Enphase IQ Battery 5P Vs PointGuard Battery

Summary

This video offers a detailed comparison between the nphase IQ battery 5p and the Point Guard Home battery system for home solar and battery backup. Evaluated across six categories including power, storage capacity, warranty, cost, installation ease, and 'x-factor', the nphase IQ battery 5p scores well in warranty and technology but is more expensive. In contrast, the Point Guard Home battery excels in storage capacity, cost-effectiveness, and ease of installation, making it a strong contender for home backup solutions.

Takeaways

• 🔋 **Nphase IQ Battery 5P**: A two-battery configuration provides 7.7 kW of continuous backup power and 10 kWh of storage, suitable for essential home loads but may lack power for whole-house backup with heavy loads like air conditioning.
• 🏠 **Point Guard Home Battery**: Offers a higher continuous power output of 11.4 kW and an impressive 37.6 kWh of storage in a single stack, capable of supporting whole-house backup even with heavy loads.
• 🛡️ **Warranty**: Nphase leads with a 15-year warranty, the best in the industry, while Point Guard provides a standard 10-year warranty.
• 💸 **Cost**: Nphase is positioned at the higher end of the cost spectrum due to its advanced technology, whereas Point Guard is more cost-competitive with a lower total installed cost per kWh.
• 🛠️ **Ease of Installation**: Point Guard earns full points for its modular, stackable design that requires minimal labor and no special equipment, contrasting with Nphase's middle-of-the-road rating due to the need for multiple batteries and special lifting equipment.
• 🌐 **Nphase Platform**: Nphase batteries are integrated into the Nphase platform, requiring the use of Nphase microinverters and system controllers, offering a unified system with additional capabilities like a bidirectional EV charger.
• 🔌 **Point Guard Features**: Includes a V2X charger for bidirectional EV charging, a Load Hub for intelligent load control and transfer switching, and generator support for maximum redundancy.
• 🏅 **Comparison Summary**: Point Guard outscores Nphase with 26 points to 19, highlighting its advantages in power, storage capacity, cost-effectiveness, and ease of installation.
• 🌟 **X-Factor**: Both systems offer unique features that can significantly impact a homeowner's experience, with Nphase focusing on a unified platform and Point Guard on flexibility with load management and generator support.
• ⚙️ **System Integration**: The choice between Nphase and Point Guard may depend on whether a homeowner prioritizes a fully integrated system with advanced features or a highly customizable and cost-effective solution with modular design.

Q & A

What are the two home battery systems being compared in the video?

The two home battery systems being compared are the nphase IQ battery 5p and the Point Guard Home Battery System.

What are the six categories used to evaluate the batteries in the video?

The six categories used to evaluate the batteries are power (including continuous and peak power), storage capacity, warranty, cost of the battery and installation, ease of installation, and the 'x-factor' which includes unique design features.

What is the maximum total score for the battery evaluation in the video?

The maximum total score for the battery evaluation is 30 points, with each category having a maximum score of five points.

What is the total power output of a two-battery configuration using nphase IQ battery 5p?

The total power output of a two-battery configuration using nphase IQ battery 5p is 7.7 KW of continuous backup power.

What is the storage capacity of a single nphase IQ battery 5p?

The storage capacity of a single nphase IQ battery 5p is 5 KW hours.

What is the warranty offered by nphase for their battery?

nphase offers a market-leading 15-year warranty for their battery, which is considered the best in the industry according to the video.

How does the Point Guard Home Battery System compare to the nphase IQ battery 5p in terms of continuous power output?

The Point Guard Home Battery System offers 11.4 KW of continuous AC output power, which is significantly more than the 7.7 KW offered by a two-battery nphase IQ configuration.

What is the maximum storage capacity offered by the Point Guard Home Battery System?

The Point Guard Home Battery System offers up to 37.6 KW hours of storage in a single battery stack when using four 8 KW hour battery modules and one 5 KW hour battery module.

What warranty does Point Guard offer for their home battery system?

Point Guard offers a standard 10-year warranty for their home battery system.

What is the 'x-factor' and how does it affect the evaluation of the batteries?

The 'x-factor' is a way to award additional points to either product where there might not be a direct comparison but where unique design features could have a significant impact for the system owner.

What additional capabilities does the nphase platform offer that contribute to its 'x-factor' points?

The nphase platform offers additional capabilities such as using nphase microinverters on solar panels, a unified system controller, and a bidirectional EV charger under development, which contribute to its 'x-factor' points.

What features on the Point Guard platform contribute to its 'x-factor' points?

