If you’re interested in building an off-grid energy system, then this is the most important article you’re ever going to read.
Especially if:
- You want to become more energy independent
- You want to be prepared for a crisis
- You want to save money
- You don’t want to depend on the big energy companies
Pay close attention as I reveal the 3 best batteries for your alternative energy battery bank.
These 3 batteries types will save you time, money, and they will make your battery bank last a long time.
Are you just starting off in your journey to become more “energy independent” and you’re curious about all the types of batteries that exist and how it all works? If you are, then you will learn a ton, so keep reading.
The Rise of “Alternative Energy”
Because of falling prices of renewable energy systems, more and more people are looking to use alternative energy sources.
Maybe they want to save money, maybe they want to be prepared in case the shit hits the fan…
Either way, we’re talking about “energy”, and energy requires batteries.
So once you decide you want to build an off-grid energy system, your first question becomes…
“What batteries should I use?”
and…
“How do I find them?”
See, the batteries you put in your battery bank are extremely important.
It’s crucial that they do their job and that you keep them alive as long as possible.
The type of batteries you choose determine this.
But while you may think it’s expensive to get batteries with these qualities…
You Actually Don’t Have To Buy New Overpriced Batteries
Before I tell you the 3 best batteries for your battery bank, first I want to mention that you don’t have to buy any of your batteries brand new.
See, a much cheaper plan to acquire batteries is to…
- Get old or used batteries for dirt cheap (or free)
- Recondition them to “like-new” condition using the EZ Battery Reconditioning Program
- Put these newly reconditioned batteries to work in your alternative energy system’s battery bank! Boom.
This plan will save you a lot of money when building a battery bank. You aren’t required to waste money on expensive new batteries. (In fact, the budget for your alternative energy system is probably less than you think).
Next… let’s go over the types of batteries that are out there so that you have a better picture of what batteries exist.
I will cover:
- Lead-Acid Batteries VS. Other Battery Technologies
- Deep Cycle vs. Shallow Cycle Batteries
- Flooded Lead-Acid Batteries (FLA) VS Sealed Lead-Acid Batteries (SLA)
Afterwards, I will tell you the 3 best batteries to use in your off-grid energy system.
Lead-Acid Batteries VS. Other Battery Technologies
You know what’s interesting? Many of the batteries used in home renewable energy systems were originally designed for other purposes.
The most prominent example of this is the lead-acid battery… which has now dominated the “renewable energy system” industry for some time.
In particular, the “deep cycle” lead-acid battery is highly popular. (In the next section I’ll explain what “deep cycle” means) .
The “deep cycle” lead-acid battery has proven to be one of the best (and most affordable) battery types for the following reasons:
- They’re able to withstand frequent discharging
- They’re cheaper than other kinds of batteries
- They have more rugged durability
- They deliver more consistent performance than other batteries.
- They are widely produced, therefore they are easy to replace
NOTE: There have been exciting new developments with lithium ion batteries for residential alternative energy systems, like Tesla’s Powerwall. And they have been gaining ground and becoming popular.
However, the initial investment into lithium ion batteries is still much higher than the initial investment into lead-acid batteries… for now.
The Powerwall may eventually change this but at the moment deep cycle lead-acid batteries are the cheapest and most practical solution for a home battery bank.
Ok, I just covered lead batteries, and I also mentioned the word “deep cycle”… but what does this mean?
Deep Cycle vs. Shallow Cycle (Car) Batteries
Shallow Cycle Batteries
Back when the renewable energy industry was just starting off, people who wanted to go “off the grid” improvised with car batteries.
However, car batteries were never built for this purpose. They shouldn’t be continuously drained and recharged.
This is what batteries need to do in a solar panel or wind turbine system, so car batteries aren’t good for this.
Instead, car batteries are supposed to be used only for starting and ignition.
If you take a look inside one, you will see that they have a large number of thin plates.
These plates have a big total surface area that can facilitate a large number of chemical reactions.
When you start your car, these reactions produce the sudden burst of power that is needed for ignition.
Deep Cycle Batteries
Deep cycle batteries on the other hand, have thick lead plates that don’t give much room for chemical reactions. Though they produce less current, they are designed to do so for a much longer period of time.
In essence, car batteries are “shallow cycle” batteries that will quickly burn out when used as storage for renewable power… while “deep cycle” batteries produce current for a longer period of time.
