Choosing the Best Battery for Your Solar Power System: A Comprehensive Guide | PowerSync Energy

Solar power systems use batteries to store electricity converted from sunlight by solar panels. Solar batteries allow you to use solar-based electricity at all hours of the day, including after the sun goes down at night. You only need a high-quality battery to support your solar energy consumption needs.

Below are the top four tips for choosing the best battery for solar power storage purposes.

1) Power Storage Capacity

One of the most significant considerations when choosing the best solar battery is its power storage capacity. Consider how much solar energy you intend to consume each day so that you choose a battery that supports your power demands.

For example, the average four-person household in the United States needs a solar battery with 30 kWh storage to support its electrical needs for three days. These needs include powering all the electronics and lights and heating and cooling the home. If you remove the heating and cooling electrical demands, you may get away with a 10-kWh battery for three days of power.

2) Maximum Depth of Discharge

The depth of discharge rate refers to the amount of battery power used before you recharge the battery. For example, if a solar battery has an 80% depth of discharge rate, you must stop using it after 80% of its power capacity has been used. That is when you must recharge the battery by allowing your solar panels to absorb more solar energy from the sun.

Various solar batteries have different depth of discharge rates. Some of the best quality solar batteries have 100% depth of discharge, which means you can use up all the power in the battery before recharging it. But these batteries typically have shorter lifespans, so keep that in mind. 

3) Manufacturer’s Warranty

A solar battery with a manufacturer’s warranty can easily win consumers’ confidence. A warranty guarantees the number of cycles the battery goes through throughout its life. The term “cycle” refers to the number of charge and discharge cycles a battery has over the course of its lifespan. Some solar batteries have as little as 500 cycles, while better ones have up to 5,000 cycles.

For instance, you may find a battery with a warranty of 5,000 cycles with 70% depth of discharge for up to 10 years. So, if the battery fails to deliver on this number of cycles, you will be entitled to a repair or replacement, depending on the terms of the warranty.

4) Price

 It should be no surprise that solar batteries have varying prices on the market. Try to choose a solar battery within your budget while still offering the power capacity, depth of discharge, and power output needed to satisfy your needs.

Do not automatically choose the cheapest battery because it will likely fall short of your expectations. Just focus on its specifications and then look at the most affordable battery that meets those specifications.

Conclusion

 Choosing the best battery for your solar power system will take time and research. If you do that, you should not have a problem finding the ideal battery for your solar power system.