In an attempt to keep this as simple as possible a fact worth stating here is-“ that any battery to be used within “solar” systems should be recommended for that use.”

Batteries are a very complex part at the heart of most solar installations, this very quick overview is not intended as a technical article but only to “outline“ some of the differences between different types of battery that can be used.

Many small solar installations that are not required to power large electrical loads, often use 12 volt DC  Lead + Acid batteries that from the outside look just like a large vehicle or “truck” battery, they may use a similar outer casing to contain the working parts, but internally the construction of the “solar” battery will be different to the “vehicle” battery. The internals have been modified and made stronger to allow the battery to be safely discharged and charged (Cycled) more times, and to lower voltage  levels, without causing serious damage to itself than a standard vehicle battery. Put simply, the  battery has been made to provide long term, low energy use, unlike a vehicle battery where it has been made to provide short term, high energy use. As long as the requirements of the system to which a modified battery is connected have been calculated, and found to be within acceptable limits, these batteries work very well and offer a very cost effective solution to small scale power storage .

This type of  (Modified) “Truck” Battery shown on the left, can work very well in small installations. It is quite small and only weighs around 35 Kg.

Larger installations require more specialist batteries designed to give many years use when used in a well designed solar system. Examples of which are shown below.