Enphase’s IQ Battery 10C puts 10.0 kWh of usable storage and four grid-forming microinverters into one wall-mounted cabinet, according to the company’s North American datasheet (DSH-00565, May 2025). Enphase rates it at 7.08 kVA of continuous output at 240V, with 56A of peak current for 3 seconds and up to 90A of locked-rotor current for starting motors. The warranty covers the earlier of 15 years or 6,000 cycles, with 60% of capacity guaranteed at the end. It’s the higher-capacity sibling of the IQ Battery 5P, and in many homes it can replace two 5Ps with one box. Here’s what the datasheet says, what 10 kWh runs, and the factors that drive cost.
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We haven’t installed or tested an IQ Battery 10C; this review is based on Enphase’s datasheet and warranty documents. Enphase sells it through installers, and it doesn’t publish a retail price. The IQ Battery 10C datasheet is on Enphase’s site.
Key Specs
| Spec | IQ Battery 10C (IQBATTERY-10C-1P-NA) |
|---|---|
| Usable capacity | 10.0 kWh |
| Inside the cabinet | Two 5 kWh battery units with four IQ8B microinverters |
| Continuous output | 7.08 kVA (29.5A at 240V) |
| Peak output current | 56A for 3 seconds; 44.8A for 10 seconds |
| Motor starting (Power Start) | Up to 90A LRA (may vary, per Enphase) |
| 120V unbalanced loads | Up to 24A per leg |
| Round-trip efficiency | 90% AC (at 50% power); 96% DC |
| Battery voltage | 76.8V nominal, 86.4V max |
| Chemistry | Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) |
| Operating temperature | -4°F to 122°F charging; -4°F to 131°F discharging |
| Best temperature for battery life | 32°F to 86°F |
| Enclosure / cooling | Outdoor NEMA 3R; natural convection, no fans |
| Size | 24.5 × 28 × 14.4 in |
| Weight | 317 lb installed; 125 lb heaviest single lift |
| Mounting | Wall or pedestal (sold separately) |
| Warranty | 60% capacity, up to 15 years or 6,000 cycles, whichever comes first |
What “10.0 kWh Usable” Includes
Enphase’s footnote on usable capacity is worth reading. The 10.0 kWh figure includes a 2% safety-critical reserve that protects the battery during a long grid outage, and Enphase maintains an additional 3% to keep the battery electronics running overnight. In other words, plan on a little less than 10 kWh actually reaching your loads on any given night. Add the 90% AC round-trip efficiency, and for every 10 kWh of solar you push into the battery, roughly 9 kWh comes back out as household AC.
IQ Battery 10C vs Two IQ Battery 5Ps
The obvious comparison is with Enphase’s smaller 5P. Figures for the 5P come from our IQ Battery 5P review, which is also based on Enphase’s datasheet.
| Spec | One IQ Battery 10C | Two IQ Battery 5Ps |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | 10.0 kWh | 10.0 kWh (2 × 5.0) |
| Continuous output | 7.08 kVA | 7.68 kVA (2 × 3.84) |
| Motor starting | Up to 90A LRA | 48A LRA per unit |
| Microinverters | 4 × IQ8B | 12 (6 per unit) |
| Installed weight | 317 lb | 348 lb (2 × 174) |
| Heaviest single lift | 125 lb | 146 lb |
| Wall cabinets | 1 | 2 |
| End-of-warranty capacity | 60% at up to 15 years / 6,000 cycles | 70% at 10 years, 60% at 15 |
The 10C wins on wall space and the single heaviest lift, which matters to installers carrying units into garages. Two 5Ps give a bit more continuous output and more microinverters, and they let you start with one unit and add a second later. If you already know you want 10 kWh, the 10C is the tidier install.
What 10 kWh Can Run
These are our estimates for a typical home during an outage, assuming about 9 kWh delivered after reserves and losses. Your loads will differ; a plug-in meter or your utility’s hourly data gives better numbers. Our guide to how many batteries a house needs walks through the sizing math.
| Backup plan | Typical load (estimate) | Approximate runtime on one 10C |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials: fridge, lights, internet, phones, furnace fan | ~300–500W average | ~18–30 hours |
| Essentials + well pump cycling | ~500–700W average | ~13–18 hours |
| Essentials + 3-ton central AC cycling on a hot day | ~1,500–2,500W average | ~4–6 hours |
| Overnight self-consumption, average home | ~600–1,000W evening/night | Covers roughly one evening and night |
With solar recharging the battery each day, an outage can stretch much longer than these figures, as long as daily production covers what you use. Our home battery backup guide explains why a solar system alone shuts off during an outage and how a battery changes that.
Can It Start a Central AC?
