All in One Solar Battery System
A solar battery system is a great way to make use of the excess energy that your solar panels generate on a sunny day. It also provides backup power during utility power outages and can help you lower your electricity bill.
There are several different battery chemistries, sizes and coupling options available. You’ll want to consider your average energy usage and preferences, as well as the recommended depth of discharge (DoD) of each type of battery.
Battery Charger
The battery charger included in an all in one solar battery system is designed to charge lead acid batteries (flooded, gel and AGM) in a controlled and safe manner. It controls the charging voltage and current based on the battery state of charge (SoC).
During the ABSORPTION stage – which represents about 80% of the recharge – the charger maintains its constant current setting but the battery voltage is allowed to rise. This is done to all in one solar battery system ensure that the battery is fully charged, without overcharging it. Once the battery reaches its maximum charge current set by the charger, it is considered fully charged and it can now be switched to the float mode of operation.
It is essential to choose a battery charger that is correctly sized for the battery type, and that it is capable of handling the specified charging capacity (e.g. the SV-BASE13-12-A battery charger can handle up to 25 kW of total battery capacity). It is also important that the charger and the batteries are compatible, because different battery chemistries require charging at specific parameters.
While all in one solar battery systems offer backup power to help keep key appliances and devices running during a blackout, the manufacturers and some installers I spoke with consider this to be a secondary function. Instead, they see these types of systems as a way for homeowners to limit their utility bills through peak shaving during periods of high energy demand.
Inverter Charger
The inverter charger included in an all-in-one solar battery system converts DC power from the batteries to household AC that can power appliances and devices. It also converts AC energy into DC power that can charge deep cycle batteries. This is a critical component of PV + storage systems and all hybrid or off-grid solar solutions. We use Xantrex inverter chargers, which are available in several sizes and power ranges to suit your application. They have a built-in LED system information screen and multiple electronic overcurrent protections. They can be used with all types of batteries.
Depending on the size of your system, you may choose an MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) or PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) solar charge controller to maximize your efficiency. The key difference is that MPPT charge controllers can capture a larger percentage of power from the solar panels, up to 30% more than a conventional PWM controller, which means you need fewer solar panels to meet your backup energy needs.
We offer a variety of add-on solar battery kits that include everything you need to build a small or large battery backup system, including the inverter charger. They’re easy to install and connect to your existing solar array using a single combiner box with circuit all in one solar battery system breakers, individual fuses for each string of batteries and a surge protection device. These battery backup systems are ideal for reducing your dependence on the grid by providing energy during peak hours, or putting your excess solar power back onto the grid (solar recharging) to earn rebates from your utility company.
Control Unit
A control unit, also known as a charge controller, is one of the main components of your solar battery system. It controls how the energy stored in the batteries is transferred to your home during peak hours. It also disconnects your home from the grid and enables your house to run completely off of solar and batteries in the event of a power outage.
There are several different types of solar charge controllers on the market. The most common are simple PWM, pulse width modulation, charge controllers which cost as little as $40 for a 10A model. These solar charge controllers have a direct connection from the solar panels to the battery and use a basic ‘rapid switch’ to modulate the current. These controllers open and close the switches hundreds of times per second to maintain a constant battery voltage, but this pulls down the panel’s optimum operating voltage which decreases its power output and operating efficiency.
More advanced MPPT, maximum power point tracking, solar charge controllers have a higher input voltage rating than the nominal battery bank voltage. This allows you to connect a number of 12V or 24V solar panels in series without having to worry about over-charging your battery. It is still important that you size your solar charge controller correctly. You should not oversize by more than 150% of its nominal rating (nominal rating x 1.5). Some high-end professional solar chargers like Morningstar and Victron allow up to 200% oversizing and do not damage the controller.
Solar Panels
If you’re looking to reduce your dependency on the grid with solar power, an all-in-one energy storage system is a great option. These systems combine an inverter, batteries and charge controller in one compact metalic cabinet for easy installation. They can be installed in your home, garage or utility room. All in one solar battery systems come with a cellular modem to connect directly to the Internet, so you can monitor your system remotely.
They can store surplus energy generated by PV solar panels in batteries and feed it back to the grid during peak hours, reducing your dependence on expensive utility rates. The system also provides backup protection in the event of a power outage. Many of these systems use hybrid technology, using a battery-based grid-tie inverter to draw energy from the solar panel batteries and synchronize with the utility grid.
Solar batteries are a vital component of any solar system. They can store solar energy as chemical energy in a battery and then release it when needed (usually at night or during a power outage). There are several different types of solar batteries on the market, including flooded lead-acid gel and absorbed glass mat, lithium iron phosphate, and lithium titanate.
Solar battery backup can help reduce your reliance on the grid, but it’s important to consider your needs carefully before committing to an all-in-one solar battery system. It’s crucial to choose a battery that has a high enough power rating to meet your electricity demands.