Qcells is among the most trusted names in photo voltaic, so it is no shock its panels are put in on extra properties than every other model within the U.S. The corporate isn’t simply all about photo voltaic panels – they’ve been within the power storage enterprise since 2016.
The most recent model of the Qcells battery was launched in September 2022 on the RE+ convention in Anaheim. The up to date model, known as the Qcells Q.HOME CORE, is a whole residence power storage resolution that features an inverter, a modular battery, and an power administration hub.
Is the Q.HOME CORE an enchancment on the corporate’s battery system? Let’s take a more in-depth look and discover out whether or not it is proper in your residence.
Key takeaways
- Qcells’ Q.HOME CORE power system contains the Q.VOLT inverter, Q.SAVE battery, and Q.HOME HUB for power administration.
- The battery can maintain between 9 and 18 kWh of usable power storage.
- Official pricing has not been launched for the entire Q.HOME CORE system, however it may be anticipated to value greater than $12,000.
- Qcells’ presents a wonderful battery efficiency guarantee of 6,000 cycles or 10 years, whichever comes first.
- The Q.HOME CORE system may make Qcells a preferred selection not only for photo voltaic panels, however for power storage as effectively.
Options of the Qcells Q.HOME CORE power storage system
The Q.HOME CORE system consists of three parts:
- The Q.VOLT inverter
- The Q.SAVE battery
- The Q.HOME HUB
The Q.SAVE battery is modular, meaning you can add or remove modules, or battery packs, to store the amount of energy that’s right for you. Each module has a total capacity of 5 kilowatt-hours (kWh) – that’s enough power to run a standard refrigerator for about 10 hours. You can choose to have two, three, or four modules in your Q.SAVE battery, for a maximum total capacity of 20 kWh.
Qcells recommends using only 90% of the stored energy to preserve the battery’s health. So, a four-module Q.SAVE system will be able to store a total of 20 kWh of energy, but only 18 kWh are available for you to use. That’s still plenty of storage – you can run a refrigerator, a WiFi router, and a few lights for a full 24 hours with 18 kWh!
Another key thing to note is the battery’s power output, which tells you how many appliances the battery can power at once. Qcells only lists the Q.SAVE’s maximum power output, not the continuous output, so it’s hard to know exactly what appliances you can run with the Q.SAVE. The maximum power output ratings for the Q.SAVE fall in line with industry standards, with ratings from 5.5 kilowatts (kW) to 11.1 kW.
Table 1: Technical specifications of the Q.SAVE battery
| Model | Q.SAVE D10.0SX | Q.SAVE D15.0SX | Q.SAVE D20.0SX |
| Number of battery modules | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Total energy | 10 kWh | 15 kWh | 20 kWh |
| Usable energy | 9 kWh | 13.5 kWh | 18 kWh |
| Round trip efficiency | 95% | 95% | 95% |
| Maximum power output | 5.5 kW | 8.3 kW | 11.1 kW |
How much does the Q.HOME CORE system cost?
Qcells doesn’t list any official price for the new Q.HOME CORE energy systems, and being that it won’t be available until November 2022, we probably won’t hear any rumored pricing for a few months.
How long will the Q.HOME CORE system last?
The entire Q.HOME CORE system should all operate for at least a decade. The Q.VOLT inverter and Q.HUB management system both come with 10-year warranties.
How long the actual battery lasts depends on how you use it. The Q.SAVE battery comes with a 6,000-cycle or 10-year warranty, whichever comes first. This is a great warranty, and you can likely expect your battery to last for the full 10 years. The battery has a high cycle life thanks to its lithium iron phosphate chemistry, which makes it last longer and is safer to use than the modules used in other batteries, like the Tesla Powerwall.
However, we wish Qcells listed the capacity retention at the end of the warranty, which tells you how much energy your battery will be able to store by the end of the warranty period compared to how much it could hold initially. You see, every time you use a battery it slowly loses its ability to hold a charge. Think of your cell phone battery – you probably need to charge it up more now than you did when you first got it.
Most batteries on the market today are able to hold 70% of their initial capacity by the end of the warranty term. The Q.SAVE will probably fall somewhere in this average range, but we don’t know for sure.
The bottom line: The Q.HOME CORE system looks promising
The Q.HOME CORE system is still very new, so we don’t have all of the information we’d like, like operating modes of the battery, expected capacity retention at the end of the warranty, or pricing. But from what we do know, it seems like it could be a solid home energy storage option.
For one thing, Qcells is a very reliable brand so you can trust them to make high-quality products and provide good customer support if needed. Plus, every part of the Q.HOME CORE system comes from one company, so if there is an issue you are only dealing with Qcells instead of fumbling around trying to find which part of the system isn’t working and find who to call. This also makes installation easier, as each component is specifically designed to work together.
Not to mention, the entire system looks great. We got to see it in person at the RE+ conference this year and its sleek all-white design is a huge upgrade from the company’s previous energy storage model.
With the combination of Qcells’ reputation and the information we’ve seen about the energy storage system so far, it definitely seems like the Q.HOME CORE could be a great choice for homeowners looking for a battery storage solution. Qcells is already on more residential roofs in the U.S. than any other solar panel brand, this method may set them on the trail to be in properties too.
