I'm having problems with my solar setup, which includes 18x 100w solar panels arranged in three groups of six panels, a Renogy 48v hybrid inverter, and four 12v marine batteries. I'm also connected to shore power. The issue is that my batteries are not holding a charge as expected. They should be charged by the solar panels during the day and power my home at night, but they either aren't charging at all or are completely drained within an hour even on low power mode. Can anyone recommend better batteries to replace my current ones?
3 Answers
How old are your marine batteries? They usually last around 5 years max unless you're super careful with them. If you've discharged them down to 50% a few times, they're probably toast. Switching to LiFePO4 could save you a lot of headaches since they can take more punishment and last longer. Also, consider turning off your inverter when it's not in use; they can drain energy even when nothing's on.
Inverters can suck energy even on standby! You might want to run everything on a 12v system if possible. Using propane for cooking and only turning the inverter on when you need it could really help. Also, think about splitting your solar panels with multiple charge controllers to optimize their performance.
You might want to consider replacing those marine batteries with LiFePO4 batteries. Lead-acid ones generally have a lifespan of just 3-5 years. The newer lithium batteries can handle abuse much better, and they'll last up to three times longer! Just make sure to get 48v batteries since that matches your system.
Totally agree! And don't forget—make sure they really are 48v to fit your setup.