ABSORBED GLASS MATT (AGM) AND GEL BATTERIES

FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS

Batteries are a key component in a grid-tie with back-up or a stand-alone renewable energy system that all of the other components rely on for operation. Without proper maintenance, batteries can fail prematurely and shut the whole system down.  The "Best" battery for a particular system is not always the most expensive, but it is seldom the cheapest either.  You need to know what your battery storage requirements are.

How much battery storage, in ampere-hours, do you need?

As a rough rule of thumb for home solar systems, the total battery capacity (in amp-hours) should be five times your daily usage. 5 days of storage or backup is commonly used.  To work out what you storage you require just take your average daily usage in watts and divide by the battery voltage.  For example, if you use 3 KWh (Kilowatt-hours) or 3000 Watts of electricity per day and your solar electricity system operates at 12 volts, then dividing 3000W by 12V gives you 250 AH.  It’s important that the battery is not discharged and we suggest discharge should not be more than 50%.  At 50% discharge you will need 500AH of battery storage. 

What types are battery are used with solar photovoltaic and wind turbine installations?

There are two popular types of battery used for solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind turbine installations. These are called GEL and Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries and are in fact types of lead acid batteries.  Both GEL and AGM They store their charge very well and do not degrade as easily as the common lead acid (wet cell) battery.  Because of the type of material used as the electrolyte (GEL or Absorbed Glass Matt) there is very little chance of a hydrogen gas build up that can lead to an explosion and these batteries do not experience corrosion.  They are very safe  batteries and are therefore ideally suited to solar pv and wind turbine (remote power) installations.

NOTE: there is some confusion over which battery (AGM or GEL) should be used for solar photovoltaic (pv) or marine installations.  In most cases AGM batteries are perfectly suitable and are cheaper than GEL.

 

AGM BATTERY
	AGM BATTERIES are sealed batteries that use "Absorbed Glass Mats", or AGM between the plates.  These type of batteries are very rugged.  Being maintenance free, AGM batteries are thus ideally suited for use in grid-tied solar power systems with battery back-up. Because they are completely sealed they can't be spilled, do not need periodic watering, and emit no corrosive fumes, the electrolyte will not stratify and no equalization charging is required. AGM's are also well suited to systems that get infrequent use as they typically have less than a 2% self discharge rate during transport and storage. They can also be transported easily and safely by air. Last, but not least, they can be mounted on their side or end and are extremely vibration resistant. AGM's come in most popular battery sizes and are even available in large 2 volt cells for the ultimate in low maintenance large system storage.
GEL BATTERY
	GEL BATTERIES contain acid that has been turned into a “gel” through the addition of Silica Gel, turning the acid into a solid state. These batteries are  impossible to spill acid even if they are broken. However, there are disadvantages to using this type of battery.  They cannot be fast charged or they may be permanently damaged. This is not usually a problem with solar electric systems though.  If the battery is charged via an inverter trickle charger then it’s important to set the charging current correctly to limit the charging current to the batteries.
SEC BATTERIES	CELLYTE 6-12TSG Solar Gel Range VRLA Deep Cycle Gel Batteries
	CELLYTE TSG Solar range valve regulated rechargeable batteries fitted with Monobloc Catalyst to enhance battery performance, life and performance at temperatures up to 30 degrees C. Designed for use in daily cyclic renewable PV Solar energy applications in remote areas where reliable dependable electricity storage applications are required. Capacity: 60 ah to 300 ah C/100 to 1.80 vpc at 20-30 C. Design life up to 10 years with Catalyst in cyclic or float service
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Battery capacity is determined by the amount of electrical energy the battery can deliver over a certain period of time and is measured in Ampere hours (Ah) when discharged at a uniform rate over a given period of time. 

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