The 3 Best Batteries For An Off-Grid Home Solar System

solarhomesbatteries

Types of battery recommended for home solar system

If you are planning to build your own home solar power system, at some point in time, you will ask…

What are the best batteries for an off-grid solar system?

Because of the falling prices of Photovoltaic panels, charge controller, power inverter etc, more and more people are looking to use alternative energy sources as a way to:

  • Save money
  • Become more energy independent
  • And break their dependence on the big energy companies

However, installing a residential solar energy system, in most cases, requires you to make a considerable initial investment that you won’t see the return for several years.

One of the biggest expenses associated with a home solar energy systems is the batteries in the battery bank.

Therefore, choosing the correct batteries for your home solar system is crucial (and keeping the batteries alive as long as possible is also critically important)!

You don’t have to buy new and expensive batteries

Before we tell you what 3 batteries we recommend for your home solar energy system’s battery bank…

It’s important to first note that you don’t have to buy the 3 batteries we recommend brand new.

Instead, you can use the EZ Battery Reconditioning program to:

  1. Get old or used batteries for free or dirt cheap
  2. Recondition them back to “good service” condition
  3. Then use those reconditioned batteries for your home solar system rather than buying new overpriced batteries

Doing this will save you a considerable amount of money when building a battery bank. This approach also enable home owners with a small budget to have access to a DIY solar system.

But that still leaves the questions…

What are the best batteries to use in your solar power energy system?

The 3 best batteries for a DIY solar power bank

The following are 3 types of battery we’ll recommend for you:

1.Electric Golf Cart Batteries

golfcart

Electric golf cart batteries are the most widely manufactured batteries on this list.

They also work great in a residential solar system. So it’s no surprise that they’re one of the most commonly used batteries in battery banks for renewable energy systems.

Even though the five to six year life span of golf cart batteries may seem relatively short, golf cart batteries more than make up for their deficiency in this area by being very durable and cheap.

In addition, golf cart batteries can also be found almost anywhere, making them a great choice for battery banks.

If you really want to build a high quality but inexpensive battery bank, one of the best options is to:

Get old or “dead” batteries from golf courses or golf cart service shops for free …or dirt cheap.

All you have to do is call them and ask if you can have their old batteries probably lying around and cluttering their workspace.

Then recondition those batteries to like-new condition. When the batteries are in good working condition, you can then use them for your home battery bank.

2. Industrial or Forklift batteries

A battery bank that uses one or more industrial batteries follows the opposite philosophy of a golf cart battery bank.

Instead of relying on multiple strings of smaller batteries, you use a few or even one battery to store all of your home energy.

Because these batteries aren’t usually manufactured to standard dimensions, you will have to have one made that is just right for your needs.

Or you can try to find an old industrial or forklift battery that’s the correct size for your system and use that.

Like golf cart batteries, there are sometimes ways to get free or cheap forklift batteries. All you have to do is search on the internet and make some calls.

Talk to the people at industrial companies and see if they have old or “dead” forklift batteries. Offer to dispose of it for them or pay them a little bit.

If they agree, you can then recondition the battery and use it instead buying a new pricey industrial battery.

3. L16 Batteries

l16batteries

If you want batteries that have a little more capacity than golf cart batteries but don’t want to spend on industrial batteries, L16 batteries are a good middle ground.

These flooded lead-acid batteries were originally designed for supermarket floor scrubbers.

The good thing with these batteries is that they last a bit longer than golf cart batteries – about six to eight years.

However, they are often twice as heavy and the 6-volt models can be twice as expensive.

The Conclusion

Remember, different homes will have different power requirement and will need battery banks that are sized accordingly.

If you build a battery bank using any of the three batteries mentioned above, you should be able to create a battery bank that is just right for your home solar system.

As per our recommendation above, our three favorite batteries for residential off-grid, solar energy systems are golf cart batteries, industrial batteries and L16 batteries.

Deep Cycle Battery Reconditioning Guide

Deep Cycle Batter Revive

Do you want to know more on reviving dead or weak deep cycle batteries?

If you do, check out the EZ Battery Reconditioning program.

In the program, you will learn how to:

  1. Get old or “dead” golf cart batteries, industrial or L16 batteries
  2. Recondition them back to 100% of their working condition
  3. Use those “like-new” batteries instead of buying new overpriced batteries to save a lot of money

The guide will also show you how to recondition many other types of old, dead batteries back to 100% of their working condition again (so they’re just like new), including:

  • Car batteries
  • Laptop batteries
  • Cell Phone batteries
  • Marine batteries
  • PLUS MANY MORE!

So if you’re ready to learn how to recondition all types of batteries…

…back to 100% of their working condition

…Then click the link below

<CLICK HERE> Show Me The Presentation Now!

How To Buy Used Deep Cycle Battery For Dirt Cheap?

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Skip to 4:01 for the good stuff :)

Building Your Home Solar System Battery Bank

If you are planning to source for used deep cycle battery for your home solar system battery bank, there are many important considerations to be made.

Size is one of those important aspects.

In order to know which battery will best meet your needs, it is important to obtain several pieces of information before purchasing the battery.

It is important to begin with the terminology that is common with batteries.

