And now the thing I'm hooked on!
Me getting hooked on this started with getting to know the Battery Storage for my camper van. And then the most endearing thing for me was the Battery Storage.
Battery Storage
Batteries are the main thing that sets off grid solar apart from on-grid solar! Batteries are the core of an off grid solar system.
Solar panels on urban houses are usually tied to the grid, meaning their energy goes to centralized grid systems rather than being stored in their home. Then they receive credits or charges based on how much energy they generate and use. But us off gridders obviously don’t want those pesky electrical bills!
On the other hand, off grid solar holds the energy on site for year-round use, night and day. If there are power outages in a nearby town, you will not be affected because your system is independent. You are much more free and self-contained with off grid solar.
Batteries are the most expensive part of the investment and need to be carefully considered for longevity and performance. An improperly sized solar system will not have enough panels and sunshine input to fully charge the batteries, which can severely decrease the lifespan of those batteries.
The expense of your batteries depends on whether you are looking at up-front investment or lifetime cost. Obviously, lithium ion will cost the most, but they will also last longer and potentially perform better. In order of cheapest to most expensive, the types of batteries include:
- Flooded Lead Acid Batteries (cheap golf cart or car batteries have the shortest lifespan, require maintenance, and cause off-gassing fumes, meaning they need to be stored outside of the home)
- AGM Batteries (mid price point sealed gel batteries don’t off-gas and can be used inside the living space)
- Nickel Iron Batteries (mid price point and long life cycle that withstands over or under-charging)
- Lithium Ion Batteries (highest initial investment and longest lifespan, low weight, and low maintenance.
- lithium-iron phosphate batteries (commonly known as LFP or LiFePO4).Recent innovations in battery technology have produced a new type of cell chemistry. LFP batteries are found in all of EcoFlow’s current range of portable power stations, solar generators, and power Kit's.
Which Types of Batteries Are Best for Off-Grid Living?
The best types of batteries for off-grid living are lithium-ion and LiFePO4 batteries. Both lithium-ion and LiFePO4 outperform other types of batteries in off-grid scenarios, providing faster charging, superior performance, extended use, and fewer environmental impacts.
Solar Battery Voltage-
The most common type of off-grid battery is a solar battery, with options for 12V, 24V, or 48V. The voltage you choose for your batteries will affect the rest of your system.
The standard vehicle uses 12V batteries. It’s sufficient for recharging solar batteries and makes it easy to use your vehicle as a backup charging source.
The size up from 12V is 24V, commonly used for larger vehicles, such as trucks and busses. Many RVs and boats also use this voltage.
48V batteries are not necessarily bigger. Instead, they produce the same amount of power as 12V but in a more compact solution. 48V batteries
