RevoluSun Blog
How to Get the Most Out of Your Solar + Battery System During a Storm
Kelley Burke
18 March 2026
By RevoluSun | March 2026
Aloha,
After last weekend’s storms across Oahu, we wanted to share some important takeaways directly from our technical and electrical teams who were out in the field supporting customers throughout the outages.
The good news? Our systems performed exceptionally well. With over 11,000 customers on Oahu, we had just 24 situations that required a site visit — a testament to how well solar and battery backup systems hold up when the grid goes down.
That said, a little preparation goes a long way. Here’s everything you need to know to make sure your home is fully protected before, during, and after the next storm.
Before the Storm: How to Prepare Your System
The single most important thing you can do before a storm hits is make sure your battery is fully charged and your system is ready to go.
Set your battery reserve higher. Your battery reserve is the minimum charge level your system will maintain before switching to grid power. Before a storm, raise this to ensure you have as much stored energy as possible when the outage hits.
Enable Storm Watch on your app. Storm Watch is a feature that automatically charges your battery to 100% when severe weather is detected in your area. Make sure this is enabled in your Tesla app so your system prepares itself automatically — even if you forget.
One thing we saw during last weekend’s outages: In a few cases, systems were functioning perfectly, but limited solar production in the days leading up to the storm meant batteries weren’t fully charged when the outage occurred. Getting ahead of the storm by manually charging your battery in advance helps avoid this situation entirely.
During an Outage: How to Make Your Battery Last Longer
How you use your battery during an outage makes a significant difference in how long it lasts. Here are the most important steps to take the moment the grid goes down.
Turn off non-essential breakers. Pool pumps, EV chargers, and other high-draw appliances should be switched off immediately during an outage. These draw significant power and can drain your battery much faster than necessary.
Turn off timer-based loads. Any appliances running on timers — irrigation systems, water heaters, and similar devices — should be manually switched off during an outage to conserve battery life.
Limit use of large appliances. Air conditioning, dryers, and ovens are among the biggest power consumers in any home. During an extended outage, use these sparingly to extend how long your battery lasts.
Why this matters: If your home is drawing too much power when the grid goes down, your system may temporarily shut off to protect itself. This is completely normal behavior — it’s a safety feature, not a malfunction. Managing your load properly prevents this from happening.
If Your System Appears Offline
If your system appears to go offline during or after a storm, don’t panic. In most cases the fix is simple.
Check your internet connection first. Many system communication issues during storms are actually caused by internet outages, not solar or battery issues. Your system may be working perfectly — it just can’t communicate with the app.
Try a gateway reset. Power cycling your gateway device (simply unplugging it and plugging it back in) can often restore communication quickly. This is the first thing our technical team checks and resolves the majority of reported issues.
One Important Step Most Homeowners Overlook
As soon as Storm Watch is activated, open your app and enable Remote Service Access for RevoluSun.
This one step allows our team to:
- Diagnose issues faster without needing to schedule a site visit
- Support your system remotely in real time
- Get you back up and running as quickly as possible if anything does go wrong
With Remote Service Access enabled, our team can often resolve issues within minutes rather than hours. It’s one of the most valuable tools we have — and it only works when you’ve granted access.
Has Your Energy Usage Changed?
One thing worth considering: since your system was installed, your home’s energy needs may have changed. New appliances, an electric vehicle, additional air conditioning units, or simply increased day-to-day usage can all affect how long your battery lasts during an outage.
If you’ve noticed your battery depleting faster than expected, or if you’d simply like more backup time and coverage during future outages, we’re always here to help you explore your options. Adding additional battery storage is a straightforward upgrade for existing customers.
The Bottom Line
Solar and battery backup is one of the most powerful tools an Oahu homeowner can have — especially as storm seasons become more frequent and severe. A little preparation before each storm goes a long way toward making sure your home stays powered, protected, and ready for anything.
If you have any questions about your system or would like to explore adding more battery capacity, don’t hesitate to reach out.
📞 748.8888 🌐 revolusun.com
Mahalo for trusting RevoluSun with your home. We’re honored to be part of your energy journey.
— The RevoluSun Team
About RevoluSun
RevoluSun is one of Oahu’s leading solar and battery installation companies, helping Hawaii homeowners achieve true energy independence. With over 11,000 customers across the island, we’re committed to making sure your home stays powered no matter what the weather brings.
