Solar panels have found their wide use in the last century, although their real-time is yet to come. We can see them placed on the roofs of various public institutions such as hospitals, schools, fire stations, and other large buildings, which are accompanied by high consumption of electricity caused by heating. Also, more and more people are choosing to install them in their homes. This investment is not cheap at all, but it is worthwhile for sure. Research has shown that solar panels reduce electricity consumption so much that after three years, the investment pays off on its own.
When installing, the solar panels must not be obscured by tall trees or buildings, because in that case, they will not work at full capacity, due to insufficient sunlight. In case, this is unfeasible, don’t worry, because if you visit this site, you will see you still have a chance to get your solar panel.
To get better acquainted with the very concept of solar panels and their principle of operation, let’s start from the beginning.
What are solar panels?
Solar panels are made in the form of large plates and are placed on the roofs of buildings. The number of panels that need to be installed to work at full power depends on the size of the building. Their main task is to reduce electricity consumption by collecting solar energy and converting it into electricity. Although the first solar cells were produced back in 1883, they have been expanding in the last twenty years. What makes solar energy unique is the fact that it is renewable and capable of producing clean electricity like wind or hydropower.
It is important to note that solar panels are charged even when it is cloudy, but also that charging is possible only during the day, at night they are at rest. Since you can find many manufacturers of these panels on the market, it is very important to choose quality ones. These don’t necessarily have to be the most expensive, but the cheapest ones are probably a bit of a dubious choice. Now that we are familiar with the term solar panels, we move on to the next, which is a solar battery.
What is a solar power battery?
For the whole system to work properly, you need to supply it with quality batteries. When shopping, it is important to pay attention to things like battery life as well as the power it can provide. Why do you need batteries if you have panels? The reason is very simple – batteries store the energy that the panels collect during the day. Since there will be no need to save energy constantly, the batteries will save it for later use. That is why it is important to choose solar batteries with a deep cycle. To choose the right batteries, it is important to know that they differ in storage ability, cost, storage space, battery lifespan, and so on. They also differ in ease of installation. Here you will find the most popular types of batteries.
1. Gel batteries
What distinguishes these batteries is good durability and resistance to vibration and shock. They are easy to maintain and can withstand extremely low and high temperatures, and can also boast a long service life. However, they also have a few drawbacks – since they are narrow in profile, the batteries are very easy to damage when charging. As for the price, they belong to the group of cheaper ones.
2. Lithium-Ion
The use of lithium batteries began 50 years ago and today they are very often used for laptops and mobile phones. Although they are the most expensive (four times as expensive as any other), they have many advantages – their lifespan is longer, emptying is deeper, so the storage capacity n + is better used, there is no ventilation, and what will probably make many happy – you have nothing to do with maintaining!
3. Flooded Lead-Acid Batteries
For off-grid setup, this battery is most often used. What distinguishes them is the reasonable price and reliability. However, they also have several disadvantages, and that is that they are large size, so they take up a lot of space unnecessarily and are not resistant to corrosion. Although high quality, these batteries are not for those who are not ready to maintain them regularly, because they require it.
4. Sealed Lead-Acid Batteries
These batteries do not require regular maintenance, are not dangerous, and are resistant to spills. They are closed and have a stand-alone system, which means there is no need to fill them with water, as is the case with flooded.
5. Saltwater
Saltwater is considered an innovation in the world of batteries. Unlike others, this battery uses seawater. In this way, it eliminated the use of heavy metals and relied on electrolytes found in seawater. It is easy to recycle, which makes it environmental-friendly. However, their use has not yet expanded, so they cannot be said to be precise.
What else should I consider when buying batteries?
When buying batteries, you need to pay attention to its performance and specifications. Battery capacity is very important because it tells us how much energy can be stored. Besides, it is important to pay attention to the charging time, and there are gel batteries winners. The next important thing is to make sure it is easy to install and, above all, that it fits your budget. However, when buying, keep one thing in mind – you will get what you pay for. Battery life is a very important factor when choosing. That’s why you always have to read all the specifications on the package. Finally, we come to the manufacturer’s warranty. You may think that a 10-year warranty is good. Believe me, it’s not. It is a very short period. When buying, choose batteries that have a 20- 30-year warranty, and don’t be surprised if you come across ones that have a lifetime warranty.
