Living with Batteries

Batteries work hard for those of us who live off-grid. They need to be properly installed and kept at the right temperature. Enclosures for flooded lead-acid batteries need to be vented. Batteries also need to be periodically filled with distilled water. You must also monitor their state of charge and recharge them quickly after deep discharging.

Generators in such systems need attention, too. If you install one in your system, you will need to periodically change oil and air filters. If you install a manually operated generator, you’ll need to fire it up from time to time to raise the charge level or to equalize your batteries. You may also have to haul your generator in for an occasional repair.

In grid-connected systems with battery backup, you’ll have much less to worry about. If you install sealed batteries, for example, you’ll never need to check the fluid levels or fill batteries.

Batteries may seem complicated and difficult to get along with, but if you understand them, you can get lots of years of service from them. Break the rules and, well, you’re going to pay for your carelessness.