The SPAN Panel is a smart electrical panel designed to replace or supplement a conventional home electrical distribution setup with circuit-level monitoring, remote control and automated energy management.
The biggest reason to consider SPAN is not simply that you can see how much electricity individual circuits use. SPAN can also control those circuits, manage selected high-power loads through its PowerUp energy-management system, and coordinate backup priorities when the panel is paired with a compatible home battery.
SPAN is now a family of panels rather than one single 32-circuit product. The current range covers 16 to 48 controllable circuits, with both main-panel and subpanel configurations available.
This review evaluates the current SPAN Panel family using SPAN’s published product, installation and compatibility documentation.
Check SPAN availability and connect with an authorized installer.
SPAN Smart Panel at a glance
| Feature | SPAN Panel |
|---|---|
| Product type | Smart electrical panel and home energy-management system |
| Current panel sizes | 16, 24, 32, 40 and 48 circuit configurations |
| Current models | MAIN 16, MLO 24, MAIN 32, MAIN 40 and MLO 48 |
| Circuit monitoring | Real-time circuit-level energy monitoring |
| Circuit control | Remote on/off control through the SPAN Home App |
| Load management | SPAN PowerUp energy-management system |
| Battery integration | Supported, with compatibility depending on panel model and battery system |
| Solar | Designed for integration into residential solar and energy-storage systems |
| Connectivity | Ethernet and Wi-Fi with cellular backup where available |
| Indoor/outdoor | NEMA 3R rated |
| Starting hardware MSRP | $2,550 before installation, shipping and taxes |
| Installation | SPAN Authorized Installer and licensed electrician required |
| Panel warranty | 10 years for current covered SPAN Panels, subject to warranty conditions |
What does a SPAN Smart Panel actually do?
A conventional electrical panel distributes electricity through breakers and protects individual circuits. SPAN retains that core electrical role but adds monitoring, software and circuit-level control.
Through the SPAN Home App, homeowners can see which circuits are consuming electricity and remotely turn controllable circuits on or off.
This creates several distinct use cases:
- understanding which appliances and rooms are driving electricity consumption;
- managing selected high-power loads when the home approaches its electrical service limit;
- adding equipment such as EV chargers, heat pumps or induction cooking where load management may help avoid a service upgrade;
- prioritizing household loads during an outage when paired with a compatible battery system; and
- coordinating a home that uses combinations of grid electricity, solar, battery storage and EV charging.
That distinction is important. SPAN is more than an energy monitor, but it is also not itself a battery, solar inverter or backup generator.
The current SPAN Panel lineup
Older SPAN coverage often focuses on the 32-circuit panel. The current range is broader.
| Model | Circuit spaces | Configuration | Current MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPAN Panel MAIN 16 | 16 | Main panel | $2,950 |
| SPAN Panel MLO 24 | 24 | Main-lug-only / subpanel | $2,550 |
| SPAN Panel MAIN 32 | 32 | Main panel | $3,500 |
| SPAN Panel MAIN 40 | 40 | Main panel | $4,100 |
| SPAN Panel MLO 48 | 48 | Main-lug-only / subpanel | $3,850 |
These prices are hardware MSRP figures and do not include installation, shipping or applicable taxes.
The MAIN 16, MAIN 32 and MAIN 40 include provision for a main breaker. The MLO 24 and MLO 48 do not have a main-breaker slot and are intended to operate as subpanels downstream of equipment containing the main breaker.
You generally should not select a SPAN model only by counting breakers yourself. SPAN requires an authorized installer, and the installer determines the appropriate configuration for the home’s service, circuit requirements and wider energy system.
Circuit-level energy monitoring
One of SPAN’s most useful everyday features is the ability to see electricity consumption at circuit level instead of relying only on a whole-home utility reading.
That can make it easier to identify consumption from loads such as:
- air conditioning and heat pumps;
- water heaters;
- EV chargers;
- kitchen appliances;
- pumps;
- laundry equipment; and
- other large electrical loads.
The benefit is context. Knowing that a home used a certain number of kilowatt-hours is useful, but knowing which systems contributed most to that total can make energy decisions more practical.
If monitoring is all you need, however, replacing or adding a smart electrical panel may be unnecessary. Our Refoss EM16 Energy Monitor review covers a monitoring-focused alternative that uses current-transformer sensors without replacing the electrical panel.
Remote circuit control
SPAN also allows supported household circuits to be controlled through the SPAN Home App.
That is one of the fundamental differences between a smart panel and a monitoring-only device. A monitor can tell you that a circuit is consuming electricity; SPAN can provide control over the circuit as part of the electrical system.
Remote switching should still be used with an understanding of what equipment is connected to a circuit. Not every appliance or household system should be casually disconnected simply because remote control is available.
What is SPAN PowerUp?
SPAN PowerUp is the energy-management system built into the SPAN Panel.
Its job is to keep household electrical demand below a configured limit by temporarily managing selected loads when total demand approaches that setpoint.
