SOLAR BATTERY PRODUCT FAQS

Solar batteries can supply your home or workplace with stored electricity at a time that you need it. The battery can be charged in two ways; the first is a charge using excess electricity generated by the connected solar PV system. Alternatively it can be charged from the grid at off-peak times when the rates are cheaper. The generated electricity is stored as either Direct Current (DC) before it reaches the inverter or as Alternating Current (AC) after the inverter.

It is worth notifying your grid electricity supplier of your intention to fit and use a battery before purchasing.

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Any home solar battery can deliver a beneficial source of energy to your home for ten years or longer. This can lower your grid utility bills. A medium size battery that is fully charged could power your lights and key appliances such as your fridge-freezer, TV and home PC. Appliances that require more intensive use of electricity to function such as a washing machine will naturally increase the battery discharge rate. A larger battery capacity will power your house for longer which in return means less dependency on electricity from the grid. Solar PV panels will produce less energy during winter, due to the position of the sun in the sky and generally lower light conditions. During this time your battery can be recharged with cheaper off-peak grid electricity, ready for use during the expensive peak period as an alternative to using grid-sourced electricity.

Solar battery systems for the residential market are available in a range of capacities.

The battery capacity is measured in kilowatt hours (kWh). 1kWh is 1000 Watts used in one hour. For use in an average home 1kWh could power a 100-watt lightbulb for 10 hours, a fridge-freezer for 26 hours or a vacuum cleaner for approximately 40 minutes.

Battery storage capacity for home use can vary from approximately 2kWh upto 14kWh. Batteries for use in a commercial environment are considerably larger. Multiple batteries can be used in both home and commercial settings to increase the energy storage capacity.

This very much depends on how the stored energy will be used. Example battery capacities: smaller 1-2 bed houses: 2-4kWh battery; medium-size three bed houses: 8kWh battery; larger houses with 4+ bedrooms: 9Kwh battery. Please contact us directly to receive no-obligation advice.

Capacity is the amount of energy in kilowatt-hours (kWh) that can be stored in a battery. In order to protect and prolong the life of the cells batteries should not be drained completely. Battery capacity specifications often omit the difference between the ‘full’ capacity of a battery and the maximum amount of energy that can be discharged without causing damage (the useable capacity). If this is not clear on the manufacturer specifications it is best to request clarification.

The physical size of the battery largely depends on the battery capacity. When mounted to a wall (normally in a garage or utility room) a width of about one metre and height of between 1 metre and 2 metres would be sufficient (this area would also accommodate the inverter). Additional batteries would naturally require more wall space or floor space.

The Solar Outlet recommends the following battery manufacturers:

• GivEnergy
• SolaX
• SolarEdge

Exact prices will vary depending on the manufacturer and the features of each model but as a guide batteries for the residential market can start from approximately £1200 for the smallest options upto approximately £9000 for batteries with a 14kWh capacity.

Solar batteries installed in a residential setting can weigh between 30kg to 98kg depending on capacity. In broad terms a 3kW battery will weigh in at approximately 30kg whereas a 12kW battery can weigh around 98kg. Exact weights vary between make and model. This information can be found on manufacturer websites and data sheets.

Before purchasing a solar battery it is best to check the dimensions and weight of your preferred model (this can be found in the product’s corresponding data sheet). A suitable amount of space will be needed for the battery (and inverter) in an insulated place such as a garage or utility room. The battery and inverter will need to be easily accessible for servicing and any maintenance work required.

Most home solar batteries have a slim profile. They can be left to stand alone on the floor or, depending on their weight, be mounted to a wall or installation board.

Solar batteries rated as IP65 are suitable for outdoor installation with some protection from the elements needed, such as canopy or roof. They should not be exposed to midday sun or rain.

It is sensible to include at least 30cm clearance around any battery for cooling and ventilation purposes.

Batteries positioned in a home or commercial setting are safe provided they are installed correctly in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. They will also need to be maintained correctly under the terms of the manufacturer warranty.

The room and immediate area around the battery (or batteries) will need to be well ventilated and kept inside of the temperature parameters outlined by the manufacturer. In most cases the battery system will have temperature monitors.

The life expectancy of a battery is around 10,000 cycles or ten years, whichever occurs first. Performance and longevity can also depend on whether the battery is lithium-ion or lead-acid, the former considered to last longer. The different compositions are also reflected in their retail prices. Your battery should include a performance monitoring system.

A well-maintained solar battery coupled with care and consideration for the best way to use it can ensure you get the longest possible lifespan from your investment. There are several ways you can optimise use of a battery system:

• Run one appliance at a time in order to prevent demand that exceeds the battery’s maximum discharge rate
• Use the battery for electrical appliances rather than for creating hot water
• Unplug chargers when not in use
• Turn electronics off completely instead of leaving them in standby mode
• Smart power strips (available from Argos and Amazon) cut power off to idle devices

Yes. Any excess energy generated by your PV system will be fed into the grid instead of a battery.

A cycle is one full discharge and one full recharge of a battery. In real world situations this is not a regular occurrence and a battery may only discharge 30% and recharge 30%. This would be approximately 1/3rd of a cycle.

As an example a lithium battery may be capable of 6000 cycles over the course of its lifespan at a discharge rate of 90%. At a charge rate of one cycle per day this would equate to a lifespan of 16+ years. Manufacturer warranties will specify the number of cycles the battery has been designed to achieve.

Yes, this is possible. The loft hatch would need to be wide enough to accommodate the battery and it is best to use a fixed ladder for safety. The loft should be safely boarded. The battery can be wall-mounted on a gable-end brick wall. The area surrounding the battery should have sufficient clearance space for ease of installing and subsequent maintenance and servicing.

Yes, this is possible. It should be mounted or placed in an area out of the midday sun and with a canopy or roof.

Commercial solar battery storage systems work by capturing and storing electrical energy generated by a solar PV system which can then be used when needed at a later time.

The first step in the process is for the battery system to be charged. Although in the context of our services the source for the charge would come from a solar PV system it is worth noting the battery could also be charged from another renewable source such as wind turbine or simply from the grid (preferably overnight or during other off-peak periods). The energy is stored in the battery as a chemical energy and is converted back into electrical energy when discharged.

Advances in battery technology means our commercial solar battery systems can store substantial amounts of energy for long periods. This energy can be used at a time crucial to the business, such as peak periods.

The battery can then be recharged again via energy from the solar PV system. Businesses can further benefit from the management capabilities of our commercial solar battery systems; factors for energy use such as business demands, patterns of energy consumption and varying grid energy prices depending on the time of day can be addressed and accounted for.

The length of time energy can be stored in a commercial solar battery storage system depends on several factors including the technology and design of the battery and ambient temperatures. Published studies suggest lithium-ion batteries, for example, would lose around 3% of their charge per month if left unused.

It is important to remember that most batteries are in fact designed for daily use and energy cycling (the process of discharging and recharging).

The amount of energy a commercial solar battery storage system can store varies depending on the system and how it is configured.

The experienced team at The Solar Outlet have the experience and knowledge to advise on the perfect battery system for your business.

Some examples of battery systems for varying size of business would be as follows:
Tesla Powerwall - for smaller offices, retail units, restaurants, bars and educational establishments, capable of storing upto 13.5kWh with 5kW continuous power delivery

Systems are scalable and can be tailored to the individual needs of a business, organisation or establishment.