Choosing the Best Solar Battery for Your Home
When it comes to solar battery storage, there are many options available on the market. However, not all of them are created equal. In order to ensure that you’re choosing the best solar battery for your home, it’s essential to keep a few key factors in mind.
Each home is unique and has its own specific needs when it comes to solar battery storage. Therefore, depending on your situation and budget, you may find that one option is a better fit than another.
To help you choose the best solar battery for your situation, we’ve outlined some of the most important things to consider before making a final decision. These tips should help you narrow down your options and find the perfect match for your home.
First, what is solar battery storage?
A solar battery storage system allows you to store the energy generated by your solar panels over the course of the day, which can then be used to power your home at night or during a power outage. Some significant benefits of adding a solar battery to your solar system include:
- Save on electricity bills
- Power backup
- Environmental benefits
- Energy independence
Further reading: What is a battery storage system?
Things to consider when choosing a residential solar battery system:
Understand your needs
By knowing what you need, you will know what battery features to prioritize. This way, you can make a more informed battery choice. For example, how much electricity do you consume on average? Are you planning to use solar occasionally or thinking of going full-time?
Look at the Power rating
The types and number of appliances you will be powering up using your stored solar energy have a significant role in your power rating choice. If you are to power a bigger number of appliances, go for a solar battery with a high-power rating.
Power rating denotes the amount of energy (in kilowatts ((kW)) that a battery can provide at once. The larger the power rating is, the more appliances it can power at once.
Solar batteries commonly have two different power ratings. (1) The peak power rating, also termed as 5-minute or instantaneous power rating refers to the maximum energy you can use for a short period. (2) Continous power rating – refers to the maximum amount of energy that can be used for a longer period.
Consider battery capacity/battery size
This refers to the amount of energy (indicated in kWh) that a battery can hold once full. It is also important that you check the total capacity and usable capacity when choosing a battery. The total capacity is the amount of energy it can hold. Usable capacity refers to the maximum amount of stored energy you can consume.
Smaller batteries are suited for smaller solar panel systems, likewise, larger solar panel systems are suitable for larger batteries.
Further reading: what size of solar system do I need?
Consider the round trip efficiency
Round-trip efficiency is the percentage of electricity put into storage that is later retrieved. The higher the round-trip efficiency, the less energy is lost in the storage process. Typically it is fixed at 80% or 90%.
Cycle life
The battery’s cycle life refers to how many times a solar battery can be charged and discharged until the battery is no longer usable. Most battery’s cycle life is around 4,000 cycles – if the battery is used on a daily basis, the battery can be used up to over a 10-year period.
Contact us!
Going solar is an investment that will benefit you in the long run, having a partner that you can trust and who values your investments should be the first step. Testified by our 5-star ratings and reviews, we are one of the pioneers in the solar and electrical service industry in ACT and NWS. Stag Electrical has been in the business for over 14 years, our solar professionals will provide you with the necessary information and advice about batteries so you can maximise your solar investment.
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Our solar panels and solar batteries are guaranteed one of the highest quality available in the market to provide you with high-efficiency output. Our highly trained and experienced professional technicians are always ready to assist your concerns and discuss your investment return timeframe.