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Solar batteries
A solar battery bank can contain many large capacity batteries which can cost more than the solar panels used to charge them. They can be permanently damaged if they are overcharged for too long, so a regulator is attached between the batteries and the solar panels to control the charging voltage and current. The regulator also stops the batteries from discharging back through the panels when there is no sunlight. Advanced regulators alter the voltage and current to match the charging profile of specific battery types, allowing the batteries to last long and reach a higher charge level. Under normal conditions, a solar battery bank can be expected to last an average of ten years, but some last more than twenty years.
The two types of lead-acid battery are the cranking and deep-cycle. Cranking batteries have thin porous plates that have a large surface area and provide the large currents required by starting motors. Deep-cycle batteries have thicker plates and provide a steady voltage while discharging, and are also referred to as golf cart batteries because that is one of their main uses. Large capacity deep-cycle batteries are the best choice for a solar battery bank. Car batteries are medium capacity cranking types which are not suitable for a solar battery bank.
Gel cells are lead-acid batteries that have their electrolyte in gel form, unlike the flooded type which use a liquid electrolyte. This practically eliminates spillage and evaporation of the corrosive acid mixture, and allows the battery to be tilted to any angle. They are often referred to sealed lead-acid batteries but they actually have a pressure relief valve for venting excess gases. These batteries are maintenance free because they do not need their electrolyte levels checked regularly. Another type is the absorbed glass mat (AGM) battery which has its electrolyte within fine fiberglass mesh that is placed between the plates.
Solar battery banks are often located in a well ventilated basement or utility closet, with the batteries lined up on racks and connected together. Fuses are sometimes placed between the batteries so that a short circuit in one doesn't drain the others. Smaller systems should use a vented box to protect the batteries and contain any electrolyte leaks. Warning signs should be placed around the battery bank to indicated the presence of corrosive acids and flammable gases. Solar battery banks may use low voltages but they contain a dangerous amount of energy, and should only be designed and installed by professionals who specialize in solar energy systems.
Choosing the right type of solar battery depends mostly on the budget for the system. Gel and AGM batteries usually last longer than flooded lead-acid batteries but are more expensive. Another benefit is that they require much less maintenance, because each flooded battery in a bank needs to have its electrolyte levels checked regularly and that can take some time when there are many batteries. Regardless of the type chosen, a solar energy system should more than pay for itself in energy savings over its lifetime.
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