Battery Comparison
Tesla Powerwall 3 vs FranklinWH aPower S
Two batteries with integrated solar inverters. Compare stored energy, battery-only power, generator charging and warranty terms for your Oklahoma home.
Powerwall 3 and FranklinWH aPower S both have built-in solar inverters, so solar panels can connect directly to either system. FranklinWH offers more stored energy per unit and generator charging with compatible equipment. Powerwall 3 offers higher maximum battery-only continuous output. The better fit depends on your loads, roof layout and complete installed scope.
A longer warranty or a larger kWh number cannot tell you whether one battery will run your AC overnight. That takes a load calculation and a runtime estimate.
Powerwall 3 vs aPower S: the equipment differences
| Feature | Tesla Powerwall 3 | FranklinWH aPower S |
|---|---|---|
| Stored energy per battery | 13.5 kWh | 15 kWh |
| Continuous AC output | Up to 11.5 kW, depending on configuration | 10 kW battery-only; up to 11.5 kW with PV input |
| Direct solar input | Integrated solar inverter accepts DC solar input | Integrated hybrid inverter accepts DC solar input |
| Maximum solar array input | 20 kW DC, subject to input limits | 20 kW DC, subject to input limits |
| Generator charging | No; separate transfer-switch arrangement | Supported with compatible equipment and Generator Module |
| Battery warranty | 10 years; 70% capacity retention, subject to use and warranty terms | 15-year limited warranty; 70% capacity through 15 years or 60 MWh, whichever comes first |
The aPower S values follow FranklinWH’s U.S. datasheet for APRS-10K15V1.1DCP-US. Its 11.5 kW figure includes PV input; battery-only continuous output is 10 kW. Available output depends on configuration and operating conditions. Confirm the quoted model and settings before comparing an overnight AC load.
Equipment details: Tesla Powerwall 3 datasheet and FranklinWH aPower S datasheet.
What can each battery run during an outage?
kW measures how much equipment can run at once. kWh measures stored energy. Check both. An air conditioner needs enough power to start its compressor, then draws energy for as long as it runs. An electric oven, water heater or EV charger can compete for that same capacity.
At a steady 1 kW load, 13.5 kWh provides 13.5 hours of energy and 15 kWh provides 15 hours. Those are ideal calculations using all rated energy, before reserve settings, operating losses, temperature and aging. Actual runtime will be shorter if less energy is available, and loads rarely stay constant.
Ask for two designs: essential circuits and your preferred whole-home coverage. Each should name the circuits, battery count, starting charge, expected average load and assumed solar recharge. See our battery runtime example for a reserve-adjusted planning table.
Generator charging is a meaningful difference
FranklinWH supports powering home loads and recharging aPower batteries from a compatible generator through its configured aGate and Generator Module. Generator type, size and start controls still need to match the design.
Tesla's generator guidance uses a separate automatic or manual transfer switch. Powerwall does not charge from the generator in that arrangement. Include the transfer equipment and operating sequence in the proposal if you want both.
For generator-ready backup planning, compare fuel supply, generator maintenance and the loads that must stay on after stored battery energy runs low. Solar recharge depends on sunlight and available capacity; it cannot guarantee uninterrupted power through a long outage.
New solar, existing solar and where aPower 2 fits
Before choosing either brand, collect your solar inverter model, panel layout, main-panel rating and monitoring access. The design must establish how the array operates when the utility is disconnected, what equipment stays and what changes.
Both Powerwall 3 and aPower S can be considered for a new array with direct solar input. If you already have a working solar inverter, compare the changes required against FranklinWH aPower 2, an AC-coupled battery option that does not include direct PV input. Ask for the connection diagram and a list of equipment that stays or changes.
If circuit management is part of the design, compare the included controls with a SPAN smart electrical panel. Whole-home connection does not mean every circuit can run simultaneously.
Read the warranty beyond the year count
Tesla's U.S. warranty lists 10 years and 70% capacity retention. Solar self-consumption, time-based control and backup have unlimited cycles under its stated conditions; other uses can carry a throughput limit.
FranklinWH's U.S. warranty provides a 15-year limited defect warranty for listed aPower S models. Its 70% capacity-retention commitment runs to 15 years or 60 MWh of throughput, whichever comes first. Other components have their own terms; confirm coverage for the quoted SKU. Registration and internet-connectivity requirements also matter.
Compare claim requirements, labor coverage, exclusions and the installer workmanship agreement. A battery warranty is neither a promise of unchanged capacity nor a guarantee of a particular outage runtime.
Compare installed prices using the same scope
A one-battery equipment price and a completed backup installation are different scopes. Ask both proposals to itemize:
- Battery model, quantity, total energy and configured continuous output.
- Gateway or aGate, transfer equipment and any generator connection.
- Backed-up circuits, load controls and electrical-panel work.
- Mounting, wiring distance, permits, commissioning and workmanship terms.
Request a cash price and, if financing, the financed amount, fees, APR and total payments. Compare the same runtime target before deciding which system costs less. Our Oklahoma battery storage service starts with those site and load details.
Franklin Battery vs Tesla Powerwall: Which One Should You Shortlist?
Tesla Powerwall 3
Powerwall 3 can supply up to 11.5 kW from the battery, depending on configuration. Check that output against the appliances you need during an outage.
FranklinWH aPower S
aPower S stores 15 kWh per unit and can recharge from a compatible generator. The installation needs aGate and the required generator equipment; battery-only output is 10 kW.
Battery comparison questions
Is FranklinWH better than Tesla Powerwall for Oklahoma outages?
Powerwall 3 and FranklinWH aPower S both integrate solar input and battery storage. FranklinWH supports generator charging with compatible equipment; Tesla uses a separate generator arrangement. Compare energy capacity, battery-only output, warranty conditions and the installation scope for your home.
Can one battery run my central air conditioner?
Possibly. The design must support both the compressor starting load and its running demand alongside other backed-up circuits. A battery may start an air conditioner yet have too little stored energy for the runtime you want. Share the outdoor unit nameplate and your preferred outage settings before choosing a battery count.
Which battery works better with a generator?
FranklinWH supports generator charging of aPower batteries through a properly configured aGate and Generator Module. Tesla describes a separate transfer-switch arrangement for Powerwall and a generator; Powerwall does not charge from that generator. Generator compatibility, controls and wiring must be checked for the exact installation.