The Point Guard platform features that contribute to its 'x-factor' points include the V2X charger, which is a bidirectional EV charger, and the Load Hub, which acts as an intelligent transfer switch and provides intelligent load control.

Outlines

00:00

🔋 Introduction to Nphase IQ Battery 5p and Point Guard Home Battery

The video script introduces a comparison between the Nphase IQ battery 5p and the Point Guard home battery system. The evaluation will be based on six categories: power, storage capacity, warranty, cost, installation ease, and an 'X-factor' for unique features. The Nphase IQ battery 5p is discussed in detail, highlighting its 7.7 KW continuous backup power and 10 KW hours of storage capacity when configured with two batteries. The video mentions the Nphase's market-leading 15-year warranty and its position in the higher price range due to its advanced technology. The installation process is noted as moderately complex, requiring multiple batteries and special lifting equipment. The Nphase platform's integrated features, including a bidirectional EV charger, are highlighted as part of the X-factor, earning it additional points.

05:00

🏠 Point Guard Home Battery System Overview

The script continues with an overview of the Point Guard home battery system, emphasizing its high continuous AC output power of 11.4 KW and massive storage capacity of up to 37.6 KW hours using multiple battery modules. The system's 10-year warranty is standard, but its cost competitiveness is highlighted, with a focus on the total installed cost per kilowatt hour. The modular, stackable design of the Point Guard system earns it full marks for ease of installation, requiring minimal crew and no special lifting equipment. The X-factor points are awarded for features like the V2X charger, which allows energy transfer between the electric vehicle and the home battery, and the Load Hub for intelligent load control and generator support, enhancing the system's redundancy and flexibility.

10:01

📊 Comparative Summary and Conclusion

The final paragraph summarizes the comparison, with the Nphase IQ battery scoring 19 points and the Point Guard home battery scoring 26 points. The Nphase system is praised for its long warranty but is more expensive and has a lower storage capacity. In contrast, the Point Guard system offers superior power and storage at a lower cost, with an emphasis on ease of installation and additional features like the load hub and bidirectional EV charger. The presenter, Joe Oria, encourages viewers to consider these options for their home solar and battery storage needs and invites them to use the provided link for expert consultation or to get a free online quote.

Keywords

💡nphase IQ battery 5p

The nphase IQ battery 5p is a solar battery storage system mentioned in the video, which is part of a head-to-head comparison with the point guard home battery. It is designed for home use, offering backup power during outages and is configured in the video to provide 10 kilowatt-hours of storage using two 5 kilowatt-hour batteries. The nphase IQ battery 5p is highlighted for its continuous power output of 7.7 kW and its advanced technology, which often comes at a higher cost. The video emphasizes its 15-year warranty, which is considered market-leading, and its ease of installation, although it requires multiple batteries for higher capacity systems.

💡Point Guard Home Battery

The Point Guard Home Battery is a newer brand in the US market but is part of the larger international company Sig energy. It is featured in the video for its high capacity and modular design. The battery offers up to 37.6 kilowatt-hours of storage in a single stack, which is significant for whole-house backup, even for heavy loads like air conditioning. The video praises its cost competitiveness and ease of installation, which can be done by two technicians without special equipment. It also earns points for its X Factor features, such as the bidirectional EV charger and the load Hub, which adds to its versatility and appeal for home energy management.

💡Continuous Power

Continuous power refers to the amount of power that a battery system can provide continuously without depleting its stored energy. In the context of the video, the nphase IQ battery 5p configuration offers 7.7 kW of continuous backup power, which is suitable for essential home appliances but may not be sufficient for whole-house backup with heavy loads like air conditioning. The Point Guard Home Battery, on the other hand, provides 11.4 kW of continuous AC output power, making it capable of supporting more extensive backup needs.

💡Storage Capacity

Storage capacity is a critical aspect of battery systems, indicating how much energy they can store. The video discusses the nphase IQ battery 5p's 10 kWh storage capacity and contrasts it with the Point Guard Home Battery's much larger capacity of up to 37.6 kWh. This parameter is essential for homeowners considering solar and battery systems, as it determines how long the system can operate during power outages or how many appliances can be run simultaneously.

💡Warranty

A warranty is a guarantee provided by the manufacturer that covers the repair or replacement of a product under specified conditions. The video highlights the nphase IQ battery 5p's industry-leading 15-year warranty, which is a significant selling point for consumers looking for long-term reliability and peace of mind. In contrast, the Point Guard Home Battery offers a standard 10-year warranty, which is still competitive but not as extensive as nphase's offering.

