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Solar Power Storage Batteries

If I installed 20, 100 watt solar panels and 20 12v batteries for power storage?

how much of my power needs would this generate? This system would be not be tied to the grid unless there's a benefit. We use about 600kw monthly and receive 5.5 hours of sun light daily. Thank you for any help. Chris

Location, weather, shading, and de-rating would be factors, but a rough estimate would be about 230 kWh per month, or just over 35% of your usage. There are benefits to being tied to the grid, but it really depends on what your motivations are for doing solar. Contact me at the E-mail below if you would like a detailed list of pros and cons.

Be advised you will also need racking, a charge controller, a combiner box, an inverter, fuses, disconnects, switchgear, and properly-sized wiring. Please do not try to do this project alone unless you are comfortable and familiar with these items.

Battery Storage System For Your Solar Power Home

Most solar power systems are designed to store some of the collected energy for later use. This allows you to run lights and some electrical equipment at night. You can also use this stored energy to temporarily run an appliance that uses more energy than your system is delivering.

Batteries are the most cost-effective way to store extra energy. These allow you to save some of the energy you are getting for later use. Unfortunately, batteries do have some negative issues that you need to consider. Firstly, batteries are finite in their storage capacity. A battery can only contain as much energy as they can contain. If you are planning to use batteries to store excess energy you need to be aware of how extra energy you will need to have stored.

The second limitation to batteries is that the conversion process is not 100%. You will need to create more energy than your battery stores in order to mjake sure the batteries are fully charged. Because of this you will need a charge controller to prevent over-charging. Batteries can be dangerous if short circuited. Safety equipment and fuses are important to use with your battery storage system.

Just a simple battery storage system is great for a small home. A medium to large home will need to add an inverter for conventional AC power needs. The majority of household electrical needs are run by the inverter. This allows you to use conventional household wiring and be able to run a greater selection of electrical appliances.

Even with these limitations, using battery storage with your solar power system can give you ability to run your solar power system with no sunlight.

About the Author

John Smith is an advocate of using solar power and hopes more people become interested in solar power systems. He blogs about it more at DIY Solar Panels Now.