Frequently asked questions
How does a solar battery work?
Your switchboard is connected to the solar panels via the inverter, powering your home first and foremost. If your solar is generating more than what your home needs – an excess, the switchboard will then direct that excess into the solar battery.
A solar battery effectively allows you to store some of your free energy instead of sending it all to the grid. This allows you to use that energy at night and other times of low generation, helping you import less from the grid and lowering your bills!
Click here to read more on how it all works.
Why get a solar battery?
Peak solar production happens during the day between 10am and 4pm, which is when most of your appliances should be run. However, a large chunk of electricity consumption happens at night, when the sun isn’t shining and solar isn’t generating any energy.
To top it all off, feed-in tariffs in Australia can be as little as 5c/kWh. What this means is you are essentially sending your solar power to the grid during the day, only to buy it back for way more than that at peak rates.
The addition of a solar battery to your home will help you:
- Maximise the use of your solar energy even when the sun is not out (like at night).
- Reduce your electricity bills by decreasing your energy consumption from the grid.
- Add an extra layer of monitoring to your solar setup via Energy Management Software.
- Future proof your home against rising energy costs.
- Option to keep your home powered through brownouts and blackouts. Read more about blackout protection.
- Enjoy streams of opportunity to trade and use your solar energy that are unavailable otherwise
How much do solar batteries cost?
As a general rule of thumb, there are a few important key price factors when we talk about the cost of a fully installed solar battery:
- Battery size
- Voltage
- Quality
- Battery technology
- Grid or off grid
- Brand
- Backup enabled
- Variation in installation
However, don’t forget that thanks to financing options, enjoying the benefits of a solar battery has never been easier or more accessible. We offer a Best Price Guarantee on any fully installed solar battery.
What size battery do I need?
Your electricity bill can help you find the average daily electricity usage for your household in 24-hour periods.
However, most of us use lots of energy early in the morning before work and in the evening when everyone is back home – outside of the hours of peak solar generation, which is why picking the correct battery size becomes such a critical aspect of solar storage.
It is important you talk to a reputable installer so they can help you conduct a bill analysis, understanding your home’s energy needs (production and consumption) to size up the right solution for your home.
Another consideration to make is you can install a battery with modular architecture, which can be further expanded as your energy usage patterns change in the future. Many of our battery models are modular, please talk to us on 1300 223 224 if you have any questions on how you can benefit from them.
Can I get solar panels and a battery installed at the same time?
Yes! We’re the experts in supplying households with complete solar storage solutions. We can help you install an affordable all-inclusive package of solar panels and a battery, simply talk to our solar superheroes at the time of quoting.
How long will a battery last for?
Solar battery manufacturers test their products under standard conditions in what is called a cycle – or in simple terms one full charge and discharge. Different batteries have different specifications, so it’s always a good idea to check the technical sheets for the brands and models you’re interested in.
It is important to note that we offer extended warranties for purchase if you want an extra level of coverage for your investment.
Can I have my battery installed indoors?
Although some models can be installed indoors, it is more common to have them close to the switchboard for ease of installation and safety purposes. Solar battery installers must also abide by government and industry standard regulations when choosing a place to put your battery in.
Can I add additional storage to my battery?
You can expand the capacity of a battery with modular architecture. What this means is you can add storage sub units to the main battery which will in turn increase how much energy you can store. However, not all batteries are modular. Please refer to the manufacturer’s tech spec sheets to check if the model you’re interested in is modular and can be further expanded.
What is UPS?
UPS stands for Uninterruptible Power Supply, or in other words, blackout protection.
Do all batteries offer blackout protection?
No. If blackout protection is important to you, make sure to check with your solar battery installer on whether your battery has UPS backup mode and any extra costs associated with upgrading your switchboard and wiring the circuits to be backed up.
What is DoD?
DoD stands for Depth of Discharge. The DoD is expressed as a percentage, indicating the maximum amount of energy that can be consistently used from the storage. This is because most batteries require to hold some charge to avoid accelerated battery degradation. Therefore, a battery with a DoD of 95% should not be discharged under 5% of its capacity on a regular basis.
What is EMS?
EMS stands for Energy Management Software. Lots of modern solar batteries provide some sort of online monitoring tool in the shape of apps or web portals that let you control the battery, check its status, gauge solar generation, measure energy consumption, etc. All EMSs are unique to the brand and model you purchase, so ask your solar battery installer for the specifics of what you can and cannot do with yours.
