Solar Batteries

A basic solar setup includes:

1. Solar panels. The solar panel is going to absorb sunlight and convert that sunlight into energy.
2. Charge controllers. The charge controller is going to direct the energy that's absorbed by the solar panel to specific locations.
3. Batteries. A battery stores energy that is absorbed by the solar panel when it is not being used by the electrical load.
4. Inverters. An inverter takes DC power and converts it to AC power for use in homes or businesses.

The solar panel is absorbs sunlight and converts that sunlight into energy, in this case, DC power. That energy is going to be transferred over to the charge controller, which dictates where that energy actually goes. The charge controller is going to be wired to both the battery and it's also going to be wired to an electrical load. The charge controller will monitor the energy that is coming off of the solar panel and determine where that power is needed. For instance, if power is needed for an electrical load, it will send power in that direction. If there's no power that's needed for that electrical load, it will send power to the battery to store for later use. In the case where there is no need for power at the electrical load and the battery is full, the charge controller will dissipate that energy in the form of heat. In other applications, an inverter may be used in a solar setup. The inverter works by drawing energy, DC power, from the solar panel. It converts that energy into AC power, which can then be used in homes and businesses.

FAQ

Is it worth getting a solar battery

Solar batteries are useful for storing electrical energy that you product to be used at night or during peak hours when electricity may be more expensive. If you have excess solar capacity, or the utility costs in your area are very high, investing in a solar battery could save you money.

Which solar battery lasts the longest?

There are usually three types of batteries used in solar storage: lithium-ion, saltwater and lead-acid. Of these three, lithium-ion batteries will last the longest.