The short version: Anker sells three ways to tie a power station into your house, and each one is made for specific stations. A manual transfer switch backs up a fixed set of circuits when you flip it over during an outage. The Smart Home Power Kit is the automatic, app-managed option for the F3800 and F3800 Plus. The Power Saver Kit is for the F3000 and is about cutting your electric bill with stored solar and off-peak power, not about outages. Match the kit to the station first, then to the job. Everything below is as Anker states it on its own pages and as we list it.
Which kit works with which station
| Kit | Works with (per Anker) | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 6-Circuit Manual Transfer Switch, 120V, 30A | F3000 (Anker also lists its F2000 and F2600) | Manual backup of up to six 15A, 120V circuits through an L5-30 power inlet |
| 10-Circuit Manual Transfer Switch, 120/240V, with 30A cable | One F3800 Plus, or two F3000s | Manual backup of up to ten 120V and 240V circuits |
| 10-Circuit Manual Transfer Switch, 120/240V, 50A | The original F3800, or two F3800 Plus units. Anker says it is not suitable for a single F3800 Plus. | Manual backup of up to ten 120V and 240V circuits |
| Smart Home Power Kit (Smart Home Panel, subpanel, circuit breaker, ground bar) | F3800 and F3800 Plus | Automatic backup of the essential circuits you choose, plus grid and roof-solar integration in the Anker app |
| Power Saver Kit (Smart Meter and Bi-Directional Inlet Box) | F3000 | Stores solar or off-peak power and uses it when rates are high; Anker's comparison table lists no home-backup function for it |
The two 10-circuit switches have the same circuit layout: six 15A single-pole, one 20A two-pole and one 30A two-pole. The difference is the connection and which stations Anker pairs them with, so check the station before you order.
Manual transfer switches: simple, and you choose the circuits
All three Anker switches are Pro/Tran 2 manual transfer switches. Anker lists them to UL 1008 and says they meet Article 702 of the National Electrical Code. Anker says the 6-circuit switch eliminates the dangers associated with back-feeding. Each one has color-coded wattmeters so you can see the load on each side and balance it.
- F3000 owners: the 6-circuit, 120V switch is the match for one station. It is sold on its own and as the F3000 + 6-Circuit Transfer Switch bundle.
- F3800 Plus owners: the 10-circuit switch with the 30A cable covers one F3800 Plus and adds 240V circuits. We also sell an F3800 Plus + 10-Circuit Manual Transfer Switch bundle.
- Two stations: Anker pairs the 30A 10-circuit switch with two F3000s and the 50A version with two F3800 Plus units.
You pick which circuits go on the switch when it is installed. Keep it to what you really need in an outage: the fridge, a few lights and outlets, the furnace blower, the internet router, and a well pump if you have one.
Smart Home Power Kit: automatic backup for the F3800 Plus
The Smart Home Power Kit connects an F3800 or F3800 Plus to your home, the utility grid and roof solar. During an outage it powers the essential circuits you choose; the rest of the time you can watch usage and shift loads away from peak rates in the Anker app. A few points from Anker's pages worth knowing before you buy:
- The Home Power Panel only supports 120/240V split-phase service, not 120/208V.
- Anker's Storm Guard feature, which starts charging the F3800 Plus when severe weather is forecast, requires the Home Power Panel.
- During an outage the F3800 Plus cannot charge from rooftop solar through the Home Power Panel. Anker says to connect 11–165V panels directly to the station instead.
We sell it on its own and with the station: F3800 Plus + Smart Home Power Kit, F3800 Plus + BP3800 + Smart Home Power Kit and 2× F3800 Plus + Smart Home Power Kit.
Power Saver Kit: bill savings for the F3000
The Power Saver Kit pairs the Smart Meter with the Bi-Directional Inlet Box. The inlet box connects the F3000 to your home circuit and is UL1741 certified; the F3000's spec table rates that connection at 120V, 15A and 1,800 W. The smart meter checks your energy use every 15 seconds and comes with two 200A and two 50A current transformers.
Anker describes two modes. In self-consumption mode, solar flows through the F3000 and the inlet box into your main panel. In time-of-use mode, the F3000 charges from solar or cheap off-peak power and powers your loads when rates peak. Anker says the inlet box prevents energy feeding back to the grid. Anker publishes savings estimates for this setup; how much you save depends on your utility's rates and your solar.
Because Anker's comparison table lists no home-backup function for the Power Saver Kit, add the 6-circuit switch if you also want outage backup. Anker sells that combination, and so do we: F3000 + Power Saver Kit + 6-Circuit Transfer Switch. The plain F3000 + Power Saver Kit bundle is there for savings alone.
Getting 240V
- F3800 Plus: 240V from one unit through its L14-30R, up to 6,000 W.
- F3000: 120V only. Two F3000s with the Double Voltage Hub give 240V, 30A and 7,200 W, sold together as the 2× F3000 + Double Voltage Hub. Anker calls the pairing plug-and-play.
Anker also makes a Double Power Hub, which its product page describes for linking two F3800 stations through their Home Power Panel ports. Ask us before you plan a two-station system around it.
Generator backup
For long outages, a generator can keep the station going. The F3000 takes a 120V generator through the 120V Generator Input Adapter and passes through up to 3,600 W while it charges. The F3800 Plus takes a 240V generator through the 240V Generator Input Adapter, which also works with the Home Power Panel; Anker says it supports a single F3800 Plus only. For the F3800 Plus, Anker says the generator must supply pure sine wave power.
Have an electrician install it
Anything that connects to your home's wiring is electrician work. Anker's page for the 6-circuit switch says it must be installed only by a qualified electrician who knows the applicable electrical and building codes, and our listings say the same for every Anker transfer switch and the Smart Home Power Kit. Get a quote before you order, so you know the panel work is possible and what it costs.
Which setup fits
- F3000, a few circuits in an outage: the 6-circuit transfer switch.
- F3000, lower bills from solar or off-peak power: the Power Saver Kit, plus the 6-circuit switch for outages.
- F3800 Plus, simple manual backup with 240V: the 10-circuit switch with the 30A cable.
- F3800 Plus, automatic backup and app control: the Smart Home Power Kit.
Still choosing the station? Compare them in Anker SOLIX F3000 vs F3800 Plus. Both also run a 30-amp RV from their TT-30R outlet, so the same unit can go camping when the power is on at home.
FAQ
Does the Power Saver Kit back up my house in a blackout?
Anker's comparison table lists no home-backup function for it. It is for storing and using solar and off-peak power. For outage backup on an F3000, add the 6-circuit manual transfer switch.
Which 10-circuit transfer switch do I need for one F3800 Plus?
The 120/240V switch with the 30A cable. Anker says the 50A version is not suitable for a single F3800 Plus; it is for the original F3800 or two F3800 Plus units.
Can I install a transfer switch myself?
Anker's 6-circuit switch page says it must be installed only by a qualified electrician, and we say the same for every transfer switch we sell. Plan for one.
Where do these ship from?
Every Anker SOLIX product we sell ships from our warehouse in Upland, California, to the lower 48 states, with Anker's warranty. See the full Anker SOLIX range.