Solar battery
A solar battery is most commonly used in conjunction with
a solar energy system. Though solar batteries can be used in many different
kinds of products, this article will be focusing on the three main different
types of solar batteries used in solar energy systems. The three main
types of solar batteries are: Flooded Lead Acid, Absorbed Glass Matt
Sealed Lead Acid, and the Gelled Electrolyte Sealed Lead Acid battery.
A Flooded lead acid solar battery is the most widely and longest used
battery in solar energy systems. It is the least expensive, but also
requires the most maintenance. The owner must water the battery, equalize
the charges, and keep the top and terminals clean. If you want your
Flooded lead acid solar battery to last a little longer, consider the
following helpful tips:
Do not overcharge the battery several times. This will cause overheating
of the plates and will eventually warp the plates on the battery
Failing to completely recharge a battery will leave some sulfur behind
which will also damage the plate on the battery.
Do not add anything other than pure distilled water.
Do not Deep Cycle your batteries every day. This basically means that
you don’t want to use 80 to100% of your batteries every time as
this will shorten the life of the battery. Try to use only 25 to 50%
of the battery on a daily basis. Only occasionally do you want to Deep
Cycle your batteries.
The next type of solar battery is the Absorbed Glass Mat Sealed Lead
Acid (AGM). The most important point about AGM batteries is that they
are maintenance free. There is no need to worry about watering, corrosive
fumes, and no equalization charging. They can be stored for long periods
of time as they lose little of their storage percentage. Because they
are completely sealed, they are easily and safely transported. It is
more difficult to transport the Flooded Lead Acid solar battery as it
is not completely sealed.
The last type of solar battery is the Gelled Electrolyte Sealed Lead
Acid. This battery is the least efficient of the three as it charges
at a much slower rate. These batteries should not be forced, though,
to charge at a faster or higher rate as it tends to damage the battery.
These solar batteries, though, are still useful in a Grid-tie system
where the batteries act as a backup.
Other types of solar batteries are Lithium ion batteries, nickel-cadmium,
nickel-iron, nickel-zinc, and a sodium-sulfur battery. These solar batteries
can power anything from a Laptop computer to a grid-energy storage facility.
As you can see, solar batteries are becoming an extremely viable alternative
to fossil fuel electricity.