Marine, Solar, Security and Generator SUPERSTORE

The usable capacity of an off-grid battery bank will depend on the type of battery used.

For example, Lead acid batteries usually have depth of discharge set  at 30% therefore the usable amount of power will be 30% of the total  storage. eg: 10kw battery with a 30% DOD = 3kw of usable energy.

Lithium batteries have a much higher depth of discharge which is usually around  90-96% of the total storage.

Yes, absolutely. Our Off-Grid systems are designed to give you an  “On-Grid” feel, which will enable you to run your appliances as you  wish. With the capacity of the inverters these days, you can live a  normal life during the daytime as if you were connected to the grid. 

The amount of solar panels and batteries you will need will be based on your power needs.

Once our system designers have conducted a thorough load assessment,  taking into consideration the site requirements and location of your  dwelling, they will be able to calculate what you require.

This depends on its capacity and the amount of power consumed by the connected equipment. As a rule, the faster a battery is discharged, the less power it supplies. 

This also works the other way around: The longer it takes before a battery discharges, the more energy you can get from it. A 100 Ah lead-acid battery supplies a current of 5 amps for 20 hours, during which time the voltage does not drop below 10.5 volt. This amounts to 100 Ah. If a load of 100 amps is connected to the same battery, the battery will be able to power it for only 45 minutes. After this time the battery voltage will fall to 10.5 volt and the battery will be empty, having supplied no more than 75 Ah. 

In contradiction to the lead-acid batteries, the capacity of Lithium Ion batteries will not be effected by the load connected. A Li-ion battery will always supply 100 % capacity, independent of the connected load. 

Series connection
A series connection is used to increase voltage, while keeping capacity at the same level. Two serially connected 12 V/120 Ah batteries make a combined battery set of 24 V/120 Ah. In a series connection, the positive pole of one battery is connected to the negative pole of the other, with the poles that remain at the ends being connected to the system. Batteries with different capacities should never be linked in series.

Parallel connection
Parallel connection is used when you need to increase your capacity. The positive leads are connected together, as are the negative leads. The cabling from the battery to the system should be: Positive from battery 1 and negative from battery 2 (or the last in the parallel connection).

Series/parallel connection
If you need a 24 V battery set with a higher capacity, you can combine series and parallel connections. The cables from the battery to the system must be crossed: Positive from  battery 1 and negative from battery 2 (or the last in the parallel connection).

Master Tip
Make sure there is sufficient space between the batteries when installing multiple batteries: There should be a ‘finger’ of space between them to allow the heat to be diverted.

What not to do with Gel, AGM and Lithium Ion batteries

• Incorrect charge voltage. Too low a voltage means that the battery cannot charge to 100 % - the sulphate then hardens on the plates and the battery loses its capacity. Excessive voltage causes the batteries to generate gas, leading to water loss and drying out.
• Excessive discharging. Discharging a battery further than its capacity shortens its lifespan.
• Too large ripple on the charge voltage. Cheap and old-fashioned chargers often have a significant voltage ripple (voltage variation) in the output voltage.
• The use of an alternator without 3-step regulator, a high ambient temperature or charging without temperature compensation. n The MLI battery should not be charged without measures such as a safety relay.

This is no problem for any Lithium battery and can even be a benefit as the lower temperature extends battery life considerably. The batteries should be fully charged, however, and disconnected from any consumers. Make sure to consider hidden consumers such as voltmeters, clocks and the car radio memory. If the battery is connected to a battery charger with 3-stage+ charge characteristic, the battery is recharged every 12 days to ensure it stays in optimal condition. If you disconnect the battery, we recommend disconnecting all consumers and connecting the power once every two to three weeks to ensure the batteries are recharged. If you don’t have access to power in winter, we recommend fully charging the batteries and disconnecting the battery terminals to ensure they are not discharged by small devices. We also recommend fully charging your batteries every two months and before they are reused. Wet batteries should be recharged regularly to prevent them from freezing. 

Solar panels absorb the sun's energy throughout the day and convert it into direct current (DC) electricity. Most homes and businesses run on alternating current (AC) electricity, so the DC electricity is then passed through an inverter to convert it to usable AC electricity. At that point, you either use the electricity in your house or send it back to the electric grid. 

The amount of power your solar energy system can generate is dependent on sunlight. As a result, your solar panels will produce slightly less energy when the weather is cloudy, and no energy at night. However, because of high electricity costs and financial incentives, solar is a smart decision even if you live in a cloudy city. 

Solar panels convert sunshine into power, so if your panels are covered in snow, they can’t produce electricity. Snow generally isn’t heavy enough to cause structural issues with your panels, and since most panels are tilted at an angle the snow will slide off. If snow does accumulate, your panels are easy to clean. 

Solar panel systems are made of durable tempered glass and require little to no maintenance for the 25 to 35 years that they will generate power. In most cases, you don’t even need to clean your solar panels regularly. If something does happen, most equipment manufacturers include warranties, although warranty terms depend on the company.