A Guide To Adding Battery Backup To An Existing Solar System

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Equipping Battery to an Existing Grid-Tied
Solar System
Adding solar panels to an existing system can be
difficult as it is a complicated process. The
most expensive part of a solar system is the
battery. The main function of batteries is to
maintain and store power generated by the
panels. With increasing blackouts, solar owners
have decided to add battery backup to their solar
systems to keep the lights on during grid
outages. The grid-tied solar power system is also
known as a hybrid solar system. This solar power
system provides solar power as the primary
electricity source and sells the excess power to
the utility. As a customer, it is essential to
maintain and be aware of the nitty-gritty of grid
outages. Solar panels should not back feed power
to the grid when repairs begin. It is crucial to
know how to integrate batteries into an existing
grid-tied solar system.
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If regular blackouts are frustrating you, then
you need to find a battery backup for your solar
system, Waaree is the right place for your
solution. The cost of setting up a battery backup
is less upfront. Adding a battery to the solar
system is convenient as there will be fewer
obstacles to the existing system size. This blog
explains how equipping a battery to an existing
grid-tied solar system works specifics. How to
Equip a Grid-tied Solar System with Battery
Backup There are several approaches to creating
grid tied solar systems with battery backup.
Below are three ways of adding solar panels to an
existing system AC Coupling DC
Coupling Replace grid-tie inverter with
storage-ready inverter
Let's discuss these approaches in detail to
understand how to add batteries to solar systems
and their implementation.
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Method 1 AC Coupling The grid-tie inverter is
coupled with an off-grid and battery in an AC
paired system. The grid-tie inverter with battery
backup constantly runs as the off-grid inverter
acts as a secondary power source. Outback radian
is one of the best choices for AC coupling. It is
the newest firmware that supports frequency
shift. This feature is why the off-grid inverter
shifts its frequency to control the result of the
grid-tied inverter. The configuration of AC
coupling includes the addition of the
battery-based inverter and the battery bank to
the grid-tie solar system and the critical load
panels. As the output of both the inverters is on
the same bus, the energy result couples. AC
coupling is a fail-safe method when your grid-tie
solar panel produces excess energy, and you need
to use the grid-tie inverter with battery
backup. Also Read About "Is There Enough Lithium
to Maintain the Growth of the Lithium-Ion Battery
Market?" Pros Cons of AC Coupling
1. Why choose AC coupling?
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Here are the pros AC Coupling can offer
Easy to implement. The battery bank
connects back to Radian. The existing
grid-tied inverter does not need to be
replaced. Works perfectly with a
micro-inverter system. It offers
compatibility with the most available grid-tied
solar systems. 2. Are there any drawbacks of AC
coupling? AC coupling can offer a wide range of
support as per your requirement. If you need to
add a battery to the solar system, understanding
the limitations of AC coupling is essential.
Due to strict guidelines for a grid-tie inverter
with battery backup, the process of sizing is an
issue. The system works poorly when
batteries or inverters are undersized. Very
expensive if an existing grid-tied system is
large. Method 2 DC Coupling The solar system is
directly connected to the battery backup using a
charge controller in a DC-coupled system.
Off-grid systems work in a DC-coupled system. A
string inverter using 600 volts can use a DC
coupling system. A manual switch is used in
switching between grid-tie and off-grid modes.
This switch needs to be physically switched on to
charge the batteries. A manual presence on the
site is because DC coupling charges the battery
inverter, but the PV array may not charge the
battery until you turn them on. Pros Cons of DC
Coupling 1. Why choose DC Coupling? a.
Works on a broader range compared to AC
coupling. b. Works perfectly with string
inverters of 600-Volts Learn More About "How Can
You Improve The Performance And Life Of
Lithium-Ion Batteries?" 2. Are there any
drawbacks of DC Coupling? a. The switch needs
to be manually switched on to charge the
batteries. b. Requires attention and
maintenance.
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Replace grid-tie inverter with storage-ready
inverter
One of the last options you could try is
replacing your grid-tied inverter with a storage
ready inverter. This method will allow you to
have a reliable battery backup as it is
compatible with all grid-tie systems. However,
its downside is that it will be an expensive
investment. Storage ready inverters are more
compatible with the standard system sizes. They
offer features to maximize the net meter policy
of the solar system by taking advantage of the
peak time-of-use (TOU) periods via storage and
selling of energy. Apart from this, replacements
for batteries are made via gas generators. However
, gas generators offer more cons than pros, such
as having high maintenance needs, being less
environment friendly, requiring a fuel source,
and being loud. We recommend using either AC or
DC coupling for your grid-tied solar power
systems as battery backups. Solar farming can
consume an investor's efforts and time both.
Maintenance, operation, and repairing of solar
panels can be tricky if not done right. As an
investor, you will have to find the right results
based on the equipment and systems options and
the energy storage approach you adopt. Operations
involve the refitting of battery systems to your
existing grid-tied system. Professionals must
handle such operations as. Otherwise, they can
cause serious repercussions to your entire
system's design and components. Waaree Group's
division WESS has been the industry leader in
everything related to energy storage systems.
Consult a trusted, reputed, and safe partner like
Waaree. It has been around since 1989 and stands
as the industry's topmost solar system and its
energy storage.
To contact them you can reach out for
appointments and consultations by clicking this
link.