Are you thinking about installing a whole house battery back-up along with your solar panel system? Including batteries with your solar installation is a fantastic way to delight in satisfaction and be ready for any power grid blackout that comes along. Is it worth doing? Many people feel it is worth doing because the power grid is over 100 years old and has issues. Having an oversized solar panel array and 20 to 30KW of lithium-ion battery backup will make you energy-independent.
Batteries permit you to keep the energy generated by your solar system to be used at night when there is no sun to shine on the solar panels. Your solar batteries will also run your electricity at night, lowering your electric bill. Backup batteries also protect you from power grid failures and blackouts.
Often homeowners ask us about the opportunity for whole house battery back-up. This article will describe just what “going off-grid” implies. Also, how practical is it to go off-grid, and just how to recognize the worth of using solar batteries to run your house?
What is a Whole House Battery Backup System?
A whole house battery backup system implies having a solar panel system and a battery storage system to provide energy to the whole house adequately. The battery system requirements for the “whole house” include home heating and cooling, running home appliances, and keeping your lights on throughout an energy blackout. This would require a reasonably large battery to do all these things. Some people are happy with just keeping the lights on and running a small window air conditioner to keep one room cool in the summertime.
You could additionally listen to individuals describe “going off the grid.” Technically talking, “going off the grid” would undoubtedly indicate being totally and entirely self-dependent in your energy requirements.
Totally Off Grid Energy System
Going off-grid is exceptionally tough, and many homeowners are just curious about having a backup system for short-term energy interruption. Short-term energy interruptions usually run 30 minutes to an hour, whereas blackouts may run for days. This article will address all issues of losing power, from brownouts to temporary power loss to blackouts that may run for weeks.
Put the solar panels in the sun for more power and hours of use.
The main point to remember when thinking about battery backup is that not every electrically-powered gadget in your house is supposed to run the same way. They are not equal in their need for electricity. When running entirely off the grid, you have got to be careful of your house’s electric system. You do not want to run too many electric devices simultaneously, especially high-wattage items like hair dryers, microwaves, and air conditioners. You can trip circuit breakers if you run too many things simultaneously.
There Are Two Ways to Set up an Off-Grid Solar Energy System
You can set up a whole house off-grid system in several ways. You can have an off-grid system that goes overboard regarding the size unit, the number of solar panels, and the money you put out. If you are rich and money is not a problem, you can use oversized solar panels and an extensive lithium-ion battery backup system. But if you are like most people, you may go 10% over what you need for your house.
Go All Out!
You can go with a large unit that could generate twice as much electricity as you need. You probably will not have too many worries except for the maintenance of the unit. Maybe your neighbors are knocking on your door with an extension cord in their hands. (Wanting some of your power) if a blackout should happen.
Happy To Get By!
Now that I got you thinking smaller, let’s look at a small solar panel system with a small battery backup system. You would not run your central air conditioner. On the other hand, if you are like me, you will be happy to have the lights on, and the refrigerator running along with a small 5,000 BTU window unit. That small window unit and a couple of fans will replace it. I call this keeping life simple.
You may be one of those people looking at solar but do not like the price. The solar guy is saying your solar system will be almost FREE! You think you want me to finance $35,000 over 20 years, and that is NOT FREE to you. Supposedly the net metering will cut your electricity bill at least in half.
Emergency Solar Energy System With Battery Backup
Let us look at a solar energy system with a couple of solar panels and a nice size battery. During the day, your solar panels will supply the electricity you need to run most of your things. You can run 2 to 3 items, maybe four at a time. You were running your small air conditioner from time to time to keep you cool.
It will be time to get close together if you have a family. Figure the air conditioner can cool a 10×15 room. Add lights, a TV, computer, and that room will become the family room. Most refrigerators do not use as much power as you may think. Connect it to the power station; it only runs when the compressor goes on, which is a very short time.
