FranklinWH Home Energy Storage: aPower X Battery and aGate X Controller

Overview

FranklinWH offers a comprehensive home energy storage system composed of the aPower X home battery and the aGate X smart energy management controller. This Franklin Home Power (FHP) system is designed to store solar energy, provide whole-home backup power during outages, and optimize energy usage for homeowners. The aPower X battery stores electricity (from solar panels or the grid) and can deliver it on demand, while the aGate X controller serves as the “brain,” intelligently managing power flow between the battery, solar panels, the electric grid, and home loads. Together, these components give consumers energy independence, seamless backup power, and improved energy efficiency for their homes.

aPower X Home Battery

Key specifications and features of the aPower X include:

Usable Energy Capacity

13.6 kWh per battery unit. This is a substantial amount of storage, and multiple aPower units can be combined for more capacity (up to 15 batteries for a total of ~204 kWh of storage). This scalability allows homeowners to tailor the system to their energy needs, from a single-battery setup to a large multi-battery system for extended backup.

Power Output

Each aPower X provides 5 kW continuous power and up to 10 kW peak power (for short surges up to 10 seconds). This is enough continuous output to run a majority of household circuits, and the short-term peak power helps start heavy appliances. In fact, a single aPower X can start and run a large 4-ton air conditioner thanks to its high surge capability (118 A locked-rotor amperage support). The unit delivers 120/240V split-phase AC output, meaning it can power standard 240V home appliances and well pumps directly, enabling true whole-home backup from a single battery.

Round-Trip Efficiency

Approximately 89% round-trip efficiency, meaning most of the energy put into the battery (from solar or grid) is recovered when discharged. This high efficiency minimizes energy losses during charging and discharging.

Battery Chemistry and Safety

Uses Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) cells, known for their thermal stability and safety. LFP batteries are less prone to overheating or fire compared to other lithium chemistries, adding peace of mind for home use. The aPower X has an advanced Battery Management System (BMS) that monitors cell temperatures, state-of-charge, and health. It features automotive-grade lithium cells and proactive state-of-health monitoring to ensure longevity and safety. The system is certified to rigorous safety standards (UL 9540/9540A, UL 1973, etc.), and the enclosure is NEMA 3R rated for outdoor safety and durability.

Physical Design & Installation

The aPower X comes in a weatherproof enclosure (IP67) that allows for outdoor installation. It can be wall-mounted or floor-mounted and is built to withstand harsh conditions (operating temperature range from -4°F to 122°F / -20°C to 50°C) without performance issues. The unit measures about 45.3 x 29.5 x 11.4 inches and weighs roughly 408 lbs, so it is a sizable appliance that typically requires professional installation and a sturdy mounting location (such as a garage wall, exterior wall, or concrete pad). Despite its size, the design is all-in-one and sleek, with a minimalist white enclosure and a simple LED status indicator.

Thermal Management

The aPower X is passively cooled and uses an efficient thermal design to maintain safe operating temperatures. It runs quietly (noise emission under 30 dB in normal operation). In colder climates, the battery’s internal management system can prevent charging at low temperatures and may include heaters to allow operation down to -4°F. This means the battery can be installed in cold or hot environments while maintaining reliability.

Backup Power Capability

When paired with the aGate controller, the aPower X can provide whole-home backup power. In the event of a grid outage, the system will isolate from the grid and keep critical loads – or even the entire home – powered using energy from the battery (and solar, if available). A single 13.6 kWh battery can often supply several hours of essential power, and multiple batteries can extend backup duration to days. The high 5 kW/10 kW output means even heavy-draw appliances (HVAC, well pump, refrigerator, etc.) can continue running during an outage. The transition to backup power is almost instantaneous – the system detects outages and switches to battery power in under 16 milliseconds, so appliances stay on without noticeable interruption. Additionally, the aPower X has black start capability and can restart your home energy system each morning with solar power even if the grid is still down (essentially enabling solar panels to resume producing power daily during an extended blackout).

