What is the Advantage and Disadvantage of Battery System

Batteries are great for powering projects on breadboards, PCBs, and just about any circuit. They’re very portable and come in a lot of form factors; with different voltage, current, and power capabilities. If your circuit is in need of portable power or temporary power, batteries can be exactly what you need.

Size AAA, AA, C, D, 9V, and CR2032 Batteries.

Batteries for small circuits and breadboard projects can be very small - like AA, 9V, or even coin cell. For larger or electro-motive projects, batteries get larger and more expensive fast. Batteries can typically be attached or contained within the project and keep the project portable.

Lithium-Ion, Lithium-Polymer, and Lead-Acid Batteries.

Batteries also provide very stable and clean power, although you have to consider the discharge curve. Batteries follow chemically and physically determined voltage curves as they discharge. Fresh batteries usually have a high initial voltage (sometimes even just a surface charge) that rapidly declines. After the high energy phase of the battery discharge curve there is a more steady decline for the majority of the battery life. This is where battery’s rated voltage comes from. The rated voltage is where the battery will hold at its most steady voltage and power output for the longest time. After this flattest part of the discharge curve, batteries drop off quickly to voltage cutoff level (if you have battery management or minimum voltage circuitry), or the battery becomes fully drained (which may be fine for a primary, or non-rechargeable, battery). Most rechargeable batteries are damaged when fully drained, so try to avoid that.

Alkaline Battery Discharge Curve

All batteries will die. A “feature” that comes with the battery’s portability is limited capacity. A power intensive circuit, especially one with moving parts could use up the available energy and discharge the battery very quickly. Plan for this in your project with things like switches to cut off and save power while doing other activities. Another way to cope with dying batteries is a battery level indicator. As mentioned, rechargeable batteries can be damaged with over-discharge so a battery alarm and automatic cutoff can be a good idea too. Know that the circuit might act funny with charged versus dead battery. Motor speed will be faster or slower. Lights will be brighter or dimmer. Sensors might not be as sensitive as expected. IC’s might not have enough voltage to operate while other parts of the circuit still work.

Lithium Polymer Battery Discharge Curve

Another feature of batteries is that you can pick your voltage. Chemistries include alkaline, li-ion, lithium polymer, NiMH, NiCd, and many more. All have different outputs and best uses. You can choose a chemistry that suits your needs as far as capacity, voltage, power output, weight, size, and shape are all options. Number of cells can also be selected to arrive at the required voltage or capacity by arranging them in series and parallel.

List of common battery sizes, chemistry systems, voltages, and types.

So, if your project is mobile, or a long way from AC sources, or for when AC won’t be available, batteries are a solution that will be very important to keep in mind and know how to use. With their portable nature comes great features as well as limitations. They are a great addition to many projects and necessary in some cases, so knowing how to utilise them can help clear the way to a successful project.

Images Source:

Pros and Cons of battery storage

ABOUT

The reductions in grid feed-in tariffs have prompted many consumers to look elsewhere to provide savings on their electricity bills. Battery storage allows the consumer to store their excess energy generated from their solar panels, which can be later used during peak periods. This is one of the many reasons that battery storage technology has become more popular over the recent years.

With the likely expansion of this market over the next few years, here’s what you need to know about battery technology, its advantages and disadvantages:

SAFETY

Lithium batteries come in a variety of chemistries, only the most safe and stable ones are used in residential and commercial installs. However any battery can be harmful if not taken care of. Ways around this include the implementation of a Battery Management System (BMS), which acts as a controller to prevent any safety issues.

Lithium-Ion batteries can go into thermal runaway if mistreated or abused. Thermal runaway is essentially a scenario where the battery catches fire, which in turn causes the battery to get hotter and become even harder to put out. It’s a vicious cycle that will absolutely result in the failure of the battery, but is also extremely dangerous, hence why proper care should be taken of your batteries.

There are 3 ways of causing thermal runaway:

1. Impact damage (crushing, penetration)
2. External source of heat (operating in extremely hot conditions)
3. Overcharging

As long as you don’t subject your batteries to any of these obviously dangerous conditions, there’s basically nothing to worry about.

For lead acid batteries, it should be noted that the electrolyte is made up of sulphuric acid which is corrosive and dangerous to make contact with. Due to this proper care should be taken and the batteries should not be placed in a position where it is possible to leak.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Battery storage allows the consumer to store their excess solar energy for use at a later point in time. This reduces reliance on coal powered generators, meaning that the majority of electricity used would be ‘green’.

Batteries don’t last forever, and proper care should be taken to avoid negative environmental impacts through incorrect disposal. Here in Australia, we have a well-established battery recycling system which is explained in great detail on the Australian Battery Recycling Initiative (ABRI) website.

When batteries are recycled, they are broken down into their individual components to waste as little materials as possible. By doing this, a larger amount of sustainability is present in renewable energy storage systems.

INDEPENDANCE

It is a well known fact that electricity prices are steadily rising, and that will continue to occur for the next decade. Originally, one of the main selling points of solar power was the expected savings on electricity.

This was supplemented by what is known as a grid feed-in tariff, which pays the consumer for feeding their excess solar energy back into the grid. As this tariff is steadily decreasing and will not work synergistically with the existing grid infrastructure, battery storage has increased in popularity and works to help increase electricity savings.

By storing excess energy, consumers do not need to pay a premium for electricity in peak periods and can start to become energy independent.

ECONOMICAL

As previously mentioned, by storing excess solar energy for later use, consumers are able to reduce their reliance on distributed electricity during peak periods.

By becoming more electricity independent, consumers forego the premium on electricity during peak periods and will quickly start saving money on their electricity bills.

Integrating battery storage into an existing rooftop solar system serves as a protective action against the reduction in returns from grid feed-in tariffs, which can allow for the savings from solar power to continue.

A disadvantage of implementing battery storage systems is the initial cost. The price of batteries are decreasing across the board, with many financial experts claiming that there will actually be a clear economic benefit from adopting this technology over the next few years.

To see our range of solar hybrid packages, click here.

To see our range of solar batteries, click here.

For more information, contact us.