-class template design and dense feature-set of a more expensive builder like Squarespace, but that’s OK. Hostinger’s website builder will run you just a few bucks a month, and based on my testing, it feels heavily angled toward newcomers.

You sacrifice some power for convenience, but there’s an awful lot you can accomplish with Hostinger. Integrations with PayPal, Stripe, and Square allow you to quickly set up e-commerce. Add-ons with WhatsApp give you live chat capabilities, and Printful support means you can sell print-on-demand merchandise. And, if you outgrow the website builder, Hostinger allows you to export your website’s content to WordPress.

Where Hostinger wins for me is through its AI tools. Just about every website builder these days has AI integrated in some way, but it’s around every corner at Hostinger. You need to pay extra for some of these AI features—the logo generator, for example, requires credits—but they give you a great starting point for mocking up the look, feel, and tone of your website.

Hostinger Pricing and Plans

Best for Small Businesses

Wix via Jacob Roach

Wix is undoubtedly the biggest competitor to Squarespace, and I had a hard time putting one above the other. Ultimately, Wix ended up in the backseat due to higher prices and a slightly less intuitive interface. That’s partly because of how powerful Wix is. Rather than corral you in an elegant (if restrictive) website-building workflow, Wix gives you a ton of options.

First, templates. You get a few hundred elsewhere, but Wix offers over 2,000 templates. At the time of writing, there are 223 pages of them on Wix’s website. They aren’t all winners, but I was able to mock up a quick photography portfolio website within a few minutes by browsing the templates and uploading a few photos.

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#Start #Website #Website #Builders


If you were thinking of seeing Minions & Monstersor at least taking your kid to see it, here’s something to sweeten the pot: George Lucas is in it.

Illumination head Chris Meledandri broke the news in a recent Collider interview, where he revealed the Star Wars creator is secretly a fan of Despicable Me’s chatty champions. “It was such a thrill to learn and share that with the team,” said Meledandri, “He’s among a very small group of people who the entire studio shares a level of respect for that is just off the charts.” Given Lucas’ affection for funny little guys, it makes sense that he loves the biggest little guys of our current movie era.

Now that they knew they had Lucas in their corner, the team decided what the hey, get him to do a voice for the movie. Meledandri said an “idea for a character” was born that fit the bill, and they got “a fast yes” when it was pitched. At time of writing, Illumination’s quiet on who Lucas will be, but it’s worth noting that Minions & Monsters takes place in the 1920s as the crew try to make their own movie. Lucas’ love for older films is apparent in Star Wars and Indiana Jones, so maybe he’ll be a director that ends up getting trampled by the Minions. Maybe he’ll even be one himself who just looks like a little yellow George Lucas, that’d be fun.

Look for Minions & Monsters to hit theaters on July 1.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

#George #Lucas #Minions #MonstersGeorge Lucas,Illumination,Minions,Minions and Monsters,Star Wars">George Lucas Will Be In ‘Minions & Monsters’
                If you were thinking of seeing Minions & Monsters, or at least taking your kid to see it, here’s something to sweeten the pot: George Lucas is in it. Illumination head Chris Meledandri broke the news in a recent Collider interview, where he revealed the Star Wars creator is secretly a fan of Despicable Me’s chatty champions. “It was such a thrill to learn and share that with the team,” said Meledandri, “He’s among a very small group of people who the entire studio shares a level of respect for that is just off the charts.” Given Lucas’ affection for funny little guys, it makes sense that he loves the biggest little guys of our current movie era. Now that they knew they had Lucas in their corner, the team decided what the hey, get him to do a voice for the movie. Meledandri said an “idea for a character” was born that fit the bill, and they got “a fast yes” when it was pitched. At time of writing, Illumination’s quiet on who Lucas will be, but it’s worth noting that Minions & Monsters takes place in the 1920s as the crew try to make their own movie. Lucas’ love for older films is apparent in Star Wars and Indiana Jones, so maybe he’ll be a director that ends up getting trampled by the Minions. Maybe he’ll even be one himself who just looks like a little yellow George Lucas, that’d be fun. Look for Minions & Monsters to hit theaters on July 1.  Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.      #George #Lucas #Minions #MonstersGeorge Lucas,Illumination,Minions,Minions and Monsters,Star Wars

Minions & Monstersor at least taking your kid to see it, here’s something to sweeten the pot: George Lucas is in it.

