Energy-aware and environmentally conscientious consumers choose solar energy systems that use batteries. Storing solar energy lets you boost your solar power use, lowering your electricity expenses even further.
To get the best solar battery, you must consider several factors. This post will go through the most critical factors that you can consider when buying a solar battery. These factors will help you in selecting the best batteries for your solar panels.
Safety
The most secure one available now is lithium iron phosphate battery technology or LFP. These are highly stable and have little risk of overheating. They also run extremely cold, so they may be installed inside your home if desired, with no additional ventilation or cooling required.
Effective temperature range
Each battery used for solar energy storage is often temperature-sensitive. If the temperature exceeds the prescribed temperature range, the battery may shut down or become corrupt. As a result, choosing batteries that can perform efficiently in the temperature range of your area is critical for better outcomes.
Battery Technology
Solar batteries are classified into four types: lead-acid, lithium-ion, nickel-cadmium, and flow batteries. Lead-acid batteries have been around the longest and are noted for their low pricing and dependability, although they require routine maintenance. Despite their high cost, lithium-ion batteries are quickly becoming the most preferred choice for residential solar batteries due to their extended lifespan and need for care.
Warranty
Solar batteries, like laptops or mobile phone batteries, degrade with time: as you continue to use and charge your battery, it loses its ability to store a charge. Fortunately, solar battery suppliers provide a warranty that guarantees a battery’s functioning to a particular degree.
Lifespan
Solar battery devices for the home have a lifespan of 3 to 15 years. If you install a solar battery now, you’ll almost certainly need to replace it in the future to match the 25- to 30-year lifespan of your solar power system. Consequently, choose batteries that will only require one replacement during the life of your solar power system.
Depth of Discharge (DoD)
The DoD value represents the level of safe energy consumption. It denotes how much energy must be kept in the batteries to prevent them from being harmed. The DoD number will be shown as a percentage. Lithium batteries provide the best DoD value. You can utilize up to 90% of your energy without causing damage to the batteries.
Durability
Two elements may determine the solar battery’s durability. These two factors are frequently used interchangeably:
- Warranty: The solar batteries will have a guarantee of years. For example, if a warranty is 12 years, it will lose some storage capacity after that period. A minimum warranty of ten years should be used in the selection process.
- Cycles: Some batteries come with a cycle guarantee. One cycle represents the battery’s total charge and discharge. Remember that home batteries are often charged and drained regularly.
Compatibility
Compatibility is when a solar battery works with your current setup. Some batteries, for example, cannot be fitted with existing solar arrays. For them, the battery must be installed simultaneously with the solar panels.
Price is irrelevant if the battery is incompatible with your scenario or does not meet your demands. Powering a house requires far more capacity than powering a street sign.