How to Determine the Right Size for My Solar Battery Bank?
Asked by XxSolarWarrior2023xX
I'm planning to design a solar system to go off-grid, but I don't want to go overboard. I realize depth of discharge (DoD) is important, and my daily usage is around 30kWh. What's the best way to calculate my battery bank size? Should I aim for double or triple my daily usage?
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As a general rule, it's suggested to size your battery bank to support 3 days of usage. That's around 90kWh for your 30kWh daily need. You should also ensure that you can recharge the battery in a single good day of solar output. For lithium-ion phosphate batteries, plan to budget around $10k for that amount of storage.
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Check your zip code for average sunny days per year. You'll want to decide how many days you want the system to last without power. Build your system based on that plan.
OffGridNomad: Will do! I'm thinking of setting up several modes for power usage: one for full normal operation, another for reduced needs, and a 'ration' mode just for essentials.
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I've installed extra solar panels to charge my battery bank in half a day. It's great to have enough charge even on cloudy days. Off-grid living is one place where more is definitely better!
GreenEnergyGuru: It’s the same thought I have for my system size regarding the number of panels!
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SolarEnthusiast99: Oh, absolutely! I know it won’t be cheap, especially with those lithium batteries.