Illumination head Chris Meledandri broke the news in a recent Collider interview, where he revealed the Star Wars creator is secretly a fan of Despicable Me’s chatty champions. “It was such a thrill to learn and share that with the team,” said Meledandri, “He’s among a very small group of people who the entire studio shares a level of respect for that is just off the charts.” Given Lucas’ affection for funny little guys, it makes sense that he loves the biggest little guys of our current movie era.

Now that they knew they had Lucas in their corner, the team decided what the hey, get him to do a voice for the movie. Meledandri said an “idea for a character” was born that fit the bill, and they got “a fast yes” when it was pitched. At time of writing, Illumination’s quiet on who Lucas will be, but it’s worth noting that Minions & Monsters takes place in the 1920s as the crew try to make their own movie. Lucas’ love for older films is apparent in Star Wars and Indiana Jones, so maybe he’ll be a director that ends up getting trampled by the Minions. Maybe he’ll even be one himself who just looks like a little yellow George Lucas, that’d be fun.

Look for Minions & Monsters to hit theaters on July 1.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

#George #Lucas #Minions #MonstersGeorge Lucas,Illumination,Minions,Minions and Monsters,Star Wars">George Lucas Will Be In ‘Minions & Monsters’George Lucas Will Be In ‘Minions & Monsters’
                If you were thinking of seeing Minions & Monsters, or at least taking your kid to see it, here’s something to sweeten the pot: George Lucas is in it. Illumination head Chris Meledandri broke the news in a recent Collider interview, where he revealed the Star Wars creator is secretly a fan of Despicable Me’s chatty champions. “It was such a thrill to learn and share that with the team,” said Meledandri, “He’s among a very small group of people who the entire studio shares a level of respect for that is just off the charts.” Given Lucas’ affection for funny little guys, it makes sense that he loves the biggest little guys of our current movie era. Now that they knew they had Lucas in their corner, the team decided what the hey, get him to do a voice for the movie. Meledandri said an “idea for a character” was born that fit the bill, and they got “a fast yes” when it was pitched. At time of writing, Illumination’s quiet on who Lucas will be, but it’s worth noting that Minions & Monsters takes place in the 1920s as the crew try to make their own movie. Lucas’ love for older films is apparent in Star Wars and Indiana Jones, so maybe he’ll be a director that ends up getting trampled by the Minions. Maybe he’ll even be one himself who just looks like a little yellow George Lucas, that’d be fun. Look for Minions & Monsters to hit theaters on July 1.  Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.      #George #Lucas #Minions #MonstersGeorge Lucas,Illumination,Minions,Minions and Monsters,Star Wars

If you were thinking of seeing Minions & Monstersor at least taking your kid to see it, here’s something to sweeten the pot: George Lucas is in it.

Illumination head Chris Meledandri broke the news in a recent Collider interview, where he revealed the Star Wars creator is secretly a fan of Despicable Me’s chatty champions. “It was such a thrill to learn and share that with the team,” said Meledandri, “He’s among a very small group of people who the entire studio shares a level of respect for that is just off the charts.” Given Lucas’ affection for funny little guys, it makes sense that he loves the biggest little guys of our current movie era.

Now that they knew they had Lucas in their corner, the team decided what the hey, get him to do a voice for the movie. Meledandri said an “idea for a character” was born that fit the bill, and they got “a fast yes” when it was pitched. At time of writing, Illumination’s quiet on who Lucas will be, but it’s worth noting that Minions & Monsters takes place in the 1920s as the crew try to make their own movie. Lucas’ love for older films is apparent in Star Wars and Indiana Jones, so maybe he’ll be a director that ends up getting trampled by the Minions. Maybe he’ll even be one himself who just looks like a little yellow George Lucas, that’d be fun.

Look for Minions & Monsters to hit theaters on July 1.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

#George #Lucas #Minions #MonstersGeorge Lucas,Illumination,Minions,Minions and Monsters,Star Wars

With electricity costs soaring, home batteries have never looked so attractive. Whether you want to store the excess generated by your solar panels or simply buy electricity at the cheapest possible rate to use later when power is most expensive, a home battery can help. It’s never been easier to get a home battery installed, but this rapidly expanding market can be confusing, and there are several things to consider before you buy.

I’ve spent months researching home batteries, chatting to folks who use them, and then having one installed myself, and I have tips for anyone interested in getting a home battery of their own.

