FranklinWH aPower 2

~$16,000approx. list price

800 WLights, phones, router, a CPAP
2,200 WFridge, freezer and the essentials
4,000 WFurnace blower, sump pump or a window AC
7,500 WWell pump or a small central AC
18,000 WWhole home with central air

10,000 W running, 15,000 W surge — sustains the well pump or a small central AC tier and everything below it.

Best forWhole-home backup retrofits on existing solar where single-cabinet capacity and surge matter.

The Powerwall alternative that installers experienced with FranklinWH speak highly of. One cabinet holds 15kWh - the most storage per unit of any mainstream battery - with 10kW continuous and a 15kW/10-second surge rated to start a 5-ton air conditioner. Price shown is typical installed cost with the aGate controller ($12,000-20,000 depending on market). Because it's AC-coupled, it retrofits onto any existing solar inverter brand - the single biggest reason people pick it over Powerwall 3. The aGate handles whole-home transfer plus generator and even EV-as-load integration. The main owner gripe is that quotes vary widely between dealers. Expansion runs to a ridiculous 225kWh across 15 units.

From the spec sheet

Specifications

Battery capacity: 15,000 Wh
Expandable to: 225,000 Wh
Continuous output: 10,000 W
Surge output: 15,000 W
Runtime: Fridge (~150W): ~85 hrs (3.5 days) per unit

Type: Home Battery System
Fuel: Battery (LiFePO4)
Outlets: Hardwired 120/240V whole-home via aGate controller
Transfer-switch ready: Yes
Weight: 357 lbs
Warranty: 15-year
Model: APR-10K15V2-US

15kWh in one cabinet·Starts 5-ton AC units·Works with any solar inverter

At a glance

Strengths

+15kWh per cabinet - best single-unit capacity in the industry
+15kW surge starts 5-ton HVAC without soft-start kits
+AC-coupled: compatible with any existing solar inverter brand
+aGate integrates generator input for indefinite outage endurance
+Outdoor-rated -4°F to 122°F with a 15-year warranty

At a glance

Drawbacks

−Installed quotes vary by thousands between dealers
−357 lbs requires two-plus installers and solid wall mounting
−Newer dealer network than Tesla/Generac in some regions

Summarised from owner discussions and forums

Owner insights

The aPower 2's 10kW continuous and 15kWh per cabinet answer the first-generation aPower's 5kW limit, which installers said forced two cabinets onto any house that wanted HVAC or an electric range on backup. Buyers include owners adding storage to existing solar of other brands and households building systems where a generator matters. Installers and a distributor who fit FranklinWH in 2024 were positive about the aGate and the factory support, though one well-regarded installer refused to fit it over its warranty-service record.

The dealer channel is the main caveat. FranklinWH does not support homeowner installs, and in a 2026 case the installer refused to commission a battery the owner wanted to add themselves. Quotes owners shared range from $26,000 for two aPower 2s added to an existing Enphase system, to $19,515 for one aPower 2 plus $1,250 for generator integration in 2024, to $100,957 for a 2025 Colorado ground-mount with 36 panels, two Solis inverters and two aPower 2s. Owners planning for long outages layer their backup, with a generator on the aGate or, for one owner, plans to top the batteries up from EVs through a portable power station.

Retrofits onto existing solar and generator-backed whole-home plans are the setups it appears in. Shoppers compare it with one Powerwall 3 with an expansion pack, which came in $12,000-15,000 cheaper in one 2024 shopper's quotes and about equal in one 2025 quote, or with stacks of Enphase 5Ps, which cost more per kWh in a 2023 quote that set one first-generation aPower at about $15,000 against two 5Ps at $13,200 for roughly 10kWh.

What owners like

+Doubles the original aPower's continuous output: 10kW and 15kWh per cabinet against the first generation's 5kW and 13.6kWh, which needed two cabinets before HVAC, a range or an EV circuit could be backed up
+15kW surge rated to start a 5-ton air conditioner without a soft-start kit, and a 2025 shopper counted handling AC condenser inrush among the system's strengths before the no-DIY policy ruled it out
+AC-coupled, so it works with whatever inverter is already on the wall - one owner pairs two aPower 2s with 28 old Enphase M215 micros, and a Texas installer added FranklinWH batteries to an existing SolarEdge system
+The aGate takes a generator, portable units included, which one installer points out Enphase does not allow; a 2026 owner chose two aPower 2s over Tesla and Enphase quotes for the generator and vehicle-to-load integration
+Installers and a distributor fitting FranklinWH systems in 2024 praised the factory tech support and the aGate: one crew with about 35 installs had a single issue, solved by support, and a sales rep said the company wants Franklin sold because it is the most reliable and easiest to commission

Common complaints

−Self-install is off the table: a 2025 shopper was told FranklinWH will not support homeowner installs, and in 2026 an owner's installer refused to commission a second battery the owner wanted to mount themselves
−Pricing against a Powerwall 3 swings: a 2024 shopper found PW3 systems $12,000-15,000 cheaper than IQ8 micros plus FranklinWH, and a 2025 shopper with near-equal aPower 2 and PW3 quotes chose Tesla, then heard the installer say Franklins were back-ordered and up roughly $10,000
−Paired with Enphase microinverters, the battery does not appear in the Enphase app, so solar and storage are monitored in two separate apps
−In 2024 a well-regarded installer offered to fit a Powerwall 3 but refused a FranklinWH system, citing a worse warranty-service record with Franklin
−At 357 lbs per cabinet it takes two or more installers and solid wall mounting

Questions owners ask

How is the aPower 2 different from the original aPower?

The first-generation aPower was rated 5kW continuous with 13.6kWh, so backing up an air conditioner, range or EV charger took two batteries. The aPower 2 raises that to 10kW continuous, 15kW peak and 15kWh per cabinet. Check the spec line on your quote: one 2025 quote listed an aPower 2 with the first generation's 5kW and 13.6kWh figures.

Can I connect a generator to a FranklinWH system?

Yes, through the aGate's generator input, and an installer notes it accepts portable generators, which Enphase does not allow. One 2024 quote priced the generator integration at $1,250 alongside one aPower 2. A Texas retrofit customer opted for the generator module, with a Duromax 15000 on the way, even though the house had not lost power in the 2021 freeze.

Will the aPower 2 work with my existing solar?

Yes. It is AC-coupled and works with any inverter brand; one owner runs two aPower 2s on 28 old Enphase M215 microinverters, and a Texas installer added FranklinWH batteries to an existing SolarEdge system. The trade-off with Enphase is that the battery does not show in the Enphase app, so solar and battery data live in separate apps.

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