Critical Loads

A sub-panel containing only essential circuits — typically refrigerator, some lighting, phone charging, and select outlets. Consumer battery backup products (Powerwall, PWRcell, Enphase IQ) typically only back up a critical load panel, not the full main panel. This means HVAC, water heaters, EV chargers, pools, and other high-draw systems lose power during an outage even with a consumer battery installed. A whole-home microgrid backs up the main panel — every circuit.

The engineering process of ranking a property's electrical loads by criticality, and configuring the microgrid controller to sustain high-priority loads first when system capacity is constrained. Typical priority tiers: Tier 1 (life-safety) — security systems, medical equipment, communications; Tier 2 (comfort/protection) — HVAC, refrigeration, lighting; Tier 3 (convenience) — EV charging, pool heaters, decorative lighting. During extended low-generation periods, the controller automatically curtails Tier 3 loads before Tier 2, and Tier 2 before Tier 1. Load prioritization is programmed during system commissioning, not a factory default.