Disadvantage of Solar Energy 2
Lead acid battery maintenance tips.
There is a Disadvantage of Solar Energy that applies only to off grid solar power systems. Lead acid battery maintenance and recycling can reduce the downside.
Care and Feeding of Lead Acid Bateries
If your solar power system is off grid, chances are you have a bank of deep cycle lead acid batteries.
To store your solar energy for use at night a bank of batteries is necessary. One Disadvantage of Solar Energy Is the eventual need to replace those lead acid batteries.
Batteries are the one component of an off grid system that require fairly frequent replacement.
How frequent depends on several factors including:
- Temperature
- Level of Charge
- Water levels
- Depth of Discharge /Charge
- Sulphination
- Frequency of use
- Size of battery bank
Yes, it turns out that as far as deep cycle battery banks are concerned, size does matter. Getting the most use out of your batteries works for you and the environment.
Our Tips for a Healthy Battery could double or even triple the life of your batteries and that saves you a pot of money.
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Environmental Disadvantage of Solar Energy Storage
Lead Acid batteries are largely composed of Lead and Sulphuric Acid. The improper use or disposal of either rings environmental bells. And so it should.
Soil and water and ultimately, human beings can become contaminated due to damaged or improperly disposed of batteries. Inhalation and ingestion of lead dust or residue causes serious health risks.
Lead interferes with the body's ability to oxygenate itself. In children it affects brain and nervous system function and can lead to death.
Fortunately the materials in lead acid batteries are 98% recoverable if the battery ends up in a recycling facility.
The plastic, steel, lead and acid are all re-incorporated into batteries or other products.
Batteries will have to be replaced. The number of years between replacement depends a great deal on how and where their life is lived.
Keeping your batteries healthy assures that the disposal issue crops up as little as possible.
Visitors to our Disadvantage of Solar Energy 2 page may also be interested in the following pages
Solar Energy Pros and Cons
Disadvantage of Solar Energy
