It is a well-known fact that the overall performance and efficiency of a solar panel system is largely dependent on the quality and type of battery used.
Additionally, the upkeep and routine maintenance involved with a solar system is also heavily defined by the type of batteries used in connection with the system.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the required maintenance needed to keep your solar system batteries operating at an industry standard efficiency rate. We’ll also delve more deeply into a couple of different types of batteries often used with solar systems and what the maintenance requirements for each of these different types of batteries are.
What is Solar Battery Power?
Many solar power system owners themselves are still unclear on what is solar battery power. Solar battery power is electricity stored in a battery unit that is created by a solar panel. The solar panel is able to convert the sun’s light into energy using highly advanced solar panel materials and solar energy technologies. This power is then sent into a solar battery where it is stored for use as raw electricity. The batteries are connected to a home or other build structure’s main power grid and thus power from these batteries can be used just like traditional grid-supplied electricity.
How to Charge Solar Batteries?
Another often asked question regarding solar energy is how to charge solar batteries? This is done by simply connecting the battery to the grid containing your solar power pods, also known as battery banks. These solar power pods or battery banks are connected to the greater solar power system and will be receiving energy straight from the solar panels themselves.
How Long Do Solar Batteries Last?
The first question that most people ask about a solar power system, is how long do solar batteries last? The answer to that question is approximately 5-15 years depending on the conditions in which they are stored in and the frequency that they are used. Every year the technology behind solar batteries improves and allows them to become increasingly durable and long-lasting. Even certified solar-based used batteries have a lifespan of approximately 5-7 years. Non-certified or factory refurbished solar-based used batteries will likely survive 3-7 years.
Lithium-ion Solar Battery Maintenance
For at least a decade or more lithium driven batteries have been the preferred choice for solar system operators. Lithium batteries require very little maintenance, they are extremely high density, they store energy with little run-off, and they are increasingly cheaper than other battery types. These batteries work in most environments, however, they are not particularly well suited for extremely hot or freezing temperatures. They are also not the best battery to use for long term storage durations, as they will degenerate and lose stored power.
With regard to the solar battery maintenance of lithium-ion units, their main upkeep issue is caused by the degradation rate. Similar to the problem often faced by lithium powdered cell phones, lithium batteries used in solar systems tend to wear out after a set number of charges or discharges. Any lithium-ion battery powdered solar system owner must always plan ahead for this degradation rate.
The are two common types of lithium-ion batteries used in correlation with solar systems, lithium iron phosphate batteries (LFP) and lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) batteries. In the paragraphs below, we’ll break down the difference between the two, as well as go into detail about specific maintenance issues that each lithium battery type is faced with.
Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery (LFP) Maintenance
Lithium iron phosphate batteries (LFP) are well known to be safe, durable, very long lasting, and ideal for home or a garage-based solar panel battery bank. Due to the fact that this type of battery does not house any form of cobalt, a known fire hazard, they are often considered to be one of the safest battery types to use for residential solar panel systems. Lithium iron phosphate batteries also do not require any type of ventilation or cooling systems, making them ideal batteries to house indoors within the solar panel battery bank of a residential home or larger building structure. This is one of the most commonly used battery types for residential solar panel system users that require daily energy cycling and are attached to a greater electrical grid.
Lithium iron phosphate batteries do not require any maintenance at all, but it should be noted that the location where they are housed will absolutely affect how they perform. Inside each LFP battery, there is a device known as a battery management system (BMS). The BMS automatically keeps track of an individual LFP battery unit’s level of charge, internal core temperature, remaining cycle life, and much more. The BMS monitoring is essential to maximize the performance of any given LFP battery. If these batteries are housed at moderate altitudes and within a reasonable temperature range, owners will have zero maintenance to worry about ever.
Another great aspect of the extremely durable LFP batteries is that they do not break down due to repeated overcharging. In fact, there is little to no damage done at all from overcharging, a problem commonly faced by other types of solar system batteries. This makes LFP batteries the perfect refilling battery since no stress or worry is involved. They may even be the best refilling battery for homeowners since they may be away from the location for lengthy periods of time and thus their batteries might be the most susceptible to overcharging.
Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC) Battery Maintenance
Lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) batteries are another very safe power cell often used within residential solar systems. Just like LFP batteries, NMC units also possess a battery management system that diagnoses and monitors all of the unit’s core functions. Unlike LFP batteries, these batteries possess nickel and manganese cobalt oxide mixed within their chemistry, allowing them to store much more energy than all other types of lithium-ion batteries.
NMC batteries, like LFP batteries, require zero maintenance. The BMS attached to each battery unit will make sure that it is in proper and safe working order for the length of its service life. Extreme temperatures or usage will shorten the lifespan of an NMC battery, however, these conditions are not generally a concern for a typical residential or even low-level commercial battery user.
Do You Need to Refill a Solar Battery?
Nearly all types of solar-driven batteries are sealed and thus there is no need to refill them. One such solar-driven battery that can undergo a battery acid refill is a solar lead acid battery. How to fill a battery with acid? A solar lead acid battery can have a battery acid refill, you simply lift the cap off of it and carefully replace the solution. How to fill a battery with acid that is lithium based? This cannot be done, as lithium batteries are fully sealed. It should also be noted, that this type of lead-acid solar battery is highly inefficient when compared to lithium-driven solar batteries.
Removing Oxidation On Solar Lights Makes Them More Efficient
If you remove oxidation on solar lights is will help to make your batteries much more efficient. The oxidation can be wiped off using a very lightly moistened cloth mixed with warm water and dish soap. Once the panel is clean and oxidation free it will begin to process solar light at maximum capacity once again, allowing your batteries to soak up as much energy as possible from one of the cleanest forms of energy available on the planet.