A battery system will keep the power generated by your solar panels in reserve and allow you to use it even when there’s no sunlight, such as at night or on cloudy days.
But choosing the right solar battery system can be confusing, especially when you’re unfamiliar with how they function and how they compare to the different types of batteries currently on the market.
To help you choose the best solar battery for your home, we’ve put together this simple guide that will take you through all the main considerations that go into making an informed decision and selecting the ideal type of solar battery system for your home and your lifestyle needs!
1. Battery Type and Technology
The type, or technology, is one of the most crucial considerations when choosing a solar battery. Your budget and specific needs should determine the type of battery that you choose.
On the market, there are several options, such as lead-acid, lithium-ion, flow batteries, or sodium-nickel chloride. Your provider should be able to help you pick the battery that best fits your needs.
As battery technology evolves, the batteries are getting more compact, power-dense, and efficient.
2. Power Rating
The power rating of a battery refers to the kilowatts (kW) of power that the battery can provide at once. In other words, a battery’s power rating tells you both how many appliances your battery can power at once and which appliances those are.
Solar batteries often have two different power ratings: a continuous power rating and a 5-minute or instantaneous power rating,meaning they can provide more power in short bursts. This is important if you have an appliance like a sump pump that requires a large amount of power to turn on but then runs at lower power.
3. Battery Size
A battery’s capacity (or size) is the amount of electricity that it is able to store and supply to your home. While power is expressed in kW, battery size is expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh), which is power multiplied by time. As a result, a battery’s storage capacity tells you how long your battery can power parts of your home. Be sure to look for the usable capacity of a battery, as that number represents the amount of stored electricity that you can actually access in a battery.
4. Round-Trip Efficiency
Round-trip efficiency is a system-level metric that measures how well your energy storage system (battery and inverter) converts and stores electricity. There are losses associated with any electrical process, meaning you’ll lose some kWh of electricity when you invert it from direct current (DC) electricity to alternating current (AC) electricity or when you put electricity into a battery and take it out again. A solar battery’s roundtrip efficiency tells you how many units of electricity you’ll get out of a battery for every unit of electricity you put into it.
5. Safety
All solar batteries have to meet certain industry and government-mandated safety requirements in order to be certified for installation in homes and businesses. Check for these safety requirements with your trusted solar product supplier.
Selecting the right solar battery for your home is not just a technical decision but a lifestyle choice. By considering capacity, power flow, output, chemistry, and longevity, you’re laying the groundwork for a resilient and efficient solar energy system.
DHM Renewable Resources is ready and equipped to help you make informed decisions at every step of your solar journey.
Got more questions? We can help! Call us for FREE consultation with your Solar PV System needs!\
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