Powerwall 3 vs Enphase IQ Battery 5P vs FranklinWH aPower 2

Powerwall 3 vs Enphase (and FranklinWH) is the comparison most homeowners face when they get battery quotes. All three are installer-sold LFP home batteries, but they’re built differently. Powerwall 3 has a built-in solar inverter. Enphase stacks small 5 kWh units. FranklinWH offers big 15 kWh blocks with strong generator integration. Every spec below comes from the makers’ datasheets.

Powerwall 3 vs Enphase vs FranklinWH: Specs

Spec	Tesla Powerwall 3	Enphase IQ Battery 5P	FranklinWH aPower 2
Usable energy	13.5 kWh	5.0 kWh	15 kWh
Continuous power	Up to 11.5 kW	3.84 kVA	10 kW (11.5 kVA)
Peak / starting	185 LRA	7.68 kVA (3 s), up to 48 A LRA	15 kW (10 s)
Coupling	DC solar input built in (up to 20 kW DC)	AC-coupled	AC-coupled
Expansion	Up to 3 Expansions per unit	Add more 5P units	Up to 15 units per aGate
Chemistry	LFP	LFP	LFP
Warranty	Per Tesla terms	15 yr or 6,000 cycles	15 yr (per datasheet note)

Is Powerwall 3 better than Enphase?

Neither is better for every home. Powerwall 3 delivers more power per unit and suits new solar-plus-storage builds. Enphase suits homes with Enphase microinverters and buyers who want small modular steps.

Which battery is best for generator integration?

FranklinWH builds generator control into its aGate system, with FranklinWH recommending about a 12 kW generator for one aPower 2.

Which home battery stores the most energy per unit?

FranklinWH aPower 2 at 15 kWh, then Powerwall 3 at 13.5 kWh. Enphase IQ Battery 5P units are 5 kWh each.

Do these batteries work without solar?

All three can provide backup and charge from the grid. Without solar, they can’t recharge during a long outage. See home battery backup without solar.

Sources: Tesla Powerwall 3 Datasheet (US); Enphase IQ Battery 5P datasheet and warranty; FranklinWH aPower 2 datasheet. Check current versions with your installer; Enphase US limited warranty; FranklinWH end-user warranty. Accessed Oct 2026.

Powerwall 3: Most Power per Unit

One unit delivers up to 11.5 kW continuous with high motor-starting capability, plus a built-in hybrid solar inverter. It’s best for new solar plus storage builds.

Enphase IQ Battery 5P: Modular and Microinverter-Friendly

Each 5 kWh unit has six built-in microinverters, so it fits naturally with existing Enphase microinverter systems. You buy exactly the capacity you want. Power scales with units: three 5Ps give 15 kWh and about 11.5 kVA.

FranklinWH aPower 2: Big Blocks and Generator Control

15 kWh per unit, and the aGate can auto-start a generator through an optional module. FranklinWH recommends about a 12 kW generator for one aPower 2. It’s AC-coupled, so it works with most existing solar.

Which One Fits?

• New solar and battery together: Powerwall 3
• Existing Enphase micros: IQ Battery 5P
• Long outages with a generator: FranklinWH aPower 2
• Existing string inverter: FranklinWH or another AC-coupled option; ask about Powerwall 3 compatibility
• Tight budget, small backup: one or two Enphase 5Ps on a critical loads panel

All three need a licensed installer, a permit and usually utility approval. Get at least two quotes and compare the same backup scope (whole home vs selected circuits), not just the price per kWh.

Worked Example: Matching 30 kWh and 11.5 kW

Say a home wants about 30 kWh of storage and at least 11.5 kW of continuous power for partial-home backup with central AC. Using each maker’s per-unit specs:

Battery	Units for ≥30 kWh	Total energy	Total continuous power
Powerwall 3 + Expansions	1 PW3 + 2 Expansions	40.5 kWh	11.5 kW
Powerwall 3 only	3 PW3	40.5 kWh	34.5 kW
Enphase IQ Battery 5P	6 units	30 kWh	23 kVA
FranklinWH aPower 2	2 units	30 kWh	20 kW

Powerwall 3 lands on 40.5 kWh because it comes in 13.5 kWh steps. Enphase hits 30 kWh exactly in 5 kWh steps. FranklinWH reaches it with two big blocks. Final system power can also be limited by the gateway, the main panel and the installer’s configuration.

