Battery Prep Checklist For Tesla Powerwall & FranklinWH aPower owners
Ice storms in North Carolina don’t have to be severe to cause outages. Even light ice can bring down tree limbs and power lines, especially when the ground is already saturated or temperatures hover near freezing.
If your home has battery backup, a few quick steps can help your system perform smoothly if the grid goes down.
1. Turn on your battery’s storm mode
When winter weather is forecasted, storm modes help your battery charge to full and stay reserved for outages.
Tesla Powerwall
- Turn on Storm Watch
- This tells the Powerwall to charge to 100% ahead of the storm and hold that charge while the weather alert is active
In the Tesla app:
Energy → Settings → Storm Watch
Video: Quick App Walkthrough →
FranklinWH aPower
- Turn on Storm Hedge
- When the National Weather Service issues a local alert, the system automatically enters Emergency Backup and fills the battery
- The system returns to normal operation after the alert ends
In the FranklinWH app:
Settings → Storm Hedge
Video: Quick App Walkthrough →
2. Increase your Backup Reserve
Increasing your Backup Reserve tells your battery to hold more stored energy for outages instead of using it during normal operation. This is especially helpful for short or uncertain storms, like many NC ice events.
Tesla Powerwall
- Increase your Backup Reserve so more battery capacity is held for outage
- Many homeowners temporarily set this to 100% ahead of a storm
In the Tesla app:
Energy → Customize → Backup Reserve
Move the slider and save.
Video: Quick App Walkthrough →
FAQ: One-Time Max Power vs. Backup Reserve →
FranklinWH aPower
- Increase your Backup Reserve to hold more battery capacity for outages
- This reduces how much stored energy is used before a storm
In the FranklinWH app:
Settings → Mode → Backup Reserve (Under Self Consumption)
Move the slider and save
Video: Quick App Walkthrough →
FAQ: Emergency Backup vs. Backup Reserve→
What Backup Reserve does:
It sets aside a percentage of your battery exclusively for outages. Increasing it before a storm gives you more backup runtime if power goes out.
3. Check your backed-up devices
Make sure the things you’ll rely on during an outage are plugged into the circuits your installer configured for backup. These often include:
- Wi-Fi router and modem
- Refrigerator
- A few lights and outlets
- Phone chargers
- Medical or essential devices
If you’re unsure which circuits are backed up, now is a good time to check.
4. If the power goes out, stretch your battery
If outages last longer than expected, conservative energy use can make a big difference:
- Adjust thermostats a few degrees
- Pause EV charging
- Avoid large loads like ovens, clothes dryers, or dishwashers
- Focus on essential loads until grid power returns
In storm modes, systems prioritize keeping the battery charged and reserved through the event.
What to Expect When You’re Expecting… a Power Outage
If this is your first time using battery backup during an outage, a few things may feel unfamiliar… that’s totally normal.
- You may notice a brief flicker or click when the grid goes down – that’s your battery stepping in
- Some outlets or appliances may stay on while others turn off. This depends on which circuits were set up for backup
- Your battery percentage will slowly decrease during the outage – this is expected!
- The app may send notifications when the system switches to backup or returns to grid power
First-timer reassurance:
If the lights flicker and then everything keeps running, congrats!!, your battery is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do. 🙂
Ice storms in North Carolina can be unpredictable, and restoration times vary based on road conditions, access, and the extent of damage. Power crews often have to wait for ice to clear and hazards to be addressed before repairs can safely begin. A little preparation ahead of time can make outages less stressful.
Stay safe and warm.