Why Would You Want a Home Battery?

There are several reasons you might want to invest in a home battery, and they are not mutually exclusive:

  • You want to store excess power from your solar panels.
  • You want to live off-grid.
  • You want to guard against power outages.
  • You want to buy electricity at a cheap rate and store it for use later.

Home batteries are a win-win, potentially benefiting power companies too, because battery storage is an essential part of grid balancing and can help manage and make the most of the intermittent power generated by renewables (solar, wind, waves).

How Do Home Batteries Work?

Image may contain Appliance Device Electrical Device and Refrigerator

Photograph: Simon Hill

A home battery is like a big power bank for your home. But rather than lithium-ion, they tend to be lithium iron phosphate (LFP or LiFePO4), because it is safer, more durable, and less prone to thermal runaway. In other words, less likely to overheat and burst into flames. There are a few manufacturers working with sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries, which are potentially cheaper, more environmentally friendly (they don’t require lithium), and perform better in the cold, but they are also larger and don’t last as long.

Home battery technology is often the same as you’ll find in electric vehicles. Some folks have even suggested employing EV batteries as home batteries. But there are potential issues with that, not least finding your car battery drained in the morning. EVs are also driving the technology forward toward solid-state batteries, which are smaller for the same capacity, safer as they don’t have liquid electrolytes inside, and longer lasting.

Many home batteries come in modular systems, so you can add the capacity you want, but they require an inverter to convert the DC (direct current) power stored to AC (alternating current) power you can use. Folks with solar panels, or those who plan to add them in the future, should opt for a hybrid inverter, which can also convert the power from the panels for use or storage.

Inverters have different power ratings in kilowatts (kW) that dictate how much power you can draw at any given moment. Households with modest needs may get by with a 3.6-kW inverter, but that limits your continuous draw to 3.6 kW. They usually have a peak load capability that goes higher, enabling you to pull more for a brief period. If you have high-demand appliances like an EV charger or heat pump, you will want at least 5 kW, and folks with larger demands or larger batteries will want to go higher (6 to 10 kW).

What Should I Look For?

There are several things to watch out for when buying a home battery:

  • Capacity: Measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), this tells you how much total energy the battery can hold.
  • Power output: Measured in kilowatts (kW), this shows how much energy the battery and inverter can deliver at any moment.
  • Depth of discharge: This is how much of the battery’s capacity you can safely use without damaging it.
  • Efficiency: This is the percentage of the power you put into the battery that you can actually use, because some energy is always lost in the storage process.
  • Warranty: This is a guarantee about the minimum performance you can expect before a battery degrades (they all degrade over time), and it’s often stated in years and charging cycles (whichever comes first). For example, EcoFlow promises at least 70 percent capacity after 15 years or 6,000 charging cycles.

How Much Home Battery Do You Need?

Image may contain Electronics Mobile Phone Phone Computer Hardware and Hardware

EcoFlow via Simon Hill

It can be tricky to calculate how much battery capacity you need, and it depends on your use case. If you want to guard against outages or live off-grid, you must consider how much power you use over time and also the sum of your maximum power usage at any given moment to ensure your capacity in kWh and output in kW are enough. If the output is not high enough you may not be able to run power-hungry appliances at the same time, so you’ll have to think about how you use your power.

For folks like me, simply looking to buy at a cheaper rate to use when power is more expensive, any capacity will benefit you. But if you have a cheap six-hour rate overnight, for example, then you ideally want it to last for the other 18 hours. It makes sense to get as much as you can up-front because the installation costs are high. Even adding to modular systems later often requires professional installation to avoid voiding your warranty.

Do You Need Upgrades or Permission?

The home battery will connect to your main electrical panel via a cable, and it may require some upgrades. There was no room on my fuse board when I got a home battery installed, so they had to install a second breaker box.

Some inverters may require permission from your electric distribution utility or local distribution company. Here in Scotland, the distribution network operator must approve your inverter, but you can install and then notify up to 3.6 kW, whereas larger inverters require prior approval.

