SLC Solar Power System Battery Qualities to Prioritize

Within a solar panel setup, just as important as actually generating power from the sun's UV rays is the ability to store and utilize this power when needed. This is where a solar battery comes into play, and there are several key factors that you should be closely considering when it comes to selecting the ideal battery backup for your solar panel system.

At Intermountain Wind & Solar, we're happy to provide the very best solar panel and battery products to all our clients in Salt Lake City and nearby areas, with a range of products headlined by the Tesla Powerwall battery backup that's considered the gold standard in the industry for solar batteries. For any kind of solar panel battery backup you're looking at, what are some of the key qualities that you should be prioritizing? Here are several to keep in mind.

Capacity

One of the single most important qualities of any solar power battery is its capacity for power, which is measured in amps, or amp-hours. A battery with a capacity of 100 amp-hours, for example, can theoretically provide 10 amps of power for 10 hours before it needs to be recharged.

But it's important to understand that this is only a theoretical maximum, and that in real-world usage, you'll never actually be able to utilize a battery's full capacity. In general, it's recommended that you only ever discharge a solar power battery by 50% in order to preserve its longevity, so a 100 amp-hour battery will realistically provide around 5 hours of power before needing to be recharged.

As such, when choosing a solar power battery, it's important to consider both your power needs and how often you'll need to recharge the battery. A larger capacity battery will obviously be more expensive, but it may be worth the investment if it means not having to recharge as often.

Solar batteries also come in different shapes and sizes, so it's important to make sure that the battery you choose will actually fit in the space you have for it.

Cycle Life

Another important quality to consider in a solar power battery is its cycle life, or the number of times it can be discharged and recharged before it starts to degrade. A battery with a longer cycle life will obviously be more expensive, but it will also last longer and may end up being a better investment in the long run.

Depth of Discharge

In addition to cycle life, you'll also want to consider a solar battery's depth of discharge, or the percentage of its capacity that can be discharged before needing to be recharged. A battery with a higher depth of discharge can be discharged more before needing to be recharged, meaning it will theoretically last longer before needing to be replaced.

However, it's important to note that depth of discharge will also affect a battery's cycle life, so a battery with a higher depth of discharge may have a shorter cycle life overall.

Peak Output

Another key factor to consider in a solar battery is its peak output, or the maximum amount of power that it can provide at any given time. This is important to consider because solar batteries are often used for things like powering pumps or other equipment that may have a high initial power draw.

If you're planning on using your solar battery for something like this, you'll want to make sure that it has a high enough peak output to handle the initial power draw. Solar batteries also have what's known as a continuous or nominal output, which is the amount of power that they can provide for an extended period of time. This is important to consider if you're planning on using your solar battery to power things like lights or other equipment that won't have a high initial power draw.

Efficiency

Solar battery efficiency is another important factor to consider, and is typically measured in terms of round-trip efficiency. This is the percentage of energy that a solar battery can store compared to the amount of energy that it takes to recharge it, and is typically around 80-85%.

However, it's important to note that solar battery efficiency can vary depending on the depth of discharge, with higher depths of discharge resulting in lower efficiencies. As such, if you're planning on using your solar battery to power things that have a high initial power draw, you'll want to make sure that it has a high round-trip efficiency.

Solar batteries also have what's known as a self-discharge rate, or the percentage of their capacity that they lose over time while not in use. This is important to consider because it will affect how often you'll need to recharge your solar battery. Solar batteries typically have self-discharge rates of around 3-5% per month, so if you're not planning on using your solar battery for an extended period of time, you'll want to make sure that it's stored in a cool, dry place.

Cost and Warranty

Finally, just like many other things in life, solar batteries come with a variety of different price tags. As such, it's important to set a budget for yourself and find a solar battery that fits within it.

It's also important to consider a solar battery's warranty, as this can vary quite a bit from one manufacturer to another. Most solar batteries come with a 5-10 year warranty, but some may have shorter or longer warranties.

Keep these key factors in mind when selecting a solar battery, and you'll be sure to find one that's well-suited for your needs. For more on this, or to learn about any of our solar power setups or services for SLC and nearby clients, speak to our dedicated team at Intermountain Wind & Solar today.