How Much Should I Spend on a Deep Cycle Solar Battery?

If you are setting up a solar array to reduce your energy costs, one of the first things you need to do is determine how you are going to save power for use when the sun is not shining bright. Without a deep cycle battery to store your energy, you will be forced to use your solar power only when the sun is up, and rely on the grid during other times. Most people would prefer to store power for later use, making the most of their solar panel investment. To do this, you need to budget for the proper size and type of battery to fit your needs. Here's what you can expect when it comes time to buy your deep cycle solar battery. 

How Often Will You Rely on Stored Power? 

For most people, stored power will provide supplemental assistance in the evenings after the sun has gone down. As long as the battery is large enough to provide power to your major appliances and give you some extra buffer energy to get you through high demand times, you should be good to go. To achieve this, you need to add up the total amp hour rating of all your home appliances that will be on through the night, including your refrigerator, air conditioners, etc. This will give you a starting idea of how large of a battery you will need. It is also important to remember that if you need a significant amount of power, it will likely be more cost effective to create an array of batteries wired together, rather than springing for an extra large unit. 

Battery Types

Now that you know the size of battery you need, it's time to look at different battery styles. There are half a dozen different types of batteries available on the market. Some of them are better for solar applications than others. For instance, deep cycle solar batteries of the gel type or the absorbed glass mat type are good options because they require very little maintenance, and they have long lifespans. They are best used in situations where you will only be draining the battery slightly before it is fully recharged by the next day's solar input. You may notice that these deep cycle solar batteries are more costly than a traditional lead acid battery. Some AGM or gel batteries start around $100 for low-capacity applications, but can run up to $600. The most popular batteries in this category are typically between $300-350 each. Depending on the amount of power you use daily, you may need several of these batteries working in tandem to keep your household running smoothly on stored power. 

While that price may seem high compared to a traditional lead acid battery that runs about $60-80 a piece, it is significantly cheaper than the next step up, which is Lithium Ion Batteries. Lithium Ion batteries are excellent for high demand solar installations, but they can be extremely costly and difficult to get your hands on. You will likely need to purchase them from an approved vendor who can install them safely, which also drives up the cost. 

When it comes time to plan your solar panel install, or update your power storage unit, make sure you set aside enough money to cover the expense of deep cycle solar batteries. At only a few hundred dollars each, they will pay themselves off in due time with the money you are saving on your monthly power bills. To learn more, contact MK Battery today and speak with one of our battery experts about your next project.