#Home #Batteries #Arent #Doomsday #Preppers #Heresshopping,energy,batteries,how-to,smart home,power">Home Batteries Aren’t Just for Doomsday Preppers. Here’s Why You Might Want OneWith electricity costs soaring, home batteries have never looked so attractive. Whether you want to store the excess generated by your solar panels or simply buy electricity at the cheapest possible rate to use later when power is most expensive, a home battery can help. It’s never been easier to get a home battery installed, but this rapidly expanding market can be confusing, and there are several things to consider before you buy.I’ve spent months researching home batteries, chatting to folks who use them, and then having one installed myself, and I have tips for anyone interested in getting a home battery of their own.Why Would You Want a Home Battery?There are several reasons you might want to invest in a home battery, and they are not mutually exclusive:You want to store excess power from your solar panels.You want to live off-grid.You want to guard against power outages.You want to buy electricity at a cheap rate and store it for use later.Home batteries are a win-win, potentially benefiting power companies too, because battery storage is an essential part of grid balancing and can help manage and make the most of the intermittent power generated by renewables (solar, wind, waves).How Do Home Batteries Work?Photograph: Simon HillA home battery is like a big power bank for your home. But rather than lithium-ion, they tend to be lithium iron phosphate (LFP or LiFePO4), because it is safer, more durable, and less prone to thermal runaway. In other words, less likely to overheat and burst into flames. There are a few manufacturers working with sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries, which are potentially cheaper, more environmentally friendly (they don’t require lithium), and perform better in the cold, but they are also larger and don’t last as long.Home battery technology is often the same as you’ll find in electric vehicles. Some folks have even suggested employing EV batteries as home batteries. But there are potential issues with that, not least finding your car battery drained in the morning. EVs are also driving the technology forward toward solid-state batteries, which are smaller for the same capacity, safer as they don’t have liquid electrolytes inside, and longer lasting.Many home batteries come in modular systems, so you can add the capacity you want, but they require an inverter to convert the DC (direct current) power stored to AC (alternating current) power you can use. Folks with solar panels, or those who plan to add them in the future, should opt for a hybrid inverter, which can also convert the power from the panels for use or storage.Inverters have different power ratings in kilowatts (kW) that dictate how much power you can draw at any given moment. Households with modest needs may get by with a 3.6-kW inverter, but that limits your continuous draw to 3.6 kW. They usually have a peak load capability that goes higher, enabling you to pull more for a brief period. If you have high-demand appliances like an EV charger or heat pump, you will want at least 5 kW, and folks with larger demands or larger batteries will want to go higher (6 to 10 kW).What Should I Look For?There are several things to watch out for when buying a home battery:Capacity: Measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), this tells you how much total energy the battery can hold.Power output: Measured in kilowatts (kW), this shows how much energy the battery and inverter can deliver at any moment.Depth of discharge: This is how much of the battery’s capacity you can safely use without damaging it.Efficiency: This is the percentage of the power you put into the battery that you can actually use, because some energy is always lost in the storage process.Warranty: This is a guarantee about the minimum performance you can expect before a battery degrades (they all degrade over time), and it’s often stated in years and charging cycles (whichever comes first). For example, EcoFlow promises at least 70 percent capacity after 15 years or 6,000 charging cycles.How Much Home Battery Do You Need?EcoFlow via Simon HillIt can be tricky to calculate how much battery capacity you need, and it depends on your use case. If you want to guard against outages or live off-grid, you must consider how much power you use over time and also the sum of your maximum power usage at any given moment to ensure your capacity in kWh and output in kW are enough. If the output is not high enough you may not be able to run power-hungry appliances at the same time, so you’ll have to think about how you use your power.For folks like me, simply looking to buy at a cheaper rate to use when power is more expensive, any capacity will benefit you. But if you have a cheap six-hour rate overnight, for example, then you ideally want it to last for the other 18 hours. It makes sense to get as much as you can up-front because the installation costs are high. Even adding to modular systems later often requires professional installation to avoid voiding your warranty.Do You Need Upgrades or Permission?The home battery will connect to your main electrical panel via a cable, and it may require some upgrades. There was no room on my fuse board when I got a home battery installed, so they had to install a second breaker box.Some inverters may require permission from your electric distribution utility or local distribution company. Here in Scotland, the distribution network operator must approve your inverter, but you can install and then notify up to 3.6 kW, whereas larger inverters require prior approval.#Home #Batteries #Arent #Doomsday #Preppers #Heresshopping,energy,batteries,how-to,smart home,power

having one installed myself, and I have tips for anyone interested in getting a home battery of their own.