💡Cost

Cost is a central consideration for consumers when evaluating solar and battery systems. The video positions the nphase IQ battery 5p as being on the higher end of the price spectrum due to its advanced technology and the need for multiple batteries for higher capacity. Conversely, the Point Guard Home Battery is described as cost-competitive, particularly when considering the total installed cost per kilowatt-hour of capacity. This factor is crucial for homeowners to balance the initial investment with the long-term benefits of energy storage.

💡Ease of Installation

Ease of installation is an important factor that affects both the upfront cost and the long-term maintenance of solar and battery systems. The video awards the Point Guard Home Battery full marks for ease of installation due to its modular, stackable design, which requires less labor and no special equipment. In contrast, the nphase IQ battery 5p, while not overly difficult to install, typically requires multiple batteries and more connection points, which can increase installation time and complexity.

💡X Factor

The 'X Factor' in the video refers to additional capabilities or unique design features that may not be directly comparable between products but could significantly impact a consumer's decision. For the nphase IQ battery 5p, this includes its integration with nphase's microinverters and system controller, as well as the development of a bidirectional EV charger. For the Point Guard Home Battery, the X Factor includes features like the load Hub for intelligent load control and the ability to support a generator for maximum redundancy.

💡Bidirectional EV Charger

A bidirectional EV charger is a feature mentioned in the video that allows electric vehicles (EVs) to not only draw power for charging from the grid or solar but also to send stored energy back to the home's battery system. This feature is highlighted as part of the nphase IQ platform and the Point Guard platform, enhancing the system's flexibility and energy management capabilities. It turns the EV into an additional energy source for the home, especially useful during power outages.

💡Load Hub

The Load Hub, as discussed in the video, is a feature of the Point Guard system that serves as an intelligent transfer switch, allowing the home to disconnect from the grid and run on stored power during a blackout. It also provides intelligent load control, which manages the operation of non-essential heavy appliances to conserve battery power for more critical needs. This feature is part of the Point Guard's X Factor and contributes to the system's overall energy management and resilience.

Highlights

Comparison between the nphase IQ battery 5p and the Point Guard home battery system.

Evaluation in six categories: power, storage capacity, warranty, cost, ease of installation, and x-factor.

nphase IQ battery 5p configuration reviewed uses two batteries for 10 kWatt hours of storage.

nphase IQ battery offers 7.7 KW of continuous backup power for critical home loads.

Point Guard home battery provides up to 37.6 KW hours of storage in a single stack.

nphase offers a market-leading 15-year warranty for the battery.

Point Guard offers a standard 10-year warranty.

nphase batteries are on the higher end of the price spectrum due to advanced technology.

Point Guard is a cost-competitive product with a lower price per kilowatt hour of capacity.

Ease of installation for nphase is middle of the road due to the need for multiple batteries.

Point Guard earns full points for ease of installation due to its modular, stackable design.

nphase platform offers additional capabilities like microinverters and a bidirectional EV charger.

Point Guard features include a load hub for intelligent load control and generator support for redundancy.

Point Guard's bidirectional EV charger allows energy transfer between the home and electric vehicle.

Total score for nphase IQ battery is 19 points, while Point Guard home battery scores 26 points.

Point Guard is the US brand of the larger international company Sig energy, known in Europe.

The video provides a detailed comparison to help homeowners choose the right solar and battery storage option.

