Choose the right solar battery 

Solar batteries are used to store solar energy while reducing carbon footprint. Over time, the cost of these batteries have decreased. This has provided the industry with an opening to explore new avenues to improve on-site solar storage choices to residential consumers.
 

Types of batteries 

A solar battery functions similarly to a traditional battery. There’s four main types of batteries used to store solar electricity. All offer differing results and prices.

Lead acid: This is a heavy, reliable, inexpensive automotive battery. New technologies provide longer warranties and is well tested. 

Lithium-ion: These batteries are the most heavily used. The prismatic types are commonly used in solar energy storage.

Flow: Flow batteries are the latest water-based solution of zinc-bromide battery in the residential solar arena. They provide the most long-term storage, lasting decades with minimal upkeep and the internal electrolyte materials can be recycled.Solar panels require the battery, a charge controller, and an inverter. A 12-volt battery can take between five to eight hours to charge.

Charge Controller: Including this part depends on the size of your solar system. A maximum power point tracking (MPPT) circuit maximizes transferred energy and automatically disconnects the solar panel from the battery when fully charged.

Battery: The size and type needed depend on your energy needs. A 12-volt, deep cycle battery can withstand repeated charge/recharge cycles without damage to internal plates or electrolytes. 

Inverter: The inverter is cheap which transforms the electricity stored in the battery so it's usable in your home. Review the rating on the inverter and the number of electrical sockets it can power. 
 

Questions to ponder 

There are a few things to assess when determining which battery will fit your system's storage needs. Low prices are eye catching yet it can easily affect quality and battery life. Purchasing  battery replacements too regularly may not suit you in the long run. It’s also a good idea to review the battery’s capacity or the amount of energy it can store. Voltage is also important to ensure it at least equals your system's requirements. This is evaluated by the inverter's specifications. A battery's cycle life is the most critical consideration.This accounts for the number of charges/recharges the unit can provide before production drops beneath a certain percentage of the full load capacity. This varies from manufacturer to manufacturer on the same size batteries.
These questions below can assist you with choosing the correct battery for your home:

What is your average daily electrical usage in Kw Hours?
Do you have a backup system? If so, how efficient is it? 
How dependable is the daily sunshine in your area?
How often do you use appliances with high power needs? 

If you want to move into the future and join the solar revolution, or if you want to find out what solar panels are right for you, go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. You can see how much a system will cost, and how much you can save over the next 20 years. For more information relating to going solar, don't forget to visit our solar blog section for more handy guides and articles.