Solar Products
a) Solar Batteries
b) Solar Inverters
c) Solar Charge Controllers
d) Battery Backup Systems
a) Solar batteries
Solar batteries are really deep cycle batteries that provide energy storage for solar, wind and other renewable energy systems. Different from a car battery, a deep cycle battery is capable of surviving prolonged, repeated and deep discharges which are typical in renewable energy systems that are "off grid" (disconnected from the electric utilty company).
In renewable energy systems, deep cycle batteries provide the energy storage for your system. Unlike your car battery, deep cycle batteries that are used in renewable energy applications are meant to be discharged and recharged (cycled) repeatedly. To maintain healthy batteries and prolong battery life, most manufacturers suggest limiting the depth of discharge to about 20%. (That means the deep cycle batteries will be at 80% capacity or better.) At the very least, do not allow the batteries to be discharged below 50% Depth of Discharge (DOD)
When selecting solar batteries (deep cycle batteries), you'll have the option to use flooded lead acid (FLA) batteries or sealed batteries (AGM or Gel cell).
AGM (12V)
- 12V 100AH
- 12V 150AH
- 12V 200AH
GEL (12V)
- 12V 100AH
- 12V 150AH
- 12V 200AH
TUBULAR GEL-OPzV (2V)
- 2V 200AH
- 2V 300AH
- 2V 500AH
- 2V 1000AH
- 2V 1200AH
Hybrid Inverters:
These inverters are primarily used for grid-tie purposes but also have the added feature that they provide backup power to your home / office when the electric utility fails.
Off-Grid Inverters:
These inverters are principally meant to be used with solar for a home or business totally disconnected from the electric utility company. They can also be used for providing emergency backup power to homes that currently use the power from an electric company. Inverters with the built-in AC charger option are particularly well suited to providing seamless backup power.
Grid-Tie Inverters: Inverters which are connected to your electric utility company and do not use a battery bank. These "grid-tie" systems tend to be lower in cost due to the fact that they don't use batteries. However, if the utility company's power goes down then your system will also shut down. If blackouts are frequent in your location or you want to have backup power, consider purchasing an inverter that is Hybrid.
C) Solar Charge Controllers:
Charge controllers come in various types. Solar charge controllers regulate the charge from a solar panel array to a battery bank.
- PWM: A PWM (Pulse Width Modulated) solar charge controller is the traditional style. They are robust, inexpensive and widely used in solar panel applications.
- PWM-Shunt: PWM shunt controllers are used less often and mostly in applications where electrical interference is an issue.
- MPPT: The MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) solar controller is the shining star of today's solar systems. These controllers actually detect the optimum operating voltage and amperage of the solar panel array and match that with the battery bank. The result is additional 15-30% more power out of your solar array versus a PWM solar controller. Although the MPPT solar charge controller is more expensive than its PWM counterpart, it is generally worth the investment for any solar electric system over 200 watts.
Since renewable energy power systems almost always gather power and store it in batteries, almost every system requires a charge controller. A solar charge controller will protect your batteries from being overcharged by your solar panels and it will block any reverse current (from the batteries) as well. Solar charge controllers will actually protect every aspect of your solar power system from your batteries to your solar panels. Temperature sensors are an inexpensive addition that helps the charge controller more accurately regulate the charge of the battery bank.
Battery Back-Up System
a) Save even more by storing excess power:
A PV solar system only produces electricity during the day. And most electricity is produced in the middle of the day when the sun is at its peak. But with the availability of low feed-in tariffs, it makes sense to have a system that can store the power your grid connect solar system produces during the day, so that you can access it at night when you’re experiencing peak consumption. That’s the beauty of our battery back-up system. With PowerRouter self-use batteries, you can become even more self sufficient by using energy you have generated and stored yourself. This enables you to get the maximum benefit from your investment. And it means you’re far less dependent on future price fluctuations and legislative changes.
Talk to one of our solar powered consultants today on 1300 BE SOLAR (1300 237 652).
- Power Router Inverter & system monitoring
- Expandable 3-5kw inverters with various battery size packs
- 5-year warranty on inverters
b) How do Battery Back up systems work?
While most solar energy is generated during the day, most household use occurs in the evening, cooking dinner, watching TV etc. The PowerRouter Solar Battery gets more out of self-generated solar energy by storing excess power in batteries for later use. Up to 70% of the power you generate can be for your own use, which means you’re less dependent on the grid and rising energy prices.
With its unique technology, the PowerRouter controls whether to use the energy instantly, store it in batteries or feed it back to the grid. No extra inverters or cables are required: just connect the solar panels, batteries, loads and grid to the PowerRouter and start saving.
