About the Enphase IQ8HC DIY solar + battery backup kit

SolarTown's Enphase IQ8HC solar +battery backup kit is designed to keep lights and critical appliances running, even when the grid goes down. This complete solar-plus-storage system is built around Enphase microinverters, high-efficiency monocrystalline panels, and the Enphase IQ Battery 10C for 10 kWh of onsite storage.

When the grid is running, this system works like any grid-tied solar setup: your panels produce power, your microinverters optimize output panel by panel, and your electric bills drop. When the grid goes down, the system automatically switches to backup mode, keeping your essential loads powered from the battery bank until grid power is restored.

Default kit configurations range from 3.6 kW to 18.0 kW of solar, with 10 kWh of backup battery capacity. Need something different for your project? Reach out to us - we design custom kits too. Every component is sized for compatibility and selected to comply with permitting regulations and building codes, which matters when you're pulling your own permit.

Shield Against Outages With Enphase IQ Battery Backup

The IQ Battery 10C gives you 10 kWh of backup power that kicks in automatically the moment an outage is detected - no manual switching, no generator pull cords. The transition is seamless and automatic: when an outage is detected, your battery bank comes online to deliver uninterrupted power to your appliances.

10 kWh of storage capacity is enough to keep essential appliances, like lights and the refrigerator, running through short-term outages. For most scenarios, like a storm that knocks out the grid for a day or two, that’s enough to cover what matters most.

For critical loads with more strict demands, like important data servers or key medical equipment, the battery bank should be scaled up as necessary to match actual usage patterns. More 10C Batteries can be added to increase storage capacity by 10 kWh per battery, or you can reach out to us to request a custom kit design if more storage capacity is needed.

Enphase IQ8HC Micro-inverters: Made in the Shade

In a string inverter system, panels are wired together in groups that share electrical characteristics. When shade falls on one panel in the string, it pulls down production for every panel connected to it. The more shade exposure your roof gets (from trees, a chimney, or a neighboring roofline) the more output you're leaving on the table.

Microinverters solve this by giving each panel its own independent inverter. The Enphase IQ8HC works to isolate the production of each solar cell in a panel. When shade hits the corner of a panel, that region will still be affected, but the rest of the panel (and the array) still produces power like normal.

If your site has any shading at all - even seasonally, when sun angles change and shadows from obstacles grow longer - the IQ8HC microinverters will recover production that a string system would normally lose.

Installing this kit

Our kits ship directly to your home or business address, ready for installation. You can handle the install yourself, or hire a local electrician or solar installer to help out - it’s up to you.

The main reason most customers choose the DIY option is cost savings. A full-scale turnkey installation typically runs about twice what you'd spend sourcing the equipment and doing the work yourself. If you’re interested in the savings, but aren't sure where to start, SolarTown's DIY solar resource center has in-depth guides covering every phase of a solar project, from design through commissioning.

For DIY installs, SolarTown's permit package simplifies the process of filing your own permit. We'll provide the documentation your jurisdiction needs to review and approve your system, including spec sheets, line diagrams and engineering calculations.

If you hit a wall, reach out to us. You'll have a direct line to real technicians with hands-on solar experience who can help you navigate through your issue. We don’t just ship you a kit and leave you to your own devices: our phone support line is available for help before, during, and after the DIY installation process is finished.

What's included in this kit?

• High-efficiency Tier-1 monocrystalline solar panels (~440W+ each; quantity varies by kit size)
• Enphase IQ8HC microinverters (CEC compliant; rapid shutdown ready)
• Enphase IQ Combiner 6C
• Enphase IQ Battery 10C
• Tamarack flush-mount racking (rails, mid/end clamps, L-feet)
• Tamarack Multimount Flashing – Rafter w/ Lag Bolts (8-Pack) for watertight rail attachment
• AC trunk cables, end caps, and required wiring accessories
• Permit-ready spec sheets
• Installation manual and setup support resources

• Optional add on: Permit Plan Set

Who Is This Kit For?

