Solar batteries and chargers

Solar systems need batteries to store and supply backup energy. The battery or battery bank of solar systems is usually the most misunderstood concept in solar energy system setups. Handling these batteries can be very dangerous and should be left to professionals if at all possible.

Solar systems use lead acid batteries. These are different from car batteries because they are designed to handle the ongoing charging and discharging that occurs with the day to day varitations in sunlight. These batteries have solid lead plates and can handle a deep discharge.

There are three types of lead acid batteries that can be used in solar systems:

·Flooded lead acid battery- these are the most commonly used solar battery due to their affordability and long life. They also cannot be damaged due to overcharging. With proper maintenance these batteries can last ten to fifteen years.

·Gelled lead batteries-are more expensive but are less likely to leak, yielding more mounting options. These batteries need to be charged slowly so they work best with systems that have a low discharge rate.

·Absorbed glass mat sealed lead acid battery (AGM)- are a newer technology and are less common than the other batteries. They are maintenance free and cannot be spilled or leak because they are sealed but they can be damaged by overcharging.

For a solar system to get the most out of its battery bank it’s important that the batteries are properly sized for system. A battery that is too small will discharge too often resulting in more frequent replacement.  If the battery bank is the right size and properly maintained then the batteries can last for over a decade.

The placement of the battery bank is crucial for the safety of the system. The enclosure must have vents near the top to allow the release of explosive hydrogen, the enclosure must be accessebile, and if using flooded lead acid batteries they must be securely mounted to prevent spills and leakage.

Handling lead acid batteries can be very dangerous. The enclosure should be coated with acid and fire resistant paint. When maintaining and handling the batteries eye protection should always be worn along with acid proof gloves. Baking soda and water should be at hand to neutralize spills.

The above information covers the topic of solar batteries used for storage in solar systems. There are also smaller solar battery chargers that use the power of the sun to charge the typical nickel cadium batteries used in common devices.

 A solar battery charger doesn’t contain solar batteries but can supply the energy needed to fuel rechargeable batteries like those found in cell phones, mp3 players and over handheld devices. There are also some slightly larger units that can charge laptops and other small appliances.

These chargers are identifiable by their collection of solar cells. The cells are capture the sun’s energy using the principle of photovoltaics and convert the energy into usable electricity. It’s the same principle used in large scale solar systems that provide energy to businesses and homes.

Solar-batteries.net is purely an informational site. The site is designed to provide consumers with unbiased knowledge about solar batteries and their uses so that they can make educated choices for their solar energy needs. Continue to browse the site’s learning center to learn more about solar batteries and their useful applications.

 

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