Next… let’s dive into even two more categories of “lead-acid” batteries. (I bet you didn’t think you would learn so much about batteries today huh? I know it might be a bit overwhelming… but bear with me, cause I know you’ll get a ton out of it 🙂 )
Let’s talk about the “flooded” lead-acid battery and the “sealed” lead-acid battery.
Flooded Lead-Acid Batteries (FLA) VS Sealed Lead-Acid Batteries (SLA)
Before telling you what three batteries are best for your battery bank, I want to explain why flooded lead-acid batteries (FLAs) are better for renewable energy than sealed lead-acid batteries (SLAs).
One of the reasons some people favor SLAs is that they require little maintenance. Unlike FLAs that need to be checked regularly for water level, SLAs that are used properly can be left alone.
However, sealed lead-acid batteries have two big flaws:
- They are sensitive
- They wear out quickly.
So if you’re planning on using your solar panel or wind power system every day, sealed lead-acid (SLA) batteries will eventually pose a problem.
Therefore, if you want durability, go with the flooded lead-acid (FLA) batteries.
The 3 Best Batteries For Your Off-Grid Battery Bank
So far you have learned that you need a
- Lead-acid battery
- With “deep cycle” properties
- That is “flooded” (FLA)
A deep cycle, flooded lead-acid battery.
With this in mind, here are the 3 best batteries for an off-grid battery bank.
1. Golf Cart Batteries
Golf cart batteries are the most widely manufactured batteries on this list. They are one of the most commonly used batteries in battery banks for renewable energy systems.
Although the 5-6 year life span of golf cart batteries may seem relatively short, golf cart batteries make up for this by being extremely durable and cheap.
Plus, they can be found almost anywhere, and used to your advantage.
How?
- First, get old or “dead” batteries from golf courses or golf cart shops. You can them for free or dirt cheap. Call them and ask if you can have their old batteries cluttering their shop taking up space.
- Next, recondition those supposedly “dead” batteries to “like-new” condition (use the EZ Battery Reconditioning Program)
- Put the newly reconditioned batteries in your battery bank.
2. Industrial or Forklift Batteries
A battery bank that uses one or more industrial batteries follows the opposite philosophy of golf cart battery bank.
See, instead of relying on multiple strings of smaller batteries, here you use a few or even just one big battery to store all of your energy.
Industrial batteries are usually NOT build to standard dimensions so you will have to either order one made to fit your needs… or you can find an old industrial or forklift battery that’s the correct size for your system
Like golf cart batteries, there are ways to get free or cheap forklift batteries
- Call or visit industrial companies and see if they have old or “dead” forklift batteries.
- Offer to dispose of it for them or pay them a little
- Once you have possession of these batteries, you can then recondition them and use them.
This is way cheaper than buying a new expensive industrial battery. If you don’t mind dishing out some money to get a custom made battery, you should expect to pay quite a bit.
But the good news is that these industrial batteries are usually built to last a whopping 15-20 years.
What to expect:
- These bigger batteries will be heavier and more difficult to move around
- Also, there may be advancements in battery technology that could make the battery obsolete in years to come.
But if you don’t mind making a significant investment upfront (anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000) and you don’t mind spending time keeping your batteries in top condition, then industrial batteries might be right for you.
3. L16 Batteries
If you want batteries that have a little more capacity than golf cart batteries but don’t want to spend on industrial batteries, L16 batteries are a good middle ground.
These flooded lead-acid batteries were originally designed for supermarket floor scrubbers.
The good thing with these batteries is that they last a bit longer than golf cart batteries — about six to eight years. However, they are often twice as heavy and the 6-volt models can be twice as expensive.
Conclusion
Different homes will have different power requirements and will need battery banks that are sized accordingly.
If you build a battery bank using any of the three batteries mentioned above, you should be able to create a battery bank that fits your needs.
Some exciting new developments in the battery world for alternative energy include the lithium ion Tesla Powerball… and in the future it can be added to the proven top 3 batteries: Golf Cart batteries, Industrial Batteries, and L16 Batteries.
If you’re interested in saving tons of money on your battery bank, you can use the EZ Battery Conditioning program to learn how to:
- Get old or “dead” golf cart, industrial, or L16 batteries batteries for free or dirt cheap
- Recondition them back to 100% of their working condition
- Use those “like-new” batteries instead of buying new overpriced batteries to save tons of money!
Check out the EZ Battery Conditioning program here.
All the best,
Frankie