This matters in homes where adding an EV charger, electric heating, hot tub, induction range or another high-power load would traditionally trigger an electrical service upgrade.
Instead of assuming every large electrical load must run at maximum power simultaneously, PowerUp can manage eligible loads according to priorities selected by the homeowner.
When demand falls sufficiently below the configured limit, managed loads can be restored.
This does not mean SPAN can magically increase the electrical capacity supplied to the home. PowerUp manages when selected loads consume power so that demand remains within the configured service limit.
PowerUp and battery backup are not the same feature
It is important not to confuse SPAN’s PowerUp load management with its battery-backup controls.
PowerUp is primarily used for continuous energy management while the home is connected to the grid.
When SPAN is paired with a compatible battery system and the grid goes down, backup priorities are used to decide which circuits should continue receiving stored energy.
Those priorities can be changed through the SPAN Home App, including during an outage.
The practical advantage is that a homeowner can reserve limited battery capacity for important loads instead of automatically running every connected circuit until the battery is depleted.
Battery compatibility
Battery compatibility varies across the SPAN family, so buyers should not assume every panel works with every storage system.
SPAN currently lists Tesla Powerwall 3 and FranklinWH aPower systems among the compatible options across its current panel family.
The MAIN 32 has a broader published compatibility list that also includes certain Powerwall 2 configurations, SolarEdge Home Hub systems and supported Enphase IQ Battery systems.
Some Enphase configurations require the separate SPAN Remote Meter Kit.
If battery storage is central to your project, compatibility should be confirmed for the exact SPAN model and exact storage equipment before installation.
SPAN vs EcoFlow Smart Home Panel 3
SPAN and the EcoFlow Smart Home Panel 3 overlap in several areas, including circuit-level monitoring, load control and integration into a wider home-energy system, but they are not identical products.
SPAN is positioned as a smart electrical-panel family that can work with several supported third-party battery ecosystems depending on the model.
EcoFlow’s Smart Home Panel 3 is more tightly integrated into EcoFlow’s own DELTA Pro Ultra X whole-home backup ecosystem.
If you are already considering EcoFlow battery equipment, see our EcoFlow Smart Home Panel 3 Review.
We are keeping the detailed SPAN-versus-EcoFlow buying decision separate because battery ecosystem, circuit requirements and installation design can materially change which system makes more sense.
Internet and app requirements
SPAN relies heavily on its connected software layer.
An internet connection is required for normal SPAN Home App energy monitoring and control as well as delivery of new software features.
The panel gateway supports Ethernet and Wi-Fi. SPAN also identifies cellular backup connectivity where service is available, but cellular should not be treated as the primary connection method.
This dependency is worth considering if you prefer household infrastructure that remains fully feature-complete without a cloud or network connection.
Installation
SPAN is not a DIY smart-home device.
A SPAN Panel must be installed by a licensed electrician who is also a SPAN Authorized Installer.
The process normally starts by submitting SPAN’s interest form. SPAN then connects the homeowner with an authorized installer who assesses the project and determines which panel configuration is appropriate.
SPAN states that many installations take roughly three to eight hours, although the actual work depends on the existing electrical system and the scope of the project.
Connect with a SPAN Authorized Installer.
How much does a SPAN Smart Panel cost?
Hardware pricing currently starts at $2,550 for the MLO 24, while the current range extends to $4,100 MSRP for the MAIN 40.
That does not represent the full installed cost.
Homeowners also need to account for:
- professional installation;
- shipping;
- taxes;
- possible electrical modifications;
- permits or local requirements;
- battery or solar equipment where applicable; and
- optional accessories such as SPAN Drive or the Remote Meter Kit.
The meaningful comparison therefore is not simply SPAN hardware versus the retail price of a conventional breaker panel. The question is whether SPAN’s monitoring, circuit control and load-management capabilities provide enough value within the wider electrical project to justify the additional system cost.
SPAN Panel warranty
SPAN currently provides a 10-year limited warranty for its covered MAIN 16, MLO 24, MAIN 32, MAIN 40 and MLO 48 panels under its current U.S. warranty terms.
The warranty has conditions, including purchase through SPAN or an authorized reseller, commissioning using the SPAN Installer App and installation by a SPAN Authorized Installer.
Warranty terms can change, so homeowners should review the current SPAN warranty applicable to the equipment delivered for their project.
What SPAN does well
- Detailed energy visibility: circuit-level data is much more useful than a single whole-home consumption figure.
- Actual circuit control: SPAN goes beyond passive monitoring.
- Load management: PowerUp can help manage high-power additions within an existing electrical service limit where the project qualifies.
- Multiple panel sizes: the current 16-to-48-circuit family fits more project types than the earlier single-panel framing.
- Battery integration: compatible storage systems gain dynamic circuit-priority controls during outages.
- Electrification planning: the platform is particularly relevant to homes adding EV charging, heat pumps, solar, batteries or other major electrical loads.
