Choosing the right battery for your solar configuration
Which battery is right for my solar system?
We at JC Solar Panels understand that many people struggle with choosing the correct batteries. We try our best to explain the batteries and assist in choosing the correct battery for your solar implementation. Here we will discuss the common and most popular battery types to best suit you solar or backup power system.
Lead-Acid battery
Lead-Acid battery technology has been around for over 150 years. Also, lead-acid batteries are 99% recyclable and are provided at affordable prices which suit almost everyone’s budget. Lead-Acid batteries are mostly the perfect choice for most people going solar or need battery storage solutions.
Two types of Lead-Acid batteries.
Flooded Lead-Acid batteries
These batteries work well in solar setups or as backup power storage solutions. These batteries will need to be cycled on a daily basis and will require maintenance. Flooded lead-acid batteries do breathe, therefore, they off-gas so they will need to be ventilated properly. Flooded lead-acid batteries are perfect for solar system configurations.
Sealed AGM batteries
Sealed AGM batteries are better used in battery backup configurations. Also, AGM batteries are an excellent choice for small off-grid systems such as those which power caravans, telecommunication towers or mobile homes. Sealed AGM batteries work best for situations where you want to visit the batteries on a regular basis. Sealed AGM batteries are spillproof, non-hazardous, and are usually maintenance-free. If you’re looking for off-grid power or battery backup power, Sealed AGM batteries will suit your configuration perfectly.
Lithium-ion batteries
Why would you want to install a modern lithium-ion battery and not a 150-year-old Lead-Acid battery? First, a lithium-ion battery can be discharged much deeper to almost 100% of depth discharge. On the other hand, a lead-acid battery should not really go beyond 50% of depth on discharge. However, 50% is actually still a lot for a Lead-Acid battery. So, not only can lithium-ion batteries discharge deeper, but they can also recharge much faster than Lead-Acid batteries. Also, a lithium-ion battery doesn’t have to be charged to the max each day for us to be able to use it. This helps us when using solar panels which charge the battery, especially during winter. The battery won’t be damaged if it is only charged to 50% or 60&, unlike Lead-Acid batteries. A lithium battery typically comes with a 10-year warranty or 100 00 cycle life warranty.
Benefits of a lithium-ion battery
- The long period warranty
- Long battery lifespan
- The efficiency of the battery.
- The amount of power the battery can generate.
Lithium-ion battery cost
Lithium-ion batteries are almost 3 to 4 times more expensive than lead-acid batteries, however, starting with a small lithium battery and as time goes by, you can add additional lithium-ion batteries to your battery bank. If a lead-acid battery has been cycled a number of times, you won’t be able to add more batteries to it.
Will lithium-ion batteries explode?
Just like our smartphones, when charging or using the smartphone the battery gets hot. Will lithium-ion batteries catch fire or explode? Lithium-ion batteries which are used in smartphones are different than lithium-ion batteries used for backup or solar configurations. The batteries used for solar systems are lithium Farrah phosphate batteries. Therefore, these batteries are safe to be used for solar configurations in your home. Also, lithium-ion batteries do not use any gas or release gas. Unlike Lead-Acid batteries which require to off-gas into the outdoors as it could be dangerous if it is not ventilated properly. So, you’re on the safe side by using lithium-ion batteries as they produce no harmful chemicals in your home.
