Page 5 - PS Battery Guide May 18

Battery guide For PowerSpout

Introduction

Why batteries?
PowerSpout turbines are not suitable to provide power directly to loads (the
things you use in your house) because the loads will never exactly match the
power produced, and so the supply would be unstable. The output from the
turbine must either be used with a battery or it must be connected to the utility
grid. The battery (or the grid) stores the excess and meets the shortfalls in
energy at any given moment. It is possible (and fashionable nowadays) to have a
battery in addition to being connected to the grid, but we do not advise this
particularly. The overall cost-benefit of the arrangement has to be looked at very
carefully.

This document is to help you to choose and install your battery and it assumes
that you are off-grid. Most of this document relates specifically to "flooded lead
acid" or FLA batteries, as these tend to be the cost-effective choice. This is
particularly true for homes that have a good hydro resource where the batteries
are full most of the time.

Batteries are very costly and they have a finite life expectancy in years and in
charge/discharge cycles. The ongoing battery depreciation cost is likely to be the
largest cost in any off-grid system.

It's important to choose carefully when buying a battery and to look after it
carefully. We have observed many clients over the last 15 years who have
neglected all battery care and as a consequence a new battery bank has been
needed in 1-3 years time. This has often been an unaffordable situation for the
client. There is no magic solution when it comes to batteries.

Batteries are a concentrated source of energy that can be hazardous if
poorly installed and/or poorly understood. Please read and
understand the risks, and install a safe system.
It is important to keep an eye on batteries because neglected batteries
can become dangerous as well as failing prematurely.

Lead is toxic in the environment so always have your old lead batteries taken to
the local metal recyclers. You can often recover 5% of the purchase price in scrap
value. Lead batteries are up to 98% recyclable.

This is only one document among several about battery systems. Please also see
our other guides:
Basic Power Shed Design Guide
Power Conversion Equipment overview
Charge controller guide
System wiring guide

© 2018 EcoInnovation Ltd (NZ) Page 5
Last reviewed 19/6/18