One of these terms is that of “storage capacity” this term simply refers to the amount of energy that the unit can store. Usually this is represented in amp hours.

This makes it easy to determine the life of a battery.

For example, a battery that is rated at 1000 amp hours, will run 1000 hours for each amp that it contains.

Considering how many amps a battery needs can be a difficult task, but it is very easy to figure out.

Begin by thinking about how long the solar system will have to go without direct sunlight.

If the night in your area lasts around eight hours, then it is important to make sure that the battery will last at least eight hours due to the fact that the system will be running on battery power.

Also in poor weather conditions, you can typically aim for around 20% energy needed from the battery.

Another important term is that of “series wiring”. This refers to the process of obtaining more volts from a battery as opposed to amps.

A system in series simply consists of two batteries connected from one negative terminal to the positive terminal of another.

Similar to the concept of series wiring is that of “parallel wiring.” This means that you are wiring the batteries in order to increase the amps in the system.

Wiring batteries in parallel means that the positive end of one battery is connected to the positive of another.

This is a great way of running your system when the sun is not out. It is also important to determine if a battery is shallow or deep cycle.

Buying The Right Type Of Battery

When a lead acid battery is purchased, one must determine the appropriate features.

One of these features is if the battery is deep or shallow cycle.

These two terms refer to vastly different batteries that have largely different purposes.

A deep cycle battery is one that can essentially continuously use about four fifths, or about eighty percent, of its capacity.

Whereas a shallow cycle battery will use a large amount of its charge over a shorter time period.

Obviously a deep cycle battery is better for a solar system due to the fact that it lasts much longer than a shallow cycle.

Once the basic concepts of batteries are understood, you are very prepared to make an informed decision about which battery is best for a solar power system.

Being informed is very important so that the best battery for the job is purchased.

Making a great battery choice will save you a great deal of time, effort, money, and energy over the years.

haveyouseen

And if you’re interested in saving money on your home solar power system battery bank, you can use the EZ Battery Reconditioning program to learn how to:

  1. Get old or “dead” golf cart batteries, industrial or L16 batteries
  2. Recondition them back to 100% of their working condition
  3. Use those “like-new” batteries instead of buying new overpriced batteries to save a lot of money

The guide will also show you how to recondition many other types of old, dead batteries back to 100% of their working condition again (so they’re just like new), including:

  • Car batteries
  • Laptop batteries
  • Cell Phone batteries
  • Marine batteries
  • PLUS MANY MORE!

So if you’re ready to learn how to recondition all types of batteries…

…back to 100% of their working condition

…Then click the link below

<CLICK HERE> Show Me The Presentation Now!

 

12 Steps Process For A Successful Home Solar Power System




1) Before you begin building the solar power system, do a home energy audit.

You have to know how much power your household is using and where electricity is being consumed. After the energy audit, you can then decide on what type of system and how big your home solar setup should be.

Some states require a full energy audit before you can install a [tag-tec]residential solar system[/tag-tec]. For example, California is making this a requirement if you want to collect their sizable rebate.

2) Decide how much capital you want to invest in the system and work out a financing program.

A home solar system can be quite expensive. Most home owners will have to get a loan to finance this type of home improvement project. Start talking to your bankers.

3) Start sourcing for solar contractors or solar professional.

Talk to people that have built a home solar system and get their advice. Read trade journals or visit forum on the web for information. You want to get recommendation on solar contractors.

Call each recommended builders, tell them your requirement or get them to come to your house for a closer evaluation. Finally, ask for formal project quotations.

4) Evaluate the bids, interview the contractors and select the builder you want to work with.

Sign the contract and give them the project down payment.

5) Instruct the solar contractor to start buying solar components and parts.

Major components such as solar modules, charge controller, battery bank, power inverter etc are rarely in stock. Wait a couple of days for the goods to arrive. In the mean time, the contractor can start the preliminary construction work.

This is also the time when you (or the contractor) start looking into approvals for building permits, subsidies and tax breaks.

6) When all the solar components have arrived, begin the installation process.

Be sure to check all the equipment to make sure they are in working order. When the job is done, arrange for inspections by the county and utility company.

7) If you are using a solar intertie system, wait for the utility company to install in a new meter and connect your residential solar power system to the grid.

This part can only be done by a qualified and certified technician from the power company.

8) Start reading all the tutorials and manuals of the solar system.

Learn how the gauges work. Make sure you keep all the solar components warranty cards.

9) Preparing the paperwork.

Submit any paperwork of your home solar installation to the utility company, states etc for final rebate payments.

10) Start changing how your family uses energy to optimize your Return On Investment (ROI).

For example, reduce your household power consumption at night when the solar modules are not generating power.

11) Maintain and repair the solar system.

Work out a system maintenance schedule with your solar contractor. Even thought the system has not many moving parts, the solar modules have to be cleaned regularly for optimum performance.

12) Finally, start expanding your home solar system by adding more solar modules.

It will be a matter of time before all your home electrical appliances are powered by solar energy.

Home Solar And Wind Power Videos

Do you want to know how you can use solar modules or wind generator to reduce your home energy consumption? If you do, check out the 30 solar and wind power for home videos e-book we’ve compiled. It’s free to download.

==> Click here to download the free e-book now!