Worked Example: Can It Start My Air Conditioner?

Motor-starting ratings matter for central AC and well pumps. Compare your compressor’s nameplate LRA with each battery’s rating:

Battery	Published starting capability
Tesla Powerwall 3	185 LRA
Enphase IQ Battery 5P	Up to 48 A LRA per unit
FranklinWH aPower 2	15 kW peak for 10 seconds

If your AC lists 90 LRA (example), one Powerwall 3 is rated above it. One Enphase 5P isn’t, so you’d plan several units or a soft starter. For FranklinWH, ask the installer to check the compressor against the 10-second peak rating. More on surges in surge watts vs running watts.

Warranty Terms Side by Side

Term	Powerwall 3	IQ Battery 5P	aPower 2
Years	10	15	15
Energy or cycle limit	See Tesla terms	6,000 cycles	60 MWh throughput
Capacity guarantee	70% at 10 years (as summarized by third parties)	70% at 10 years, 60% at 15	70%

Enphase and FranklinWH figures are from their published US warranties. Read the full documents for conditions such as internet connectivity. Our home battery warranties compared post goes deeper.

Step-by-Step: Choosing Among the Three

1. Check your existing solar. Enphase micros point to the 5P. A string inverter or no solar keeps all three open.
2. List backup loads and surges. Big motors favor Powerwall 3’s starting rating or multiple units.
3. Decide on generator use. If you want a generator to auto-recharge the battery, look at FranklinWH’s aGate generator module.
4. Pick a target kWh and see which unit steps fit best (table above).
5. Get quotes from certified installers for the same backup scope.
6. Compare warranty terms and installed price per usable kWh.

Wall Space and Installation

	Powerwall 3	IQ Battery 5P	aPower 2
Boxes for about 15 kWh	1 (13.5 kWh)	3	1
Cooling	Per Tesla design	Passive, fan-free	Per FranklinWH design
Rating	NEMA 3R, IP67	NEMA 3R	Indoor/outdoor per datasheet
Controller	Backup Gateway or Backup Switch	IQ System Controller	aGate

More boxes mean more wall space and more conduit, but also the option to start small and add later.

Adding a Battery to Existing Solar

Existing system	Simplest pairing	Why
Enphase microinverters	IQ Battery 5P	Same ecosystem, app and controller
String inverter, any brand	FranklinWH aPower 2 or another AC-coupled battery	Connects on the AC side without replacing the inverter
No solar yet	Any of the three	Powerwall 3’s built-in inverter can also run new DC solar
Older Tesla system	Ask Tesla about compatibility	Mixed-generation rules vary

AC-coupled batteries charge from your existing inverter’s AC output, so the solar is converted from DC to AC and back to DC to store it. That costs a little efficiency but avoids replacing working equipment. See grid-tie vs hybrid vs off-grid solar.

Price per Usable kWh

All three are installer-sold, so pricing varies by region and scope. To compare fairly, divide each quote’s battery-related total by its usable kWh. A quote for 40.5 kWh of Powerwall and a quote for 30 kWh of FranklinWH can’t be compared on total price alone. Remember there’s no federal 25D credit for homeowner-owned batteries installed after 2025. See how much a Powerwall 3 costs installed for the cost factors.

Individual Reviews

• Tesla Powerwall 3 review
• Enphase IQ Battery 5P review
• FranklinWH aPower 2 review
• Generac PWRcell 2 vs Powerwall 3

FAQ

Which has the most capacity per unit?

FranklinWH aPower 2 at 15 kWh, then Powerwall 3 at 13.5 kWh.

Can I install these myself?

No. All three are sold and installed through certified installers.

Is there still a tax credit for home batteries?

Not for homeowner-owned systems installed after 2025 (25D ended).

Sources: tesla.com/powerwall; enphase.com IQ Battery 5P data sheet and limited warranty; franklinwh.com aPower 2 datasheet and generator integration guide. Accessed Oct 2026.

Related: EcoFlow Delta 3 Max for Home Backup, Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus: What Can It Power?