---
title: How to choose a home battery
description: "What matters when choosing a home battery: usable kWh, inverter compatibility, warranty terms and support, with a simple sizing method."
image: https://cleanvolts.co.za/hubfs/how-to-choose-a-solar-battery-featured.png
---

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![Lithium home battery and hybrid inverter installed on a garage wall in a Johannesburg home](https://cleanvolts.co.za/hs-fs/hubfs/how-to-choose-a-solar-battery-featured.png?width=1200&height=630&name=how-to-choose-a-solar-battery-featured.png)

# How to choose a home battery

![Tony Lopes](https://cleanvolts.co.za/hs-fs/hubfs/clean%20volts%20launch%20post.png?width=48&height=48&name=clean%20volts%20launch%20post.png)

 Tony Lopes

November 6, 2026

**Short answer:** Choose a home battery on four things: usable capacity in kWh, compatibility with your inverter, warranty terms (years plus cycles or energy throughput), and local support. Size it on what you use at night, plus any outage reserve you want. For most homes now that load shedding has stopped, that's 5 to 10 kWh of lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4).

*Last updated November 2026.*

The battery is usually the most expensive single part of a home [solar installation](https://cleanvolts.co.za/new-installations), and the part most often oversold. This guide explains what the specifications mean, how to size a battery, and the questions to ask before you buy. It's brand-neutral: the right make depends on your inverter and on who supports it locally.

## **How do I choose a battery for my solar system?**

| What to check | Why it matters |
| --- | --- |
| **Usable capacity (kWh)** | The energy you can actually use, not just the nameplate figure. Ask for both. |
| **Chemistry** | Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) is the norm for homes: long life, deep cycling and better thermal stability than older lithium types. Lead-acid is cheaper upfront but wears out far sooner when cycled daily. |
| **Inverter compatibility** | The battery and inverter must "talk" to each other. Check it's on the inverter maker's approved list. |
| **Power rating (kW)** | How much it can deliver at once. Too low and the battery limits your inverter. |
| **Warranty** | Years, plus a cycle count or energy throughput limit, and the capacity guaranteed at the end. Read all three. |
| **Local support** | A South African distributor with stock and a track record for handling claims. |
| **Expandability** | Whether you can add modules later, and how old a battery can be before mixing becomes a problem. |

## **How many kWh do I need?**

1. **Estimate your night use.** Look at your app or bill for what you use between about 17:00 and 07:00. For many three-bedroom homes it's 6 to 10 kWh.
2. **Cut what you can move.** Run the geyser, pool pump and washing in daylight, and your night use falls.
3. **Add a reserve** if you want backup for outages, or keep the battery above a minimum for its health.
4. **Check the panels can fill it** on a normal winter day. A battery the panels can't charge is wasted money.

Our guide to [what size solar system you need](https://cleanvolts.co.za/guides/what-size-solar-system-do-i-need) works through a full example.

## **How long do batteries last?**

A good LiFePO4 battery used daily and kept within sensible settings typically lasts around ten years before its capacity drops noticeably. Heat, constant full charge and deep daily discharge shorten that. Our guide to [battery lifespan and replacement cost](https://cleanvolts.co.za/guides/battery-lifespan-replacement-cost) goes into detail.

## **Can I add batteries later?**

Often, yes, if the inverter can handle more storage and the battery model is still available. Mixing a new module with one several years old can limit the whole bank to the weaker module, so ask the installer how the brand handles expansion. See [adding panels or a battery](https://cleanvolts.co.za/guides/add-panels-or-battery).

**Safety First**

- **Batteries must be installed by a registered installer** in a cool, ventilated spot with the right protection and clearances.
- **Avoid unbranded or second-hand batteries** with no traceable warranty. Damaged lithium cells can be a fire risk.
- **A hot, swollen or hissing battery** is an emergency. Keep away and call your installer.

## **Frequently Asked Questions**

### **How many kWh do I need?**

Enough for your evening and overnight use, plus any backup reserve. For most three-bedroom homes that's 5 to 10 kWh.

### **Do brands matter?**

Less than compatibility, warranty terms and local support. A well-supported mid-range battery that's approved for your inverter usually beats a premium brand nobody locally can service.

### **Can I add batteries later?**

Usually, if your inverter can take more storage and the same model is still available. Plan for it when you choose the inverter.

## **Where We Fit In**

CleanVolts matches homes, businesses and farms with vetted, registered [CleanVolts Approved](https://cleanvolts.co.za/cleanvolts-approved) installers who size the battery from your actual use and name every component by make and model. We never buy or sell hardware, using CleanVolts costs you nothing, and if the installer pays us a referral fee, we tell you up front.

[**Try the free sizing guide**](https://cleanvolts.co.za/solar-sizing-guide) · [Get a quote](https://cleanvolts.co.za/get-a-quote)

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## Keep reading

### [![Hybrid solar inverter and isolator switches mounted on a wall in a South African home](https://cleanvolts.co.za/hs-fs/hubfs/how-to-choose-a-solar-inverter-featured.png?width=1200&height=630&name=how-to-choose-a-solar-inverter-featured.png) How to choose a solar inverter](https://cleanvolts.co.za/guides/how-to-choose-a-solar-inverter)

### [![Johannesburg suburb at dusk with solar panels on several tiled roofs and the city skyline beyond](https://cleanvolts.co.za/hs-fs/hubfs/solar-payback-period-johannesburg-featured.png?width=1200&height=630&name=solar-payback-period-johannesburg-featured.png) Solar payback period in Johannesburg](https://cleanvolts.co.za/guides/solar-payback-period-johannesburg)

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