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.