Choosing the right solar battery is one step in making certain sustained gains from renewable and affordable solar power. Solar battery storage ensures the power system keeps energy reservoirs. The energy reserve ensures the reliability of solar power as a replacement or support for the overwhelmed power grid. Regular solar battery maintenance is essential for efficiency and durability.
The Best Solar Battery Care and Maintenance
Households and corporations use solar energy stores with little or no sunlight. A compromised solar battery guarantees darkness and frustration.
The following are tips to ensure a solar battery lasts long and works well:
- Control Sulfation
Sulfation is the accumulation of sulphur crystals on the solar battery’s lead plates. It stops chemical processes that ensure a battery’s functioning and power flow. Sulfation occurs due to a low electrolyte level in the battery or a low charge.
Monitoring and controlling low charge and low electrolyte quantity in flooded batteries is important to avoid and resolve sulfation. The maintenance measures require distilled water, proper safety gear, a digital voltmeter, and a temperature-compensating hydrometer.
- Charge the Battery
A solar battery has a three-phase charging cycle. The charging phases are:
- Bulk charging:This happens when charging a discharged battery. Here, the voltage rises to the maximum charging permissible level.
- Float or trickle charging:This is where the charging and discharging of the battery occur simultaneously. It keeps the battery fully charged.
- Absorption charging:The voltage remains constant at a maximum current and level. It then decreases until the battery attains full charge.
Off-grid solar power system owners should know of these charging processes. They should follow manufacturer recommendations for the appropriate type of charging for the battery or inverter. Ideally, solar batteries should be charged at full charge every three weeks.
- Seal Out Corrosion
Corrosion progresses steadily once it sets in. It leads to resistance and other risks arising from the battery’s continued use. Apply a non-hardening sealant on the battery’s metallic parts of the terminus during its assembly to keep off corrosion.
After assembly, the sealant cannot reach all the parts. The sealing process involves individually coating the wire lugs, battery terminus, bolts and nuts. The exposed junctions and voids that remain due to ineffective sealant application will lead to splattering of the battery’s acid. That, in turn, leads to corrosion.
A simple solution such as petroleum jelly suffices and does not affect electrical contact. Also, adhesive-lined tubing is used to coat exposed wires. Rinsing the battery tops with water at least twice yearly removes accumulated moisture from acid and dust. It is another simple measure that controls corrosion for many years.
- Use a Battery Monitor
Like all prized appliances, solar power systems require constant and thorough monitoring. A system monitor will evaluate and report on the status of the power system. For instance, charge controllers have inbuilt indicator lights and readouts.
Still, adding an extra digital monitor to track current and voltage, generate records of amp-hours, and accurately display the battery’s state of charge is advisable. Such data comes in handy when troubleshooting.
Conclusion
It takes just a few weeks of poor maintenance and mishandling of a solar battery to reduce it into a state of total disuse. Such a situation is a significant loss considering the financial costs involved in purchasing and installing a solar power system. Practising appropriate solar battery maintenance tips will ensure you get value for money. It will light up life and living spaces with the benefits of solar energy.