Nearly every home has an electrical panel, usually located in the basement or utility area. This steel box is what you interact with when resetting a tripped breaker or troubleshooting electrical issues. Span is revolutionizing this essential yet outdated technology with their cutting-edge Smart Panel, which combines intelligent controls with real-time energy monitoring. In May 2021, Span introduced an updated version of their Smart Panel, offering improved features and cost benefits over the previous model. For homeowners considering solar installation, battery storage, or transitioning to an all-electric lifestyle, the Span Smart Panel provides a modern solution to optimize energy management and future-proof their home’s electrical system.
Key Points:
- The Span Smart Panel acts as an advanced energy management system for residential properties.
- Such energy management systems empower homeowners with the ability to oversee and regulate their energy expenditure.
- With 32 controllable circuits, the Smart Panel is compatible with standard 1-inch residential breakers and includes a 100A to 200A main breaker along with a 225A busbar.
- Span’s latest Smart Panel iteration is more cost-effective, simpler to set up, and boasts a more streamlined design than its predecessor.
What exactly is Span’s Smart Panel?
The Span Smart Panel redefines the traditional electrical panel with smart features and detailed energy monitoring. Imagine upgrading from a standard phone to a smartphone—it retains the familiar core function but adds powerful capabilities and energy insights to enhance your home’s efficiency.
This modern device boasts a sleek, white rectangular design that replaces conventional electrical panels. Serving as the central hub for all home circuits, it offers individualized control and customization via Span’s user-friendly mobile app.
Span’s Smart Panel Technical Details
The Span Smart Panel is a cutting-edge energy management hub with remarkable technical capabilities:
Installation Flexibility: Designed for both indoor and outdoor setups, ensuring adaptability to various home layouts.
Circuit Management: Supports control of up to 32 circuits, with the option to expand using additional units.
Breaker Compatibility: Works seamlessly with standard 1-inch residential breakers.
Power Capacity: Main breaker capacity of 100A–200A and a bus rating of 225A.
Connectivity Options: Equipped with Ethernet, WiFi, Bluetooth, and 4G/LTE for real-time remote control and monitoring.
Comparison of Span’s Original and Updated Smart Panel
Span’s updated Smart Panel offers enhancements from the original model, emphasizing ease of installation and aesthetic appeal. Whether tucked away or prominently displayed, this updated version provides greater versatility in placement and aligns with modern home design trends. Key distinctions include improvements in reduced costs and expanded compatibility with residential setups.
Span’s Smart Panel transforms home energy management, making it a worthy investment for those adopting solar power, battery storage, or all-electric living.
| (Click to sort ascending) | ORIGINAL SPAN PANEL | NEW SMART PANEL |
| MSRP | $5,000 | $3,500 |
| Depth from wall | 3.5 inches | <1 inch |
| Carrying capacity of individual circuits | 70 amps | 90 amps |
The new Smart Panel isn’t just more cost-effective due to its lower suggested retail price—the installation costs, though additional, also contribute to overall savings. Moreover, the redesigned panel is more compact, saving precious space in your home, yet it accommodates higher capacities per circuit, enhancing its overall utility.
Is Span’s Smart Panel a Smart Financial Decision?
The upfront cost of $3,500, plus installation fees, for the Span Smart Panel might seem steep at first glance. It raises an important question: can an advanced energy management system like this justify its price through long-term savings and added value? To answer this, it’s important to explore the cost benefits of energy management systems compared to traditional electrical upgrades.
Comparing Energy Management Systems to Standard Electrical Panel Upgrades
When you’re considering a shift towards a solar-powered home or a full home electrification, upgrading your existing electrical panel may already be on the agenda. Homeowners, particularly those with recently built homes, may not require an electrical panel upgrade just to accommodate solar panels. However, if your home is transitioning to complete electrification, especially with the addition of electric vehicles (EVs), your existing panel may fall short in handling the increased energy demands.
For solar upgrades alone, a 200-amp panel is necessary, which could set you back between $1,000 to $3,000 just for the panel. Opting for a premium, smart energy management system like Span’s, which also provides energy monitoring and control capabilities, could be a strategic long-term investment. By integrating an energy management system in conjunction with your solar installation, there’s potential to reduce the costs associated with installation and system design. Additionally, it affords you the advantage of precisely tracking your energy usage, which simplifies the task of sizing your solar installation without the hassle of combing through historical utility bills.
