Electricity has become a fundamental part of daily life. From the most straightforward household appliances to complex industrial operations, electricity powers the most basic activities.
However, the scenario in Nigeria is different. Over the past few decades, Nigeria has been facing frequent power outages and disruptions in its power supply. Owing to this aspect, the market demand for high-powered inverters has gradually increased.
The power of an inverter significantly depends on the functional ability of an Inverter Battery. Whether it’s your household refrigerator or your industrial machine, a high-powered inverter battery can handle it all.
Are you looking to purchase an inverter battery for your home? Before doing so, you need to know about the critical aspects of inverter batteries. Each house has different consumption needs, so you need to choose your inverters carefully.
In this blog, we’ll examine the critical components of different types of inverter batteries and provide a guide to choosing the right one.
What is an Inverter Battery?
An inverter functions as a temporary power supplier that can turn grid-supply energy into direct current. An inverter battery is a specially designed battery that stores energy and supplies electricity during power outages.
The battery inverter turns Alternate Current (AC) into Direct Current (DC) and stores this direct power. When there is a power outage, the inverter pulls DC power from the battery and supplies AC power to the electronic appliances.
A regular inverter battery depends directly on the grid power supply. In the case of a solar charger inverter battery, the common task of converting DC to AC power is performed. Secondly, the AC power is again restored to DC to power up the solar panels.
Inverter batteries used for solar panels reduce dependency on grid systems and thereby increase the sustainability aspect.
Before you purchase an inverter battery, you need to know about the three working cycles.
Three Working Cycles of Inverter Batteries
Conversion Process
When a power supply from the grid or solar panel is available, an inverter battery converts the AC power to the DC power. During a power outage, the stored DC power is converted into AC power and supplied across your household. This stage is called the Conversion Process.
Charging Cycle
Your inverter battery is charged by converting AC from DC. A charge controller determines that the battery is charged safely and accurately.
Discharging Cycle
The discharge cycle is the final working cycle of an inverter battery. Your inverter battery converts the DC power back to AC power for your household appliances.
The discharging cycle is a crucial stage that involves frequent voltage fluctuations. If your inverter battery isn’t strong enough, the deep discharge cycles can corrode the inner material and degrade performance.
Main Types of Inverter Batteries
Before you opt to purchase an inverter battery, you must know the type. Each type of inverter battery differs in size, shape, chemical composition, and durability. Here are the main types of inverter batteries:
- Tubular Batteries
- Flat Plate Batteries
- Lead-Acid Batteries
- Gel Batteries
- Lithium-Ion Batteries
Key Factors to Consider for Selecting Inverter Batteries
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Battery Lifespan and Depth of Discharge (DOD)
The lifespan of a battery and DOD are crucial in determining the overall performance of an inverter battery. A battery’s DOD refers to how much operational capacity it can use.
Industrial-fit inverter batteries are designed for heavier purposes, requiring more extended periods of work. They can handle deep discharge cycles without compromising their performance.
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Effect of Temperature
Temperature variations can affect the life expectancy of an inverter battery. If it is stored in extreme temperatures and climatic conditions, it is susceptible to rusting and damage.
You need to ensure that your inverter batteries are stored and managed correctly in a properly ventilated and secured place. Advanced-designed batteries can function in extreme temperature conditions. Yet, as the battery owner, you can install a thermostat in your storage room to control room temperature in different climates and seasonal changes.
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Energy Storage
It is vital to be able to store a significant amount of energy and efficiently convert it from AC to DC. In the case of a solar charger inverter battery, an off-grid energy supply increases power storage ability.
In smart households, solar panels act as your renewable energy suppliers. Solar inverter batteries reduce your grid dependency with high energy storage and sustaining capacity.
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Choosing for Your Needs
Whether for residential or commercial use, selecting the best inverter batteries for your home and business is crucial. To understand the total amount of power consumed, you need to look into the consumption units mentioned in your electricity bills.
Based on your monthly consumption units, you can choose a high-powered inverter battery. It is wise to always select an inverter battery that can sustain long discharges and help with an uninterrupted power supply.
In Conclusion
Inverter batteries can be of multiple types with different chemical compositions and functional abilities. However, the best inverter battery is the one that can store charge for a more extended period. Maintenance is equally important to retain the performance of your inverter battery. You also need to ensure that your inverter battery is adequately charged.
A solar inverter battery will provide sustainability and power efficiency in your modern home.