diff --git a/meter/powerwall.go b/meter/powerwall.go
index aba9f78e7..6a20d26a4 100644
--- a/meter/powerwall.go
+++ b/meter/powerwall.go
@@ -25,23 +25,18 @@ type PowerWall struct {
 type powerWallConfig struct {
 	URI, Usage, User, Password string
 	Cache                      time.Duration
-	SiteId                     int64  // Fleet API only, deprecated for the local meter
-	RefreshToken_              string `mapstructure:"refreshToken"` // TODO deprecated
-	batterySocLimits           `mapstructure:",squash"`
-	batteryPowerLimits         `mapstructure:",squash"`
+	SiteId                     int64   // Fleet API only, deprecated for the local meter
+	RefreshToken_              string  `mapstructure:"refreshToken"` // TODO deprecated
+	MinSoc                     float64 // Fleet API only, backup reserve restored in normal mode
+	MaxSoc_                    any     `mapstructure:"maxsoc"`            // TODO deprecated
+	MaxChargePower_            any     `mapstructure:"maxchargepower"`    // TODO deprecated
+	MaxDischargePower_         any     `mapstructure:"maxdischargepower"` // TODO deprecated
 }
 
 func defaultPowerWallConfig() powerWallConfig {
 	return powerWallConfig{
-		batterySocLimits: batterySocLimits{
-			MinSoc: 20,
-			MaxSoc: 95,
-		},
-		batteryPowerLimits: batteryPowerLimits{
-			MaxChargePower:    4600,
-			MaxDischargePower: 4600,
-		},
-		Cache: time.Second,
+		Cache:  time.Second,
+		MinSoc: 20,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -114,18 +109,36 @@ func newPowerWall(log *util.Logger, cc powerWallConfig) (*PowerWall, error) {
 	}
 
 	if m.usage == "battery" {
-		implement.Has(m, implement.Battery(m.batterySoc))
-		implement.May(m, implement.BatterySocLimiter(cc.batterySocLimits.Decorator()))
-		implement.May(m, implement.BatteryPowerLimiter(cc.batteryPowerLimits.Decorator()))
+		opG := util.Cached(client.GetOperation, cc.Cache)
 
-		res, err := m.client.GetSystemStatus()
+		// capacity and power limits are static, reading them validates connectivity
+		status, err := client.GetSystemStatus()
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 
+		implement.Has(m, implement.Battery(m.batterySoc))
+
 		implement.Has(m, implement.BatteryCapacity(func() float64 {
-			return res.NominalFullPackEnergy / 1e3
+			return status.NominalFullPackEnergy / 1e3
 		}))
+
+		// backup reserve is the lower discharge limit, the powerwall has no upper soc limit
+		implement.Has(m, implement.BatterySocLimiter(func() (float64, float64) {
+			op, err := opG()
+			if err != nil {
+				log.ERROR.Println("battery soc limits:", err)
+				return 0, 100
+			}
+			return op.BackupReservePercent, 100
+		}))
+
+		if status.MaxApparentPower > 0 {
+			// inverter apparent power applies to charging and discharging alike
+			implement.Has(m, implement.BatteryPowerLimiter(func() (float64, float64) {
+				return status.MaxApparentPower, status.MaxApparentPower
+			}))
+		}
 	}
 
 	return m, nil
diff --git a/meter/powerwall_fleet.go b/meter/powerwall_fleet.go
index 2174e40b2..b21007c5c 100644
--- a/meter/powerwall_fleet.go
+++ b/meter/powerwall_fleet.go
@@ -55,7 +55,10 @@ func NewPowerWallFleetFromConfig(other map[string]any) (api.Meter, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	implement.May(m, implement.BatteryController(cc.batterySocLimits.LimitController(func() (float64, error) {
+	// charge mode raises the reserve to full, normal mode restores the configured minimum
+	limits := batterySocLimits{MinSoc: cc.MinSoc, MaxSoc: 100}
+
+	implement.Has(m, implement.BatteryController(limits.LimitController(func() (float64, error) {
 		ess, err := energySite.EnergySiteStatus()
 		if err != nil {
 			return 0, fmt.Errorf("get energy site status: %w", err)
diff --git a/meter/powerwall_test.go b/meter/powerwall_test.go
index a2e8516f8..74d9aeaf8 100644
--- a/meter/powerwall_test.go
+++ b/meter/powerwall_test.go
@@ -70,9 +70,38 @@ func TestPowerWallConfigDeprecatedParams(t *testing.T) {
 	decodePowerWallConfig(t, map[string]any{
 		"usage": "battery", "password": "secret",
 		"refreshToken": "token", "siteId": 123,
+		"maxsoc": 95, "maxchargepower": 4600, "maxdischargepower": 4600,
 	})
 }
 