• Anyone who wants to: reduce electric bills and maximize savings
• Made for homes and businesses connected to the electric grid
• DIYers who need a permit-ready, policy-compliant kit for easy installation
• Contractors, electricians, and homebuilders offering residential installs

Key Benefits

• Permit-ready package helps pass inspection the first time
• CEC compliant and designed for PG&E NEM 3.0
• AC-coupled with full Enphase Enlighten monitoring
• Battery-ready: add storage anytime
• Backed by SolarTown support

Enphase IQ8HC Solar Kit FAQs

Why choose a battery backup solar system?

In areas with severe weather or unreliable power grids, battery backup systems provide an extra layer of protection against power outages. Backup power kicks in automatically when the grid fails, providing uninterrupted power to medical equipment, technical infrastructure, and other critical power loads.

Will this system work during power outages?

Yes. Unlike pure grid-tie systems, which rely on the utility grid to store power generated by solar panels, this kit includes a local battery bank for 10 kWh (minimum) of on-site storage. In the event of a power outage, the local battery bank will kick in automatically and supply power until a grid connection is restored.

How much backup power do I need?

It depends on which critical appliances you expect to function during outages, and how long you need those appliances to function independent of grid power. To determine your needs, make a list of appliances you expect to power through an outage, look up their power draw per hour, then multiply by the number of hours you need those appliances to run on backup power. The 10 kWh of storage provided by the Enphase 10C Battery is enough to power basic appliances like lights and a refrigerator during brief outages, but more storage capacity may be necessary for more power-hungry loads, or during extended grid outages.

What is the benefit of micro-inverter systems?

Micro-inverters are smaller inverter units that attach to each individual solar panel in a system. Each micro-inverter is paired with its own solar panel, offering greater shade mitigation than string inverter systems. When shade falls on a panel, micro-inverters isolate the affected area so that the rest of the array (still in full sunlight) continues to produce power, unaffected by the obstruction.

For properties where trees, chimneys, or other obstructions may block part of the solar array, micro-inverters will recapture some of the production that would have been lost in string inverter systems.

Can I add more panels if my needs change in the future?

Yes - micro-inverter systems are easily expandable. Because each panel pairs with its own inverter unit, expanding the system is as simple as adding a new pairing (or pairings) of panel+inverter to the chain. Unlike string inverter systems, your solar array won’t need to be re-wired to balance the electrical characteristics evenly between strings. You can simply add as many new panels as is necessary to provide the extra capacity needed.

How hard is it to install solar myself?

Installing solar panels is not trivial, but it's well within reach for most people who are comfortable with basic physical work and willing to follow detailed instructions. Panels weigh up to 50 pounds, and need to be hoisted for rooftop installs. Metal footings are screwed into a solid foundation (either roof rafters or a dedicated ground mount), racking rails are attached, and panels are mounted onto the rails. Some basic plug-and-play cabling is required between panels and inverters.

The entire system can be built by a competent DIYer. Most people who DIY install need only hire a licensed electrician for the final electrical panel hookup (which may be required in some jurisdictions).

What information do I need to file for a solar permit?

Different jurisdictions have different requirements, but some common inclusions in a permit application are:

Spec sheets: complete technical specs for every major component in your system

Electrical line diagrams: Single-line and three-line diagrams showing how electricity flows through your system. Must include wire sizing, breaker ratings, and all connection points.

Site plan: Overhead property view showing exact panel placement, including clearances from roof edges, obstructions, property line setback requirements, and fire access pathways.

Load calculations: Engineering calculations proving your roof or ground mount can handle equipment weight, wind loads, and snow loads specific to your climate zone.

Our Residential Permit Plan Set addon package includes all necessary documentation required to file for a permit, with free adjustments and revisions available to comply with your local jurisdiction's standards.

Documentation

Enphase IQ8HC Microinverter — Documentation

Enphase IQ Combiner 5 — Documentation

Enphase IQ Battery 10C data sheet

Tamarack Roof Mounting System

Tamarack Multimount Flashing — Rafter w/ Lag Bolts (8-Pack) Spec Sheet