The other significant aspect to consider when intending to house battery setup is the quantity of time in between costs that battery backup can sustain. The more circuits drawing power from a battery system, the quicker the batteries drain pipes. Equally, doing even more, requiring jobs on a laptop computer, like streaming a motion picture or signing up for a video clip telephone call, will undoubtedly trigger that laptop computer battery to drain pipes faster than merely inputting a paper.
While long-lasting entire residence backup– where all gadgets, as well as home appliances, generally run in the house for a day or even more– is feasible to style, it is rather pricey. It can need substantial electric service on top of the battery system setup itself.
Keeping that stated, lots of property owners can discover substantial worth in battery setup without attaining whole-home backup. Guaranteeing a couple of electrical outlets and home appliances preserve power for an extensive duration throughout an electrical outlet significantly boosts peace of mind and readiness for such circumstances and is far more friendly for many property owners.
Should You Consider Whole House Battery Backup?
Property owners that can obtain one of the most battery backups reside in locations with constant energy failures, either because of rolling power outages or severe climate. For example, a homeowner who lives in a very warm environment could discover it a deserving financial investment to mount a backup system that will undoubtedly enable them to utilize their cooling throughout an energy failure. The best battery to use will be lithium-ion.
Think About Lithium-Ion Battery Backup
Suppose you reside in a location where problems make including lithium-ion battery backup to your solar system eye-catching. The following action is to consider what you intend to support as well as for how much time. Which areas, tools, or devices do you require to make sure you will maintain running throughout a blackout to lessen pain and also disturbance for your household? For how long do you assume you’ll reasonably require to rely upon your battery system to power them?
When our energy specialists go over the subject with homeowners, we find it handy to consider 3 “rates” of battery backup. These aren’t preconfigured, cookie-cutter systems we offer; the specific parts used can still be tailored according to your choices and budget plan. They’re simply a means of thinking about what backup you wish to get. High-grade lithium-ion batteries are your best choice when building your battery backup system.
A lithium-ion battery will last 10 to 15 years and more. Many are rated to go through 10,000 charge and discharge cycles. Other types of batteries do not come close to that. Your old-style flooded lead acid battery may only last 3 to 5 years and 3000 charge cycles. The price of lithium-ion batteries more than pays for themselves over their lifespan. Is it worth purchasing the lead acid batteries and replacing them 2 to 3 times when one set of lithium-ion batteries will do the job?
Lithium-ion battery systems usually consist of a solitary 30-50 amp breaker and much as 6 kW of constant power for approximately 10 hrs. This is sufficient to get you through several energy interruptions throughout the night. The necessary rate is made to assure you by supporting your most essential home appliances at an economical price. If you just run the essentials, your electricity will last much longer.
The innovative rate intends to stabilize your lithium-ion battery backup capability and expense. It provides three 30 to 50-amp breakers and much as 10 kW of continuous power for several days of power failures.
Lastly, there’s the premier rate for house owners with the requirement and the funds to come close to the entire residence backup. Systems at this rate typically consist of 6 30-50 amp breakers for significant home appliances and approximately 15 kW of continuous power for numerous days of disruption in your energy solution. This is the choice if your objective is to reduce disturbances from energy failures for long-term durations.
It’s vital to remember that despite having top-rate battery systems, you will certainly not have the ability to power your house as typical forever. As even more power is used, the quicker your batteries will undoubtedly drain, much like with any battery-powered gadget. Nevertheless, a system at this rate integrated with a conscious strategy to power use throughout interruptions will indeed permit you to lessen disturbances and keep access to your gadgets and home appliances.
Final Thoughts About Whole House Battery Back-up
Most homeowners we collaborate with will obtain one of the most worthwhile battery backups at a critical or innovative degree. This will certainly enable you to power the systems necessary to your household to remain comfy throughout a momentary energy interruption without breaking the bank.
Suppose you have much more inquiries concerning whole house battery back-up, including how to include backup to an existing household solar system. In that case, you can constantly set up a practical remote examination with our energy specialists.