The Lead Acid Battery
This is the type of battery you are most likely to be using in a static situation. It is the most cost effective,and is capable of producing high currents.
These have been around for a long time, having been invented in the mid 1800's with the basic design principally unchanged.
The battery consists of individual cells, each producing approximately 2 volts. Each cell consists essentially of two electrodes of lead, in a 33% solution of sulphuric acid. As the battery is charged however, chemical changes occur in both the electrodes and the electrolyte (the sulphuric acid).
The lead acid battery described above is known as a wet cell lead acid battery due to the electrolyte being liquid.
Deep Cycle Batteries
The type of battery fitted to a car or truck is designed to give a high current for starting the vehicle but this would normally only discharge the battery by a maximum of 10%.
For a solar powered home, however, batteries designed for Deep Cycle use are required. These batteries, while not being able to supply the high current of a Starting Battery, will cope with regular discharging by 40% and occasional discaharging by 80%.
Batteries described as Leisure Batteries are a halfway house between a Starting Battery and a Deep Cycle Battery, and may be suitable for a week-end home where the batteries are normally maintained in a fully charged state.
OGi Batteries
These are standard flat plate vented batteries as described above, otherwise described as a VLA or Flooded Lead Acid batteries.
OGiV Batteries
These are again of flat plate design but are semi-sealed or VRLA (Valve Regulated Lead Acid). Valve Regulated batteries have the following advantages which may or maynot be important when used in a solar power setup:
- Release of hydrogen during charging is significantly reduced, reducing (though not eliminating) the need for ventilation.
- No topping up of the cells with distilled or demineralised water is required
- There is no chance of acid spillage
- Batteries can be designed to be place horizontally or to be stacked, reducing floor space requirement.
There can however be disadvantages with the VRLA design, including:
- No ability to top up the battery if the electrolite should be low
- May not cope with higher temperatures as drying out may occur.
OPzS
These batteries are a type VLA vented battery using tubular positive plates
OPzV
OPzV batteries are a type of VRLA with tubular positive plates
Two other types are also available, both of which may be termed a sealed lead acid battery though they do have a pressure relief valve:
- Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) - where the electrolyte is absorbed in a fine fibreglass mat between the electrodes
- Gel - where the electrolyte is in the form of a gel.
Both the above types of battery can withstand being turned over without spilling electrolyte and therefore have specific uses.
Due to these batteries being at least semi sealed, care has to be taken to ensure that no excessive gassing occurs (which occurs at higher charging voltages). Therefore these batteries may require a specific charge controller. Charging with the wrong type of controller can cause an explosion.