Does solar PV work during a power outage?
Sources checked
Ordinary grid-connected solar disconnects during a grid outage. Sunshine on the roof and an installed battery do not, by themselves, guarantee working sockets. Backup requires supported equipment and safe separation from the distribution grid.
Decide which appliances must run
List the refrigerator, heating controls, circulation pumps, communications or other essential loads. Check simultaneous and starting demand, phase arrangement and required runtime. A small dedicated backup circuit can have different requirements from whole-home backup.
Ask for supported continuous and surge power, transfer behaviour and the energy reserve. A battery's kWh rating describes energy, not the maximum power available on each phase.
Confirm what happens during a long outage
Establish whether panels can recharge the battery in island operation, how the system restarts after depletion and what conditions are needed for a black start. These functions depend on the exact equipment and configuration.
Have the installer demonstrate the agreed operation and provide the final circuit diagram. Ordinary annual production or a hybrid product name cannot prove backup performance for your particular house.