Solar batteries store the energy from solar panels. The batteries might drain faster than expected. Therefore, it’s essential to keep your system running smoothly. Quality solar panels charge solar batteries. But on rare occasions, odd things may happen. A healthy solar panel doesn’t drain the battery at night, even when the solar panel doesn’t receive sunlight. One of the main reasons is blockage or broken Diodes that need replacement. The solar charge controller stops the battery drainage. Defective solar panels and other components are the reasons why your solar battery gets drained. The blog explores the reasons why solar batteries drain so fast and what to do when solar battery is low. We will also provide the readers with a few tips to prevent solar battery drainage.   

Why is My Solar Battery Draining So Fast?

Often the question arises – why my solar battery is not charging? When you don’t recharge your solar battery for a long time, or the solar panel charge controller suffers a malfunction, the solar battery drains fast. If you leave your discharged battery without recharging it for a long time, it leads to fast drainage. The core causes of your solar battery drainage include – 

1. Lack of Adequate Charging

It’s recommended not to charge or discharge a solar battery fully.  If your battery doesn’t charge properly, it may drain faster. Overcharging or undercharging of the battery, or the use of a poor-quality controller, results in considerable charge drainage in the battery. A trusty solar panel charge controller stimulates the energy flow between your solar panel and solar battery. 

2. Long Gaps between Charges 

It’s crucial to recharge the batteries at regular intervals. In warm weather, the solar batteries should be recharged at a span of 24 to 48 hours and in 2 to 3 days in wintertime. Keep an eye on when the battery is fully discharged. Recharge it promptly. When you leave the fully discharged batteries for a long time, it leads to sulfation. It blocks the charging and discharging process. Batteries will eventually discharge over time, and when no power is left in the battery, it damages the internal structure. 

3. Charge Controller Issues 

If your solar panel charge controller is faulty, it damages the charge flow. The solar panel doesn’t receive any power at night, but it can drain the battery by feeding into it. When the charge controller is broken, the problem occurs. 

4. Storing Batteries without Charging them

Solar batteries usually discharge over time. When you store a battery without adequately charging it, it leads to structural damage. The recharging becomes difficult. Before you store a solar battery, charge it to around 85%. Check your batteries regularly and recharge them when they’re low. Never store an empty solar battery and leave it to be discharged. 

5. Extreme Heat

Extreme temperature causes malfunctions in the battery’s internal circuit and breaks the solar battery. Don’t store your solar batteries in temperatures above 35 Degrees Celsius. Heat damages the batteries, especially when the batteries are under heavy loads. Lead-acid batteries perform well with solar panels if you can maintain them properly. At Star Plus Batteries, purchase premium quality tubular inverter batteries and maintain them with regular upkeep for optimal performance. 

6. Lack of Proper Maintenance 

Solar batteries drain over time with regular charge cycles. Older batteries lose the capacity to hold a charge for a long time, even when they are properly maintained. Maintenance, like checking for corrosion or cleaning terminals at intervals, can extend a battery’s lifespan. Check your battery regularly to identify the early signs of damage. 

7. Heavy Electrical Load

When your solar battery undergoes increased load, it may lead to fast drainage. Calculate your power needs, the power requirement of appliances, and consider other factors. When your power needs increase over time, work on the battery bank. This is one of the major reasons why your solar battery drains fast. 

How Do You Stop Your Battery from Draining So Fast?

Once you understand the root causes of your battery drainage, you can identify the solutions. Let’s explore ways to prevent your battery from draining too quickly. Let’s address the issue as required.

1. Battery Issues 

When your solar battery is damaged, replace it. Don’t overcharge your battery or leave it uncharged for a long time. Make sure the panel voltage is higher than the battery voltage. 

2. Extreme Weather Conditions

Check that the solar battery can resist the weather conditions in your area. Avoid overheating or shading, as they can damage the internal circuits and cause battery drainage. 

3. Solar Panel Charge Controller Issue 

A simple reset may resolve minor issues. If the problems continue to occur, the controller needs replacement. If required, keep the battery and panel disconnected for some time and reconnect them in the same order. This may resolve the solar panel charge controller issue.

4. Internal Issues 

Internal issues, such as broken or faulty equipment and poor-quality components, can lead to quick battery drainage. You need to avoid low-quality products to reduce the risk. 

5. Parasitic Draw  

Check the appliances connected to your solar panel and identify any equipment that may be consuming battery power. Connect your battery to a separate panel and not other devices to avoid additional battery drainage.  

What Are the Tips to Fix Solar Panel Battery Drainage? 

You can follow the tips below to fix solar panel battery drainage issues – 

• Test the battery with a multimeter, or replace the battery if necessary.
• Check wiring or replace any malfunctioning part to prevent charging issues.
• Restart and reset the solar panel charge controller.
• Check if the applications are draining the battery excessively.
• Recharge your batteries and regularly check your battery to avoid frequent issues.
• Invest in quality diodes and quality features. 
• Regularly check your battery to detect any issues. 
• Invest in premium-quality batteries to avoid malfunctions.
• Consult an expert to address issues that you can’t resolve on your own. 

How Can You Make Your Solar Battery Last Longer?

Let’s see how you can increase the lifespan of your solar battery. 

• Charge the battery fully for extra power and increased lifespan.
• Clean the solar panel to boost its performance and extend its lifespan
• Check on the interconnected cables to boost the power transfer between the solar panel and solar battery. It leads to an increased battery efficiency and extended battery life. 
• Add distilled water to increase the electrolyte level in your battery cells. 

Various factors can influence the power drainage in your solar battery. You must find the root cause to address the issue. Environmental influences, battery lifespan, system configuration, or maintenance tips may help you detect and address specific issues that affect your battery’s performance.

Conclusion  

Solar panel battery drainage is a common issue. Root cause may be many, from the diode to battery problems. You need to consider various other factors, too. In most cases, the solar panel drains because of a broken diode. Other problems include wiring issues, a damaged battery, or a faulty solar charge controller setting. With the knowledge, you can easily resolve the issues. Buy the best quality tubular inverter battery from Star Plus Battery for the best power supply to your home and office. Leave your feedback on the lead-acid inverter battery in the comment section below the blog.