Making sure yourinstalleris able to hook everything up correctly the first time is another.
The easier the installation, the less likely you are to have problems.
Tigo Energyis a company that creates solar hardware and software products for residential, commercial and industrial solar solutions.
One of the company’s main focuses is intelligent solar product management software.
“The batteries aren’t super differentiated, hardware-wise.
A box is a box.
The key is making it easy to install for the installer.
We differentiate with the installer, and that’s where we focus.”
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We did not conduct any hands-on testing for this review.
Batteries are part of a complex home energy system that varies between households.
Here’s everything you better know about the Tigo EI Battery.
What do I get with the Tigo EI Battery?
You’ll also get an 11-year warranty on the battery.
But the battery isn’t the only thing Tigo Energy has to offer.
You’ll either buy solar panels or already have asolar panel systeminstalled on your property.
Here’s a look at some of theTigo EI Battery’s specs.
Tigo also offers power optimizers that plug into each of your solar panels up on the roof.
And it’s not like there’s an obnoxious amount of boxes on the wall.
Here’s a quick breakdown of each Tigo solar storage system component.
It’s actually a box enclosure containing three small 3.3 kWh battery modules.
One Tigo EI Battery enclosure has a usable capacity of 9 kWh.
Up to four battery enclosures can be installed for a total usable capacity of 36 kWh.
Another thing we look for in home batteries is how modular they are.
Household energy needs change over time.
This is typically a cheaper alternative than going out and buying another giant battery.
“They’d rather install solar, which is easier and more straightforward.
They don’t want to come back out to the site.
So an easy, quick install is hugely important.”
However, Tigo doesn’t offer any modular sizing options, so we had to dock some points.
Usable capacity breakdown
Performance and efficiency
The Tigo EI Battery’s specs are pretty solid.
But its power output is weaker than other batteries on the market.
We’ll start with round-trip efficiency.
Most home batteries have a round-trip efficiency of around 90%.
Tigo’s battery does pretty well in the efficiency category, with a round-trip efficiency of 94.4%.
Home batteries have two different capacity ratings: its usable capacity and its maximum capacity.
The Tigo EI Battery’s depth of discharge is 90%.
It falls a bit short, but it’s not horrible.
Lastly, there’s power output.
Most home batteries will have two ratings on how much power they can handle: peak and continuous.
Peak power is the amount of power demand your battery can handle all at once without damaging anything.
This is helpful for starting power-hungry appliances.
Continuous power is the amount of power the battery can handle continuously at any given moment.
The Tigo EI Battery’s power ratings aren’t necessarily bad.
It’s just a product of its time.
If power isn’t really something you’re concerned about, Tigo’s battery is fine.
But the 6,000-cycle count coverage is pretty standard in the battery world.
Warranty details
Years covered: This is the amount of time your battery is covered under warranty.
Cycles covered: Most batteries come with a cycle or throughput clause.
Every time you drain and recharge your battery, it completes a cycle.
End-of-warranty capacity guarantee: Batteries have trouble retaining their original capacity over time.
They’ll be able to visit your property to physically look at the system and diagnose the problem.
They’re also the most familiar with the specific system you have installed.
In this case, Tigo.
There are two ways you could contact Tigo for support.
Tigo also has some FAQs and quick troubleshooting resources and documents available online.
Tigo Energy Intelligence app
Of course, your battery system comes with an app.
It would be a red flag if it didn’t.
“It’s designed for three different applications,” Dillon said.
So it’s got three different configurations."
How much does the Tigo EI Battery cost?
And don’t forget installation.
We found the average price range for the Tigo EI Battery to be fair.
Taking the time to shop around a bit could save you thousands of dollars in the long run.
Is the Tigo EI Battery my best choice?
You’ll get an 11-year warranty, too.
But it doesn’t have any modular capacity options to choose from on a single battery enclosure.
You shouldn’t limit yourself to one brand of battery either.
There are far more batteries on the market now than there were a few years ago.
Take some time to shop around and see what types of batteries your local installers are carrying.
This methodology also assumes you’re purchasing a battery for the main purpose of using it for energy backup.
First, we determined which categories would be used to evaluate each battery’s performance, capacity and value.
We also weighted each category.
Frequently asked questions
How do I implement the Tigo EI Battery?
Tigo Energy works with installers and distributors.
What is the energy storage capacity of the Tigo EI Battery?
The Tigo EI Battery has a usable capacity of 9 kWh.
Up to four battery enclosures can be installed for a total usable energy storage capacity of 36 kWh.