Solar Integration

The aPower X is AC-coupled, which means it connects on the AC side of your home’s electrical system. This design makes it compatible with virtually any existing home solar setup – whether you have microinverters or a string inverter, the FranklinWH battery can work with it. Excess solar energy generated during the day can charge the aPower battery, and later the stored energy can be used in the evening or during a grid outage. During an outage, the aPower X (via aGate) forms a local micro-grid enabling your solar panels to continue producing energy and charging the battery, providing ongoing backup as long as the sun is shining. This seamless solar charging in off-grid mode maximizes your home’s resilience by using the solar+battery combination to its fullest.

aGate X Smart Energy Management Controller

FranklinWH aGate X intelligent controller. The aGate is typically installed near the main electrical panel and manages the flow of power between the grid, home loads, solar, and the aPower battery. The aGate X is the FranklinWH system’s intelligent power control center – essentially a smart home energy management system and advanced transfer switch in one. It is responsible for coordinating all power sources and household loads to optimize when and how energy is used.

Microgrid Controller & Transfer Switch

The aGate X serves as a micro-grid interconnect device, automatically isolating the home from the grid during outages and forming a safe islanded power system. It contains an internal automatic transfer switch that detects grid loss and switches over to battery (and solar) power in <16 milliseconds – fast enough that electronics and appliances don’t reset. When power is restored, aGate seamlessly reconnects the home to the grid. This ensures uninterrupted power for the home when using the FranklinWH backup system. The aGate’s design meets strict electrical standards (NEC, UL 1741 PCS) to perform this grid isolation function without requiring a main panel upgrade in most cases. In fact, the unit is built with a 280 A bus capacity, enabling it to handle up to a 200 A main service without derating – this avoids the need for costly main electrical panel upgrades in many installations.

Integration of Multiple Energy Sources

aGate acts as the central hub for all power sources. It has built-in connections for the grid input, the aPower batteries, solar PV, and even a generator. This means it can manage energy from solar panels, the battery bank, the utility grid, and optional generators simultaneously. The controller prioritizes and switches between these sources to maximize efficiency and savings – for example, charging the battery with solar power first, or drawing from the battery during expensive peak rate times. It also ensures that during an outage, power can come from the battery and solar (and generator if available) to keep loads running. The aGate X is compatible with all major inverter brands and types (both micro-inverters and string inverters), so it can be added to virtually any existing solar system without altering the solar equipment. This makes retrofit installations straightforward.

Load Management and Smart Circuits

One of aGate’s advanced features is its ability to manage and shed household loads to extend backup power and prevent overloads. By default, the FranklinWH system can disconnect non-essential loads if the demand exceeds what the battery can supply. Additionally, FranklinWH offers an optional “Smart Circuits” module that integrates with the aGate. With Smart Circuits, homeowners can designate specific high-draw circuits (like EV chargers, HVAC, pool pumps, etc.) for independent control. Through the FranklinWH app, you can schedule these circuits to run only at certain times (for example, turn your EV charger on during off-peak hours) or automatically shut them off during a power outage to conserve battery for critical needs. The aGate will automatically shed heavy loads if necessary to protect the battery during outages, and restore them when capacity allows. This intelligent load control maximizes the effectiveness of the stored energy and enhances safety by preventing circuit overloads.

Generator Integration (Extended Backup)

For extended outages beyond what solar and batteries alone can cover, the aGate X supports generator integration. An optional Generator Module can be added to easily tie in a standby or portable generator. The aGate can automatically start and stop the generator as needed to recharge the batteries or power the home when the battery State-of-Charge gets low during a long blackout. This integration is seamless – when the generator is running, it can feed the home and charge the aPower battery simultaneously, all managed by the aGate. This provides an extra layer of resiliency: even if solar production is zero (night or cloudy weather), your home can still have continuous power with the combination of battery and generator. (Notably, FranklinWH also hints at future vehicle-to-home capabilities using this generator input, to possibly use an EV’s battery as a backup power source.) The generator module is internal to the aGate enclosure, making for a clean installation without additional external transfer switches, and it supports up to a 200A generator feed for large generators.

Monitoring and Software

The aGate X comes with a comprehensive software interface accessible via the FranklinWH mobile app. Homeowners can monitor real-time energy flow – how much solar is being produced, battery state-of-charge, home consumption, and grid import/export – all in one dashboard. The app also enables control features: you can remotely control Smart Circuit loads (turning appliances on/off or setting schedules), switch system operation modes (like Backup mode, Time-of-Use mode to save on peak rates, or Self-consumption mode to maximize solar usage), and view historical energy usage data. The aGate has built-in communications (Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and even 4G cellular) to ensure it stays connected for monitoring and for receiving firmware updates. FranklinWH provides automatic software updates to the system, so the aGate will periodically get new features or improvements over-the-air, keeping the system optimized. Overall, the monitoring and controls are user-friendly, allowing consumers to actively manage their energy or let the system run automatically based on pre-configured preferences.