Motor loads are where home batteries often fall short. Enphase lists up to 90A of locked-rotor amps (LRA) for the 10C’s Power Start feature, while noting that it may vary. Your AC’s LRA is printed on the outdoor unit’s nameplate. If it’s under the battery’s rating, there’s a good chance the 10C can start it; if it’s close or above, installers commonly add a soft starter to reduce the inrush, or pair multiple batteries. The 5P, at 48A LRA per unit, usually needs help with a central AC on its own, which is one of the 10C’s practical advantages. Our amps guide for fridges, dryers and mini-splits covers typical motor draws.
How It Fits Into an Enphase System
The 10C is AC-coupled, meaning it connects to your home’s AC wiring rather than directly to solar panels. Enphase lists compatibility with its IQ and M Series microinverters, the IQ Meter Collar, the IQ Combiner 6C and the IQ Gateway. It supports backup, self-consumption and time-of-use modes, and it’s monitored and controlled in the Enphase app, with wired communication between components. Enphase’s datasheet also notes field-replaceable components and remote firmware updates.
Because it’s AC-coupled, it can be added to an existing Enphase microinverter system without replacing the solar hardware. For a non-Enphase solar system, ask your installer whether the full Enphase backup equipment is compatible. Our microinverters vs string inverters explainer covers the basic architecture.
Installation Details Homeowners Should Know
- Clearances: Enphase lists 4-inch side and top clearances from its UL 9540A evaluation, recommends 8 inches for service access, and suggests 15 inches in front.
- Outdoor-rated: NEMA 3R, so it can mount on an exterior wall, though Enphase notes charging slows below 59°F and above 113°F, and discharging slows below 32°F and above 122°F.
- Breaker and wire: one 10C uses a 40A breaker with at least 8 AWG wire; two or more use an 80A breaker with at least 4 AWG, per the datasheet.
- Weight: 317 lb on the wall in total, delivered in pieces no heavier than 125 lb.
Cost Factors
Enphase doesn’t publish a price for the 10C, and installed costs vary widely by region and installer. The main things that move the quote:
- How many batteries you want, and whether you’re adding to existing solar or installing both together.
- Backup equipment, such as the controller or meter collar that lets the home island from the grid.
- Whole-home vs partial backup, since backing up everything may need more batteries or electrical panel work. See our critical loads panel guide.
- Site work, including wall prep, pedestal mounts and wire runs.
Get at least two or three quotes for the same configuration so you can compare them line by line.
Daily Use: Self-Consumption and Time-of-Use
Most of the time there’s no outage, and the 10C works as a daily battery. In self-consumption mode, it stores surplus solar during the day and powers the home in the evening, reducing what you draw from the grid. In time-of-use mode, it aims to discharge during your utility’s most expensive hours. The 6,000-cycle warranty term is roughly one full cycle a day for about 16 years, so daily cycling sits comfortably inside the 15-year coverage. Keeping the cabinet in Enphase’s 32°F to 86°F optimum range, such as a shaded wall or a garage, helps preserve capacity.
Who It’s For
- Enphase solar owners adding storage to an existing microinverter system.
- Homes that want 10 kWh or more and prefer fewer cabinets on the wall.
- Homes with a central AC that need more motor-starting current than one 5P provides.
- Buyers who value quiet hardware, since there are no fans.
If you want to start smaller, a single 5P is the more flexible entry point. Owners who want to start with something portable can look at our guide to home battery backup without solar, which covers plug-in options that need no installer.
FAQ
How much usable capacity does the IQ Battery 10C have?
10.0 kWh, according to Enphase. That figure includes a 2% safety reserve, and Enphase keeps a further 3% for overnight electronics.
How much power can it deliver?
7.08 kVA continuous at 240V, with 56A peak for 3 seconds and up to 90A LRA for motor starting.
Is the IQ Battery 10C the same as two IQ Battery 5Ps?
Same capacity, one cabinet. The 10C has slightly less continuous output (7.08 vs 7.68 kVA), higher motor-starting current, and lighter individual pieces to lift.
What warranty does it have?
60% capacity, up to 15 years or 6,000 cycles, whichever comes first, per Enphase. Restrictions apply.
Can I install it myself?
No. It’s sold and installed through Enphase installers.
Does it have fans?
No. Enphase says it cools by natural convection with no moving parts.
Bottom Line
The IQ Battery 10C packs 10 kWh of LFP storage, 7.08 kVA of output and up to 90A of motor-starting current into one quiet outdoor-rated cabinet. It’s a strong fit for homes with Enphase microinverters that want 10 kWh or more without two separate boxes, and its higher starting current makes it more practical for central AC than a single 5P. Ask installers to quote the exact configuration you want, including backup equipment.