+// battery control must fall back to the default reserve, not to zero
+func TestPowerWallFleetReserve(t *testing.T) {
+	cc := decodePowerWallConfig(t, map[string]any{"usage": "battery", "password": "secret"})
+	limits := batterySocLimits{MinSoc: cc.MinSoc, MaxSoc: 100}
+
+	var reserve float64
+	ctrl := limits.LimitController(
+		func() (float64, error) { return 50, nil },
+		func(limit float64) error { reserve = limit; return nil },
+	)
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		mode api.BatteryMode
+		want float64
+	}{
+		{mode: api.BatteryNormal, want: 20},
+		{mode: api.BatteryHold, want: 50},
+		{mode: api.BatteryCharge, want: 100},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.mode.String(), func(t *testing.T) {
+			require.NoError(t, ctrl(tc.mode))
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.want, reserve)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestNewPowerWallFleetFromConfigValidation(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		name         string
diff --git a/templates/definition/meter/tesla-powerwall-fleet.yaml b/templates/definition/meter/tesla-powerwall-fleet.yaml
index 8a9cc4edf..92f806fe5 100644
--- a/templates/definition/meter/tesla-powerwall-fleet.yaml
+++ b/templates/definition/meter/tesla-powerwall-fleet.yaml
@@ -47,11 +47,17 @@ params:
       en: optional product identifier of the energy site, use to override autodetection
       de: optionale Product ID dieser Energy Site, zum Übersteuern der automatischen Erkennung
   - name: minsoc
+    default: 20
     advanced: true
+    help:
+      de: Backup-Reserve, die evcc im Normalbetrieb wiederherstellt
+      en: Backup reserve evcc restores in normal operation
   - name: maxsoc
-    advanced: true
+    deprecated: true
   - name: maxchargepower
+    deprecated: true
   - name: maxdischargepower
+    deprecated: true
 render: |
   type: powerwall-fleet
   uri: {{ .host }}
@@ -65,6 +71,3 @@ render: |
     refresh: {{ .refreshToken }}
   siteId: {{ .siteId }}
   minsoc: {{ .minsoc }}
-  maxsoc: {{ .maxsoc }}
-  maxchargepower: {{ .maxchargepower }}
-  maxdischargepower: {{ .maxdischargepower }}
diff --git a/templates/definition/meter/tesla-powerwall.yaml b/templates/definition/meter/tesla-powerwall.yaml
index 99f72dc2c..0b909d2f4 100644
--- a/templates/definition/meter/tesla-powerwall.yaml
+++ b/templates/definition/meter/tesla-powerwall.yaml
@@ -17,18 +17,16 @@ params:
   - name: siteId
     deprecated: true
   - name: minsoc
-    advanced: true
+    deprecated: true
   - name: maxsoc
-    advanced: true
+    deprecated: true
   - name: maxchargepower
+    deprecated: true
   - name: maxdischargepower
+    deprecated: true
 render: |
   type: powerwall
   uri: {{ .host }}
   usage: {{ .usage }}
   user: customer
   password: {{ .password }} # for user 'customer'
-  minsoc: {{ .minsoc }}
-  maxsoc: {{ .maxsoc }}
-  maxchargepower: {{ .maxchargepower }}
-  maxdischargepower: {{ .maxdischargepower }}