Installation and Compatibility

Installing a FranklinWH system involves setting up both the aPower X battery unit(s) and the aGate X controller at the home. Professional installation by a certified electrician or solar installer is required, as this system interfaces with the home’s main electrical panel and must meet electrical code and permitting requirements. Typically, the aGate X controller is installed adjacent to the main service panel (or sometimes as a replacement for the main sub-panel), since it needs to tie into the grid connection, critical load circuits, and solar inverter output. The aPower X battery, due to its weight and size, is often installed on a concrete pad or bolted to a strong wall (indoor in a garage or outside the home). It has a slim profile for wall mounting and is outdoor-rated, giving flexibility in placement. Installers will run conduit between the aPower battery and the aGate control unit, as well as connect the aGate to the home’s electrical distribution. The system comes pre-assembled and pre-wired components to some extent, which helps simplify the installation process, but wiring into the house and commissioning the system is a several-hour job.

One major advantage of the FranklinWH system is compatibility with existing solar systems. Because the aPower X is AC-coupled, it connects on the AC side and doesn’t require any reconfiguration of your solar array or inverter. This means whether you have Enphase microinverters, a SolarEdge/String inverter, or any other grid-tied solar inverter, the FranklinWH can work with it out of the box. The aGate X includes built-in metering for the solar input (up to 80 A of solar AC current, roughly 15–20 kW of PV), so it can properly manage solar production and prevent backfeeding when islanded.

The system can be installed as a retrofit to an existing solar home or as part of a new solar+battery installation. It also supports homes without solar – you can install the battery system for backup now and add solar panels later, or use the battery for time-of-use energy arbitrage even without PV. Additionally, the aGate’s optional generator integration means the system is compatible with gas or propane generators if a homeowner wants to include that in their backup plan. In summary, the FranklinWH is very flexible in installation: it works with any standard 120/240V home electrical setup, pairs with any solar inverter, and can be tailored to backup either the entire home or just critical circuits depending on the homeowner’s preference and the number of batteries installed. Installers will ensure the system is configured to local code (including any required disconnects or clearances) and will set up the monitoring app for the homeowner. Once installed, the system operates automatically, with the aGate controller seamlessly managing energy flows in the background.

Typical Installed Cost

For a standard setup consisting of one aPower X battery (13.6 kWh) and the aGate X controller, the typical installed cost is around $15,500 (including the equipment, permitting, and professional labor). This estimate is based on installations in markets like New Jersey and assumes a straightforward installation without extraordinary site-specific costs. The price can vary depending on factors such as the number of battery units (adding batteries will increase equipment cost), any optional components (Smart Circuits or Generator Module), local labor rates, and the complexity of the installation (for example, if electrical service upgrades are needed or if the units must be mounted in difficult locations). However, roughly mid-five-figures is a good ballpark for a single-battery FranklinWH system fully installed.

It’s worth noting that this upfront cost may be offset by incentives or energy savings. In many regions, batteries paired with solar qualify for investment tax credits or state rebates, which can significantly reduce the net cost. Additionally, the FranklinWH system can provide savings on electric bills (by leveraging solar power and off-peak rates), and of course it delivers backup power protection that can be invaluable during outages. When comparing to other home battery solutions, the FranklinWH’s price is in a similar range as competitors (like Tesla Powerwall systems, etc.), but FranklinWH offers a higher capacity per battery (13.6 kWh usable) and the ability to truly support whole-home loads with one unit, which can make it a compelling value for those seeking robust backup capability.

Key Specifications of the FranklinWH System

Note: The aPower X and aGate X are designed and warrantied to work together as a system. FranklinWH provides a 12-year warranty on both the battery and the controller, which covers workmanship and performance (with the battery expected to retain a high percentage of its capacity over that period). This gives homeowners confidence in the long-term reliability of the system.

By combining the high-capacity aPower X battery with the intelligent aGate X controller, FranklinWH delivers a whole-home energy solution that ensures backup power security, maximizes use of renewable energy, and provides flexibility for homeowners to manage their energy usage. The system’s robust technical specs – from 13.6 kWh storage and 5 kW output per battery, to fast <16ms switchover and flexible integration – make it a strong contender for anyone looking to install a home battery, whether to complement an existing solar array or simply to have peace of mind against power outages. The FranklinWH FHP system is both consumer-friendly (with app control and compatibility with any setup) and technically advanced, giving informed buyers the data and performance they need for an effective home energy investment.