Why Would You Want a Home Battery?

There are several reasons you might want to invest in a home battery, and they are not mutually exclusive:

  • You want to store excess power from your solar panels.
  • You want to live off-grid.
  • You want to guard against power outages.
  • You want to buy electricity at a cheap rate and store it for use later.

Home batteries are a win-win, potentially benefiting power companies too, because battery storage is an essential part of grid balancing and can help manage and make the most of the intermittent power generated by renewables (solar, wind, waves).

How Do Home Batteries Work?

Image may contain Appliance Device Electrical Device and Refrigerator

Photograph: Simon Hill

A home battery is like a big power bank for your home. But rather than lithium-ion, they tend to be lithium iron phosphate (LFP or LiFePO4), because it is safer, more durable, and less prone to thermal runaway. In other words, less likely to overheat and burst into flames. There are a few manufacturers working with sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries, which are potentially cheaper, more environmentally friendly (they don’t require lithium), and perform better in the cold, but they are also larger and don’t last as long.

Home battery technology is often the same as you’ll find in electric vehicles. Some folks have even suggested employing EV batteries as home batteries. But there are potential issues with that, not least finding your car battery drained in the morning. EVs are also driving the technology forward toward solid-state batteries, which are smaller for the same capacity, safer as they don’t have liquid electrolytes inside, and longer lasting.

Many home batteries come in modular systems, so you can add the capacity you want, but they require an inverter to convert the DC (direct current) power stored to AC (alternating current) power you can use. Folks with solar panels, or those who plan to add them in the future, should opt for a hybrid inverter, which can also convert the power from the panels for use or storage.

Inverters have different power ratings in kilowatts (kW) that dictate how much power you can draw at any given moment. Households with modest needs may get by with a 3.6-kW inverter, but that limits your continuous draw to 3.6 kW. They usually have a peak load capability that goes higher, enabling you to pull more for a brief period. If you have high-demand appliances like an EV charger or heat pump, you will want at least 5 kW, and folks with larger demands or larger batteries will want to go higher (6 to 10 kW).

What Should I Look For?

There are several things to watch out for when buying a home battery:

  • Capacity: Measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), this tells you how much total energy the battery can hold.
  • Power output: Measured in kilowatts (kW), this shows how much energy the battery and inverter can deliver at any moment.
  • Depth of discharge: This is how much of the battery’s capacity you can safely use without damaging it.
  • Efficiency: This is the percentage of the power you put into the battery that you can actually use, because some energy is always lost in the storage process.
  • Warranty: This is a guarantee about the minimum performance you can expect before a battery degrades (they all degrade over time), and it’s often stated in years and charging cycles (whichever comes first). For example, EcoFlow promises at least 70 percent capacity after 15 years or 6,000 charging cycles.

How Much Home Battery Do You Need?

Image may contain Electronics Mobile Phone Phone Computer Hardware and Hardware

EcoFlow via Simon Hill

It can be tricky to calculate how much battery capacity you need, and it depends on your use case. If you want to guard against outages or live off-grid, you must consider how much power you use over time and also the sum of your maximum power usage at any given moment to ensure your capacity in kWh and output in kW are enough. If the output is not high enough you may not be able to run power-hungry appliances at the same time, so you’ll have to think about how you use your power.

For folks like me, simply looking to buy at a cheaper rate to use when power is more expensive, any capacity will benefit you. But if you have a cheap six-hour rate overnight, for example, then you ideally want it to last for the other 18 hours. It makes sense to get as much as you can up-front because the installation costs are high. Even adding to modular systems later often requires professional installation to avoid voiding your warranty.

Do You Need Upgrades or Permission?

The home battery will connect to your main electrical panel via a cable, and it may require some upgrades. There was no room on my fuse board when I got a home battery installed, so they had to install a second breaker box.

Some inverters may require permission from your electric distribution utility or local distribution company. Here in Scotland, the distribution network operator must approve your inverter, but you can install and then notify up to 3.6 kW, whereas larger inverters require prior approval.

#Home #Batteries #Arent #Doomsday #Preppers #Heresshopping,energy,batteries,how-to,smart home,power">Home Batteries Aren’t Just for Doomsday Preppers. Here’s Why You Might Want One

With electricity costs soaring, home batteries have never looked so attractive. Whether you want to store the excess generated by your solar panels or simply buy electricity at the cheapest possible rate to use later when power is most expensive, a home battery can help. It’s never been easier to get a home battery installed, but this rapidly expanding market can be confusing, and there are several things to consider before you buy.