Energy Management System Versus Storage-Only Approach
If you’re considering adding a solar battery to your home, an energy management system like Span’s Smart Panel offers advantages beyond a standard storage-only setup. Typically, installing a solar battery requires adding a critical load panel, a separate component designed to protect both your battery and essential appliances from electrical overloads. This panel ensures that vital devices, like refrigerators or medical equipment, remain operational during power outages by drawing power from the battery. This setup can add complexity and cost to your installation.
The Span Smart Panel eliminates the need for a separate critical load panel by integrating its functionality directly into its design. This built-in capability provides advanced control over your home’s energy usage, allowing you to monitor and manage which appliances or circuits draw power from the battery during outages. With Span, you can make real-time adjustments via a mobile app, enabling remote control over circuits, such as prioritizing heating during winter or EV charging when needed. This adaptability ensures you maximize your battery’s efficiency and lifespan.
Span’s Smart Panel is ideal for homeowners looking to integrate advanced clean energy solutions. Whether you’re planning to install solar panels, expand battery storage, or add an electric vehicle (EV) charging station, Span optimizes the operation of these systems, creating a fully connected and efficient energy ecosystem. For eco-conscious individuals aiming to modernize their homes while reducing reliance on fossil fuels, Span’s Smart Panel provides a future-proof, user-friendly energy management solution.
Functions and Benefits of the Span Smart Panel
The Span Smart Panel acts as a sophisticated substitute for traditional electrical panels, regulating the electrical current distributed to the circuits throughout your home. Imagine it as an enhanced version of your current panel, but with additional smart functionalities for energy management.
The Smart Panel shines in three principal functions: managing and monitoring energy consumption, optimizing battery backup systems, and seamlessly incorporating renewable energy solutions.
Monitoring and Managing Energy Consumption
Span’s dedicated mobile app allows users to monitor their home’s energy consumption in real time. It facilitates the ability to switch circuits on or off remotely, covering everything from your lights and household appliances to HVAC systems. With the capability to control up to 32 circuits, the Smart Panel provides an in-depth look at your power usage.
Moreover, the app offers analytics to help you understand and act on your energy consumption patterns. For example, discovering a seldom-used appliance that’s a heavy energy consumer could lead to cost savings just by switching it off when it’s not needed.
When it comes to home battery backup systems, the Smart Panel elevates their efficiency. Span claims that the precise control enabled by their Smart Panel can extend battery backup duration by up to 40% more than systems without such controls. This means you might end up needing a smaller battery to achieve the same level of energy security, potentially reducing your investment costs.
Optimizing Home Battery Systems with Span’s Smart Panel
Span’s Smart Panel goes beyond being a high-tech replacement for your electrical panel—it truly shines when paired with a home battery system. Its intelligent energy management features enhance power outage preparedness and provide greater control over energy use.
Smart Energy Management for Batteries
Battery Monitoring and Control
The Smart Panel delivers detailed insights into your battery’s status, showing its remaining charge and converting that information into practical terms, such as how long your appliances can run. This is particularly useful during extended outages, as it helps you allocate energy efficiently until solar recharging or grid power returns. The Smart Panel also enables you to remotely deactivate non-critical circuits, preserving battery life for essential devices like refrigerators, medical equipment, or heating systems.
Intelligent Load Shedding
In case of a power outage, the Smart Panel takes proactive steps to conserve energy. Unlike traditional setups that either deplete the battery quickly or fail to prioritize essential devices, Span’s system classifies circuits into critical and non-essential groups. During an outage, it automatically disconnects non-essential circuits, ensuring critical systems remain operational. With real-time updates on battery usage and estimated runtime, you can navigate outages with confidence.
Seamless Integration with Clean Energy Systems
Optimizing Renewable Energy
The Span Smart Panel works seamlessly with solar panels and other renewable energy solutions, helping homeowners manage battery storage and determine the appropriate system size for their needs. Its advanced monitoring and load management capabilities provide an in-depth understanding of energy consumption, ensuring reliable power and maximum efficiency during outages.
Supporting Electrification Efforts
Span’s Smart Panel also facilitates the transition to a fully electric home. Whether upgrading to an induction cooktop, heat pump, or electric vehicle, the panel supports these changes without requiring extensive infrastructure upgrades. By optimizing energy distribution and usage, the Smart Panel ensures your home is ready to embrace electrification and sustainability.
Let 8MSolar Help
The Span Smart Panel represents a significant advancement in energy management technology, enhancing the capabilities of home solar panels and storage solutions as tools for both resilience and cost savings. To initiate the shift towards cleaner energy and maximize these benefits, a great first step is to get a solar panel system quote. For those looking to embrace solar energy, get a quote from North Carolina’s Premier Solar Installer 8MSolar today.
