Hey everyone! I'm planning to set up an off-grid solar system that I also want to use as a backup during power outages. I have a basic understanding of how it works, but I'm pretty puzzled about integrating batteries in the future and how that relates to the specifications of my solar controller.
I'm initially looking at this battery that's supposed to be 12V 30A. Here's the link: https://a.co/d/6YcQ1pH. From what I gather, it's a 12V 30A, right?
I also have this solar controller that's rated for 30 amps: https://a.co/d/bQap0lL. So if my current battery is 30 amps, does this mean I can only charge with 30 amps worth of batteries? If I decide to add another battery down the line, would I need to connect them in series? And how many can I actually add? I'll be starting with a 100W solar panel. Am I missing anything crucial?
2 Answers
Okay, so first off, the battery you’re looking at is actually rated at 23.4Ah with a 30A BMS, which is the maximum charge and discharge rate. So, with that in mind, you can indeed use a controller rated for 30A with it, but just remember that the total power you can pull will be limited to that 30A. If you add another battery in the future, connecting them in series will increase the voltage and allow you to draw more power, but you’ll still be limited to that 30A load unless you connect them in parallel, which will increase the amperage instead. Just keep in mind that batteries in series should be very similar in specs and age for best results!
You're on the right track! With your controller and battery setup, if you want to keep things at a manageable voltage, adding batteries in parallel is a good move if you want to boost your amp capacity. Just keep your connections solid, and remember that when going series, your system voltage will double, so you’ll need to ensure your inverter and other components can handle that. As for the controller, if you stick with 30A, make sure not to go overboard with the load or wattage output.
Thanks for clarifying! So if I add another battery in parallel, I can handle more current? What’s the best way to connect them?