I’ve spent months researching home batteries, chatting to folks who use them, and then having one installed myself, and I have tips for anyone interested in getting a home battery of their own.

Why Would You Want a Home Battery?

There are several reasons you might want to invest in a home battery, and they are not mutually exclusive:

  • You want to store excess power from your solar panels.
  • You want to live off-grid.
  • You want to guard against power outages.
  • You want to buy electricity at a cheap rate and store it for use later.

Home batteries are a win-win, potentially benefiting power companies too, because battery storage is an essential part of grid balancing and can help manage and make the most of the intermittent power generated by renewables (solar, wind, waves).

How Do Home Batteries Work?

Image may contain Appliance Device Electrical Device and Refrigerator

Photograph: Simon Hill

A home battery is like a big power bank for your home. But rather than lithium-ion, they tend to be lithium iron phosphate (LFP or LiFePO4), because it is safer, more durable, and less prone to thermal runaway. In other words, less likely to overheat and burst into flames. There are a few manufacturers working with sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries, which are potentially cheaper, more environmentally friendly (they don’t require lithium), and perform better in the cold, but they are also larger and don’t last as long.

Home battery technology is often the same as you’ll find in electric vehicles. Some folks have even suggested employing EV batteries as home batteries. But there are potential issues with that, not least finding your car battery drained in the morning. EVs are also driving the technology forward toward solid-state batteries, which are smaller for the same capacity, safer as they don’t have liquid electrolytes inside, and longer lasting.

Many home batteries come in modular systems, so you can add the capacity you want, but they require an inverter to convert the DC (direct current) power stored to AC (alternating current) power you can use. Folks with solar panels, or those who plan to add them in the future, should opt for a hybrid inverter, which can also convert the power from the panels for use or storage.

Inverters have different power ratings in kilowatts (kW) that dictate how much power you can draw at any given moment. Households with modest needs may get by with a 3.6-kW inverter, but that limits your continuous draw to 3.6 kW. They usually have a peak load capability that goes higher, enabling you to pull more for a brief period. If you have high-demand appliances like an EV charger or heat pump, you will want at least 5 kW, and folks with larger demands or larger batteries will want to go higher (6 to 10 kW).

What Should I Look For?

There are several things to watch out for when buying a home battery:

  • Capacity: Measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), this tells you how much total energy the battery can hold.
  • Power output: Measured in kilowatts (kW), this shows how much energy the battery and inverter can deliver at any moment.
  • Depth of discharge: This is how much of the battery’s capacity you can safely use without damaging it.
  • Efficiency: This is the percentage of the power you put into the battery that you can actually use, because some energy is always lost in the storage process.
  • Warranty: This is a guarantee about the minimum performance you can expect before a battery degrades (they all degrade over time), and it’s often stated in years and charging cycles (whichever comes first). For example, EcoFlow promises at least 70 percent capacity after 15 years or 6,000 charging cycles.

How Much Home Battery Do You Need?

Image may contain Electronics Mobile Phone Phone Computer Hardware and Hardware

EcoFlow via Simon Hill

It can be tricky to calculate how much battery capacity you need, and it depends on your use case. If you want to guard against outages or live off-grid, you must consider how much power you use over time and also the sum of your maximum power usage at any given moment to ensure your capacity in kWh and output in kW are enough. If the output is not high enough you may not be able to run power-hungry appliances at the same time, so you’ll have to think about how you use your power.

For folks like me, simply looking to buy at a cheaper rate to use when power is more expensive, any capacity will benefit you. But if you have a cheap six-hour rate overnight, for example, then you ideally want it to last for the other 18 hours. It makes sense to get as much as you can up-front because the installation costs are high. Even adding to modular systems later often requires professional installation to avoid voiding your warranty.

Do You Need Upgrades or Permission?

The home battery will connect to your main electrical panel via a cable, and it may require some upgrades. There was no room on my fuse board when I got a home battery installed, so they had to install a second breaker box.

Some inverters may require permission from your electric distribution utility or local distribution company. Here in Scotland, the distribution network operator must approve your inverter, but you can install and then notify up to 3.6 kW, whereas larger inverters require prior approval.

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