In today’s electricity dependent world, you cannot afford blackouts. Everything we use in our day to day life – the phone charger, computers, microwaves, the refrigerators, etc. depend on electricity. Thus, when you set up home, power backup is one of the first things on the to-do list. There are two parts of effective power backup – an inverter and the battery. The battery is where power is stored. Without this, your inverter cannot do much. There’s also a growing consciousness about our carbon footprint. This has popularized renewable power. So, here are a few points to keep in mind when you consider buying a solar inverter battery.
Not All Batteries Are The Same
From the outside, all batteries may look like a simple box. But, the technology contained within may be different. Broadly speaking, batteries can be categorized as flat plate batteries and tubular batteries. Tubular batteries may be slightly more expensive but they have many advantages. Firstly, they have a long lifespan. These batteries are structured as a series of tubes that contain the positive electrolyte material and hence they charge faster and are more efficient. This means that you can get longer power backup even if your battery has had only a short time to charge.
No Battery Can Give You Day Long Full-Home Backup
The price of a solar inverter battery increases with its capacity. This means that an inverter battery that offers 6 hours backup will be priced much lower than an inverter battery that offers 10-hour backup. That said, you must be aware that there is no battery that offers limitless backup. The duration of time these batteries can provide backup for depends on their capacity as well as the number of appliances run on them. If you use only your lights and fans, the inverter battery will last much longer than if you were to also run your television, fridge and microwave on the inverter. If you choose a stackable battery, you may choose to use multiple batteries for longer backup. Hence, have a realistic idea of your power needs before you start looking for a battery.
Compatibility Checks Are A Must
Unlike conventional inverters that can be connected to almost every battery, solar panels cannot be connected to all batteries. Fr this reason, many people prefer to buy their solar inverter and battery together. If you already have an inverter and only need a battery, make sure the battery you are considering is compatible with the rest of the solar power system before you invest in it.
Check Warranties
Always buy a solar inverter battery from a known brand. Buying a local, unbranded battery may be cheaper but these batteries do not offer any guarantee or warrantee of their components or performance. Brands work hard to maintain their reputation and hence will use only the best quality materials for their batteries.They have faith in their product and hence will offer good warranties and maybe even an exchange system for after your battery has lived its life. Battery warranty is usually defined in years or number of cycles. That’s not all, they will also help install the system, give you better after sales service and be willing to look into any issues that may arise.
Be Familiar With Technical Terms
There are a number of technical terms you should be familiar with when you are buying an inverter battery. For example, Depth of discharge (DoD). This refers to the usable capacity of the battery. If you use 100% of the power stored in the battery, it’s lifespan will be impacted. Typically speaking, the higher the DoD, the better the battery. Other terms you should be familiar with include capacity, round trip efficiency, stackable vs non stackable, etc. Do your homework before you start shopping.
Though solar panels generate electricity only during the day, connecting your inverter to a battery will help you meet most of your power needs after sunset as well. Buying a solar inverter battery will have a positive impact on your lifestyle as well as your carbon footprint. You can run all your electric appliances while knowing that the energy you use is clean and non-polluting. It’s a small step with a large impact.
