We have been living off-grid for almost three years now. During that time, our only source of power has been our Honda EU 2000i generator. We have been piecing together our off-grid power system one piece at a time, and our latest purchase was the battery bank.
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| Our battery bank --- eight standard 6 volt deep cycle lead-acid batteries. This will get us up and running but we really need a total of 16. |
Solar
and wind energy can be as fickle as the weather they depend upon. Therefore, anyone hoping to escape from the
grid by turning to these renewable forms of energy must have a good storage
systems set up to supply all of their power needs when the sun has set and the
winds have become still.
Battery
banks are the best choice for renewable energy storage. By using batteries to deliver energy captured
from the sun and the wind in a consistent and reliable form, you will not be
left dependent on the whims of nature as you attempt to leave the electrical
grid behind them.
Putting
in a system of batteries to harvest and store the output of the sun and the
wind involves more than meets the eye.
Before installing a battery bank, much thought, care, and calculation
will be necessary to ensure that the system chosen will fully meet the energy
needs of the household in a cost-efficient way.
Deep cycle batteries are the best choice for home energy systems. 'Deep cycle' simly means that the batteries in question can handle being regularly dishcarged and recharged on a regular basis. They have the ability to store large amounts of energy for when it is needed. The sun, wind, hydro or generator keep the battery bank charged, which supplies DC current to the inverter, which then converts that energy into the AC current that is required to power household appliances.
Lead-acid
batteries come in two styles, sealed or flooded, and while the latter is
cheaper it also requires greater levels of maintenance. Batteries for renewable energy storage
usually cost between $80 and $200 each , and the lifespan of a lead-acid
battery is usually somewhere between one and 15 years, depending on the quality
of the battery chosen and on how well it is taken care of.
The
battery technology is advancing so rapidly right now, that it wouldn’t be wise
to invest a large amount of money in the battery system at this point, for us
at least. Within the next five years
there will be large advances in off-grid home batteries; this is why we choose
to get eight standard 6 volt deep cycle lead-acid batteries. Once the eight batteries are wired together
in a series, it will give us one 48 volt battery.
OUR
OFF-GRID POWER CHECK LIST:
(A
basic off-grid system is made up of nine components.)
Power Source ---
Solar, Wind, Hydro, and Generator – whatever system will be creating your
electricity.
X DC Disconnect ---
this is a breaker between the power source and the inverter. This allows you to disconnect from the power
source to troubleshoot errors. (Housed in
the Power Center – click here)
X Charge Controller ---
this keeps the batteries from overcharging and from being discharged by the
power source. (Housed in the Power
Center)
X Battery Bank ---
stores excess electricity.
X System Meter --- this
is like a small computer. It describes
how the various components in your system are behaving and allows you to
program virtually every aspect of the system.
(Housed in the Power Center)
X Main DC Disconnect
--- this is the breaker between the battery bank and the inverter. (Housed in the Power Center)
X Pure Sine Wave Inverter
---this is the component that transforms the DC (direct current) electricity,
which is yielded by the power source and stored in the battery bank, into the AC
(alternating current) electricity that can be used on your appliances in the
home. (Housed in the Power Center)
X AC Breaker Panel ---
this is the same breaker panel that is found in any home that is tied to the
grid.
X Backup Generator ---
an important source of backup power when the power system is insufficient for
the demand.
Hidden Expense ---
all the wiring that is needed to connect everything together; conduit and
fittings; small insulated shed aka ‘power house’ with two rooms, one room for
the battery bank and one room for all the other electrical components.
