Solar Battery
Solar Batteries – Deep Cycle
Executive Summary about Solar Battery by Michael Motley
Batteries are separated into two categories, by application (what the battery is used for) and construction (how the battery is built). Deep-Cycle batteries are the battery of choice for most installations because of the way they are made. Deep-cycle batteries are made to be run completely down relatively fast, and recharged just as fast, constantly. The major applications for deep-cycle batteries are solar electric (PV), backup power source, and boat/RV batteries.
There are 3 main construction types at this time:
- Flood (wet)
- Gelled
- AGM
Flooded batteries are what most people think of when thinking of batteries of this size.
Gelled Batteries or Gel Cells are sealed, and some are valve regulated. They contain gelled acid that was gelled by adding silica gel, making like a battery acid jelly.
AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) batteries are similar to the gelled batteries but they also have fiberglass mat between the plates of the batter, which is then filled with gel. These batteries are the premier choice if you have any concerns about spilling of battery acid.
The main difference in deep-cycle batteries is thicker plates. The thicker plates allow the deep-cycle battery to be discharged down as much as 80% over and over again. The battery with the thickest plates will last the longest
A battery cycle is one complete discharge and recharge cycle. How deep a battery is discharged directly affects its life span.
Battery Life
There are many variables to deep-cycle battery life. The standard flooded battery 1-6 years. In the deep-cycle family of batteries, the AGM has one advantage over the other two types in it’s class. There is a myth that you shouldn’t store batteries on concrete floors.
Battery Quick Facts
* Almost all batteries have to be cycled 10-20 times before being able to reach full capacity.
* Always keep vent caps on your flooded batteries when charging.
* Lead-Acid batteries do not have a memory. Use only clean water to clean the outside of batteries.
Solar Battery Technology
Executive Summary about Solar Battery by Anne Clarke
People are realizing that they can easily change the way that power is created. For two centuries the world has relied upon fossil fuel, mostly coal and oil, for almost every form of power. It lights our homes, powers our appliances and drives our cars. Unfortunately fossil fuels rely on combustion to release their power. Solar power is an effective way to harness the power of the sun, something plants have been doing for millions of years. It can produce more power during the day than the average home uses. Most houses will use less power during the day, and much less in the summer which is the peak power producing time for solar panels. To be effective this power must be stored somehow.
One popular way of storing solar power is by connecting the solar panels to the existing electrical grid, effectively turning it into a massive solar battery. At night power is taken from the grid as usual. Any power outages can still affect these solar panel set-ups, but no rechargeable batteries have to be used.
Rechargeable batteries are notoriously short lived and expensive. They either have low power flows for a long time with a good capacity, or they have high power flows for short times with poor capacity. Typical batteries, especially lithium ion, have high capacity for storing power, but deliver a weak output and recharge slowly. The ideal solar battery would be able to charge quickly, have a high density for storing power and be able to emit as much of that power as is needed.
Check out my other guide on Solar Light
