In recent decades, homeowners across the US have looked for ways to live greener lifestyles. Some people opt for smaller measures like purchasing LED lightbulbs instead of incandescents. Others look for longer-lasting approaches, such as purchasing solar panels.
When people buy solar panels, they often wonder how their panels operate in cloudy weather or at night. Typically, people purchase batteries for solar storage. Your solar power system draws the electricity from your battery to supplement its lower outputs.
However, there are different types of batteries from which to choose. Often, a deep cycle battery is the best option. We’ll discuss the benefits of a deep cycle battery in the guide below!
Defining Deep Cycle Batteries
A deep cycle battery provides sustained, consistent power for lengthy periods. The reason they are “deep cycle” batteries because most types of batteries provide short bursts of energy. Once they’ve given this energy, you must recharge them.
Most other battery types can only discharge a small amount of their electricity. However, a deep cycle battery can discharge up to 80% of its contents.
Please note that many people don’t advise discharging that much energy. Frequently doing this could result in a decreasing lifespan for the battery.
How Do Deep Cycle Batteries Work for Solar Storage?
As mentioned above, deep-cycle batteries store energy generated by your solar energy system throughout the day. Then, when your panels can’t generate as much electricity, you can supplement the electricity with these batteries.
However, not all deep cycle batteries are created equal. Different batteries have varying capacities. The higher its capacity, the more solar power the battery can store.
This process may sound straightforward, but there are complicating factors. To connect this battery to your system, you’ll also need a charge controller and a power inverter.
How Do You Choose a Deep Cycle Battery?
Whenever you buy a device, there are gradations of quality on the market. To find the best battery for your system, consider some of the following factors.
First, how long can the solar battery last? Once you know that, determine how much power the battery can store.
Next, consider the battery’s capacity. This feature is the amount of electricity that a solar battery can store. Typically, manufacturers measure this in watt hours.
Your battery must also have an efficient power rating. People measure these ratings in watts.
Having mismatched power levels and capacities makes your battery less effective, possibly shortening its lifespan. We’ll discuss the lifespan more in the following section.
Examining a Battery’s Lifespan
First, using your battery will wear down the lifespan over time. Likewise, the older your batter becomes, the more it will struggle to hold a charge. Fortunately, most manufacturers list the life cycle of their batteries, so you won’t have to estimate everything.
Find Your Deep Cycle Battery Today!
If you purchase a solar power system, supplementing it with a deep-cycle battery for solar storage is an excellent idea. So, start searching for your battery system today!
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