Transcripts

nphase iqq battery

5p point guard home battery which is the

better solar and battery backup system

for your home I'm going to be answering

that question and teaching you all about

these two Market leading batteries in

today's

video the smarter way to go

solar all right now in today's video

we're doing another head-to-head battery

comparison between the nphase IQ battery

5p and the point guard home battery

system now we're going to be doing the

evaluation in six categories each

category has a maximum score of five

points for a maximum overall score of 30

points now those categories are power

including continuous power and Peak

power of course the storage capacity of

the battery the warranty of the battery

also the cost of the battery and the

cost to have it installed the ease of

installation which is a new category for

us but one that's going to have major

impact on the long-term viability of

your contractor and then finally what I

like to call the xfactor and what the

xor is is it's a way that I can award a

additional points to either of the

products where there might not be a

direct Apples to Apples comparison but

where those unique design features could

have tremendous impact for you as a

system owner and with that let's get

into the comparison all right now first

up is the nphase IQ battery 5p and I

should note before we get into the specs

the configuration that I'm going to be

evaluating is a is one that uses two of

the nphase IQ battery 5ps for a total of

10 kwatt hours of storage now in terms

of total power output a two battery

configuration using n phase is going to

give you 7.7 KW of continuous backup

power now that's a decent amount of

power and it's enough to power pretty

much all the critical loads within your

home if you're talking about your

refrigerator your lights your water pump

maybe your TV uh internet box your home

office um however if you're looking for

a whole house backup that can do air

conditioning units or multiple air

conditioning units you may find it a

little bit underpowered now in terms of

storage capacity you're looking at 10

kwatt hours of Total storage capacity

now again each nphase battery is 5 KW

hours the configuration I'm reviewing

today is a two- battery configuration

but you could expand with more batteries

you could do four six or eight batteries

if you're looking for a higher capacity

system now in terms of the warranty

nphase offers a market leading 15-year

warranty for the battery right now

that's the best battery warranty in the

industry that I'm aware of now in terms

of cost end phase is going to be in the

middle or maybe on the higher end of the

price Spectrum um part of it is that n

phase and N phase really has always had

this reputation of wanting to be on the

bleeding edge of having the most

advanced technology but often times that

comes with paying a slight price premium

the other issue is that typically you're

going to have to do a multi battery

installation which means it takes you a

little bit more time and more connection

points to join all those batteries

together to tie them into the central

controller in terms of ease of

installation I would say n phase again

is middle of the road uh because the

batteries are so small in capacity

virtually every installation you're

going to see out there is going to have

multiple batteries but even so each

individual battery weighs approximately

170 lb so it's not that they've really

broken it down into smaller building

blocks to make it that much easier for

the installer in many cases you're going

to be looking at multiple people on the

installation crew multiple technicians

and many times with special lift

equipment and then I'm going to give n

phase plus three xfactor points for some

of the additional capabilities that are

available on the end phase platform now

and that's one thing that I should

mention here is this is not a modular

battery that you can just tie into any

other solar system if you're using the

nphase battery it's because you're on

the nphase platform you're using nphase

microinverters on your solar panels

you're using the nphase System

Controller to do all your switching if

you have battery storage you're using

the nphase battery um and they even

offer uh or they even have under

development a buy directional EV charger

which is the product I'm most eagerly

anticipating so all of that can tie into

to one unified system controlled by one

unified app and what I like about that

bidirectional EV charger is it basically

turns your electric vehicle into another

battery that the home system could use

for backup power for

example so this is the nphase IQ battery

system all right next up is the point

guard home battery system all right up

next is the point guard home battery now

I should mention point guard is a

relatively new brand here in the US but

it's part of a larger International

Company called Sig energy that already

has a lot of traction in Europe and

other parts of the world so for those of

you out there who have been asking me to

review the Sig energy battery this video

is for you now the point guard battery

comes in a number of different sizes in

terms of the energy controller which is

at the top of the battery stack we're

going to be viewing the largest one

which is the 11.4 and that 11.4

corresponds to 11.4 continuous AC output

power now that's a lot of power

especially compared to a two battery end

phase configuration uh and that's going

to be enough for whole house backup for

the vast majority of you watching this

out here that means you can run heavy

loads like central air conditioning uh

electric laundry machines electric close

dryers and the solar and Battery system

is going to be able to handle that now

in terms of storage capacity the point

guard home offers up to 37.6 KW hours of

storage in a single battery stack I mean

that's a lot of capacity enough that you

could run heavy loads overnight even

during a grid blackout central air

conditioning do the laundry use electric

range electric water heater with 37.6

kilowatt hours of storage and again in a

single stack so you can install these in

tighter areas and smaller homes you

pretty much can live your life business

as usual day or night grid up or grid

down now to achieve that 37.6 kwatt

hours you have to use four of the 8 KW

hour battery modules plus one of the 5

KW hour battery modle modules that's the

highest capacity that the current rating

allows for now in terms of warranty

point guard offers that standard 10-year

warranty and in terms of cost this is a

very cost competitive product now I know

many of you would like me to give you

specific pricing it's going to vary on

your area and who your installer is but

what I can tell you is the point guard

home battery is a very cost competitive

product if you look at it in terms of

total installed cost per kilowatt hour

of capacity that you're getting now in