What to consider before choosing SPAN
- High upfront cost: hardware alone starts in the thousands of dollars before installation.
- Professional installation is mandatory: this is not a DIY upgrade.
- Compatibility varies: especially with home batteries, the exact SPAN model matters.
- Internet dependency: connected monitoring, app control and software updates rely on network connectivity.
- Not everyone needs active control: households interested only in energy data can achieve monitoring for considerably less with a dedicated energy monitor.
- Project-specific economics: the value proposition is much stronger when SPAN solves a real load-management, backup or electrification problem than when it is installed only for app-based circuit monitoring.
Who should consider a SPAN Smart Panel?
SPAN makes the strongest case for homeowners already planning substantial electrical work.
Good candidates include homes:
- adding an EV charger;
- installing a heat pump or other major electric appliance;
- adding solar and battery storage;
- planning a major renovation or new build;
- needing more sophisticated backup-load prioritization; or
- facing an expensive or difficult electrical service upgrade where approved load management may provide an alternative.
In these situations, SPAN becomes part of a larger energy-management strategy rather than an expensive replacement for a panel that was otherwise working perfectly well.
Who should skip it?
SPAN is harder to justify if your main goal is simply to see where electricity is being used.
A dedicated whole-home energy monitor can provide detailed usage information without replacing or restructuring the electrical panel.
It may also be unnecessary if you have no plans for battery storage, EV charging, electrification or significant new loads and have little reason to control circuits remotely.
Finally, SPAN currently sells through its authorized installation network rather than functioning like a normal off-the-shelf smart-home product. Homeowners should expect a project quote rather than a simple online checkout price.
Final verdict
The SPAN Smart Panel is most compelling when its circuit control and energy-management functions solve a larger electrical problem.
Its strongest advantages are detailed circuit-level visibility, remote control, PowerUp load management and flexible backup priorities when paired with supported battery storage.
If you are still comparing architectures, see our Best Smart Electrical Panels guide for how SPAN compares with ABB ReliaHome, Square D, EcoFlow and Leviton.
The expanded MAIN 16, MLO 24, MAIN 32, MAIN 40 and MLO 48 family also makes SPAN relevant to a wider range of projects than older reviews focused only on the 32-circuit panel suggest.
The main limitation is cost. If you only want to monitor electricity consumption, SPAN is far more system than you need. But for a homeowner already investing in EV charging, heat pumps, solar, battery backup or a major electrical renovation, the additional control and load management can be much easier to justify.
Check current SPAN Panel options and installer availability.
Frequently asked questions
What is a SPAN Smart Panel?
SPAN Panel is a smart electrical panel family that adds circuit-level energy monitoring, circuit control and energy-management software to a home’s electrical distribution system.
How many circuits can a SPAN Panel control?
The current SPAN family offers configurations covering 16, 24, 32, 40 and 48 circuit spaces, depending on the panel selected.
What is the difference between SPAN MAIN and MLO panels?
SPAN MAIN 16, MAIN 32 and MAIN 40 include provision for a main breaker. MLO 24 and MLO 48 are main-lug-only designs intended to operate as subpanels.
How much does a SPAN Panel cost?
Current manufacturer MSRP ranges from $2,550 for the MLO 24 to $4,100 for the MAIN 40. Installation, shipping and taxes are additional.
Can I install a SPAN Panel myself?
No. SPAN requires installation by a licensed electrician who is also a SPAN Authorized Installer.
Does SPAN work without a battery?
Yes. Circuit monitoring, app control and PowerUp energy management do not require a home battery. A compatible battery is required for SPAN’s battery-backup priority features.
Does SPAN work with Tesla Powerwall?
Yes, but compatibility depends on the SPAN model and Powerwall configuration. Current SPAN documentation lists Powerwall 3 across its current panel family, while MAIN 32 supports additional published Tesla configurations.
Does SPAN work with Enphase batteries?
Current Enphase battery integration is centered on SPAN Panel MAIN 32 and supported Enphase configurations. A SPAN Remote Meter Kit is required for the listed Enphase integrations.
Can SPAN help avoid a 200A service upgrade?
In suitable projects, SPAN PowerUp can manage selected electrical loads to keep demand below a configured service limit, potentially allowing new loads to be added without increasing utility service capacity. Whether this applies to a particular home must be determined as part of the electrical design and local approval process.
Is SPAN just an energy monitor?
No. SPAN monitors energy use but can also control household circuits and manage selected electrical loads. If monitoring alone is your goal, a dedicated whole-home energy monitor may be a simpler and less expensive option.
Does SPAN require internet?
Yes. SPAN requires internet connectivity for normal app control, energy monitoring and software updates. The gateway supports Ethernet and Wi-Fi, with cellular backup where available.
What warranty does SPAN offer?
Current covered SPAN Panels have a 10-year limited warranty subject to SPAN’s purchase, installation, commissioning and other warranty conditions.