All in One Solar Battery System

If you have solar panels, it’s possible to add battery backup to your system. But this add-on is expensive.

There are less-expensive ways to meet your power needs in the event of a blackout, including portable gasoline generators and lithium-ion portable power stations. But they aren’t nearly as convenient.

Inverter

All in one solar battery systems use an inverter that merges your home solar array with the electric grid. When your solar panels are generating more power than you need, the hybrid inverter can use that extra energy to charge your batteries, and then transfer it back to the grid. It can also use AC power from the grid to charge your batteries when your solar array is not generating enough energy.

Hybrid inverters with maximum power point tracking (MPPT) can optimize your system’s power output. They do this by checking the voltage and current of your solar panels to find their peak performance. It then correlates that with the battery’s voltage to ensure optimum power flow. MPPT charge controllers offer much more control than PWM controllers and can capture the most power from your panel array.

Some manufacturers, like the Hawai’i based Blue Planet Energy, produce all-in-one energy storage systems that include a DC-coupled inverter and battery modules inside a sleek cabinet. Other companies, such as sonnen, build energy storage systems that are AC-coupled. These need to be paired with a third-party inverter that can convert the usable AC electricity into storable DC electricity, and vice versa.

Some manufacturers, like SimpliPhi, sell modular battery cells that are “inverter agnostic”, meaning they can be paired with any inverter. This allows installers all in one solar battery system to design a complete system that matches your solar installation and self-consumption needs without compromising the battery pack or inverter quality.

Battery

All in one solar battery systems consist of an inverter, batteries and charger combined into a compact all in one solar battery system metalic cabinet that is installed either indoors or outdoors. It is easy to hide in the garage, utility room or the home’s attic but it also can stand out as an aesthetic design feature. The system stores energy in batteries and feeds it to the consumer unit reducing the dependence on grid power. It is especially useful during peak hours when utility electricity rates are high. An array of solar panels is required but not compulsory for this type of system.

Many solar storage providers offer hybrid solar systems that combine a solar panel array with a battery, for homeowners who wish to reduce their dependence on the grid and save money. Most of these systems provide backup power during a power outage, but they can also be used to limit your utilities bills through something called peak shaving. This involves switching from grid to battery power during the afternoon and evening peak demand, avoiding expensive peak energy tariffs.

The most popular hybrid solar and battery systems are those from Enphase, SunPower and LG. Enphase’s batteries are known for their sleek design and excellent performance and efficiency, while SunPower’s SunVault system has a long track record of reliability and success. LG’s state-of-the-art RESU series of batteries are highly efficient and compact. The premium model – the RESU prime – guarantees 70% capacity at the end of a 10-year warranty, while the standard REC model offers 60%.

Charger

All in one solar battery systems combine an inverter, batteries and charger into a single compact metal cabinet. This reduces the total system cost and complexity. It is also easier and safer to install, requiring less specialized electrical work.

Most all in one solar battery systems use DC-coupled batteries, meaning that the DC electricity from the solar panels directly charges the batteries. The batteries then go through an inverter, which converts the batteries’ DC power to AC power–the kind of electricity that most homes and appliances use. This is a good way to ensure that the batteries are charged to their maximum capacity, but it is not a very efficient process.

To make the most of solar battery energy, you need to have a very intelligent charge controller. Sometimes called a “battery regulator,” this device can greatly extend the lifetime of your battery bank by limiting the charging current and by allowing only a small amount of discharging.

Many of the companies that make all in one solar battery systems integrate their products with Tesla’s Powerwall, a home battery that lowers your reliance on the grid by storing your solar energy for backup protection during outages. Some of these companies claim their systems can keep important circuits running for days after a grid outage. Most of the manufacturers and installers I spoke to consider this a useful but secondary function of their systems. Rather, they view their primary purpose as a way to limit utility bills through a practice known as “peak shaving.”