terms of ease of installation I'm going

to give point guard all five points and

the reason is because of the modular

stackable design what that means is that

you don't need any special lift

equipment this system is designed to be

installed by two technicians without

requiring any special dollies or

forklifts so that the installation can

be quick and efficient and then also the

way that you configure your vehicles and

the way that you store and manage the

logistics of this equipment can be as

cost competitive and as profitable uh

for the installer as possible and then

finally I'm going to give point guard

plus four X Factor points for the other

features that are available on the point

guard platform one of those features is

the v2x charger which is point guard's

integrated bidirectional EV charger now

what that means is not only can you

charge your electric vehicle directly

from solar or you could pull through

grid power and charge the vehicle from

the grid but in certain circumstances

you can actually pull energy out of the

electric vehicle and use that to provide

backup power in the house so it's almost

like the vehicle becomes another battery

module that's tied into the system that

can really extend your runtime during a

grid blackout now point guard also

offers the load Hub and the load Hub

really does two functions number one is

it is your intelligent transfer switch

or your gateway what allows you to

disconnect from the grid and still runs

secure power in the house during a

blackout but it also provides

intelligent load control and this is one

of those things that I've been talking

about for a while for an overall

successful solar and Battery

implementation you want to have some

sort of intelligent load control so that

let's say for example you're running

during a blackout the Grid's down it's

evening time so there there's no solar

coming in so you're running the entire

house off the battery well you may not

want to run certain non-essential heavy

items at that time maybe your electric

stove your electric cloth dryer let's

power those items off that way we

stretch the battery we conserve the

battery for the most critical items and

then the next day the solar panels take

over recharge the battery and then we

can allow those heavy draw it it to come

back on so the load Hub does all that

for you automatically and then finally

point guard offers generator support for

those of you who are looking for maximum

redundancy you can run off- grid using

solar you've got batteries to run

through the night and then let's say you

hit a patch of bad weather and that the

solar panels aren't able to keep up

recharging the battery well you have the

option to run a fuel burning generator

let that generator run for a few hours

bring the batteries back full and then

you can go back to running off your

solar and Battery system so I think

maximum redundancy with all these

options so this is the point guard home

system okay now to sum it up for the

nase system with two batteries you're

looking at continuous power of 7.7 KW a

storage capacity of 10 kwatt hours a

15-year warranty nphase does have an

excellent warranty uh it's going to be

higher on the Spectrum in terms of cost

for an nphase system again if we're

looking at total cost per kilowatt hour

of capacity you're going to find the

nphase system is significantly more

expensive than the point guard system

three out of five points for ease of

installation plus three xfactor points

for the other features available on the

nphase IQ platform um namely the micro

inverters end phases bidirectional EV

charger that they're developing as well

as the nphase app for point guard we're

looking at 11.4 KW of continuous power a

whopping 37.6 Kow hours of storage if

you use all battery storage modules

available you can get 37.6 kwatt hours

in a single stack uh in terms of

warranty they stuck with the standard

10-year warranty uh going to be lower

cost again I know many of you want me to

give you specific pricing that's going

to depend on your area and who your

installer is but I can tell you point

guard will be significantly lower on the

price Spectrum than end phase if you

look at total cost per kilowatt hour of

capacity installed all five points for

ease of installation because the system

can be broken down into small building

BLX it needs a much smaller crew and no

special lift Equipment Plus four X

Factor points for the other features we

talked about on the point guard platform

like the load Hub and the bidirectional

EV charger so if we total it up nphase

receives three out of five for power

only two out of five for capacity the

the batteries are just too small in my

opinion five out of five for warranty n

phase does have the best warranty three

out of five for cost three out of five

for ease of installation plus three X

Factor points for a total of 19 points

for point guard we have five out of five

for power five out of five for storage

capacity this is a very high capacity

battery three out of five for warranty

point guard did stick with that standard

10-year warranty uh four to five for

cost again very very cost competitive

product but where point guard really

shines is with ease of installation

where they receive all Five Points by

how the system or or because of how the

system is broken down uh and how the the

labor requirement and the equipment

requirement is so low for the installer

to be able to deliver this solution plus

four xfactor points for a total of 26

points so this has been a head-to-head

comparison of the nphase IQ battery 5p

and the new point guard home battery uh

again the point guard battery or or the

technology behind it is really not new

point guard is the US brand of a much

larger international company called Sig

energy which is already gaining

significant Traction in Europe and

gaining a lot of attention attention hey

folks if you enjoy the content that you

watch here on solar surge make sure you

give us a thumbs up and go and hit that

subscribe Button as well if you haven't

done so already that way as we have new

videos like this coming out it'll come

up on your homepage and you can stay up

to date with everything now if you're a

homeowner if you're in the process of

looking at different solar and battery

storage options for your home if you

need to get a price quote for either of

these two leading options or or frankly

any of the other leading battery options

as always feel free to reach out to us

on the link below here you can set up a

call with a solar expert or just use the

free online quote tool so you can see

how much solar and battery storage costs

in your area well that pretty much does

it for today's comparison I thank you

all for spending some more time on the

solar surge Channel and as always I'm

Joe Oria encouraging you to get prepared

and be empowered thanks for watching and

I'll see you on the next video

[Music]